--3B Bobby Scales, a 31-year-old rookie, extended his hitting streak to six games. It's the longest hitting streak to start a major league career as a Cub since Jerome Walton hit in his first seven games in 1989. Manager Lou Piniella said he saw no reason he can't find playing time for Scales, who spent more than a decade in the minors before making his debut last week.
--SS Ryan Theriot doubled and walked twice Thursday, one day after hitting two homers. Of Theriot's last 12 hits, eight have gone for extra bases (two doubles, a triple and five homers). Theriot has a .372 on-base percentage and a .484 slugging percentage. --LF Alfonso Soriano's leadoff homer Wednesday was his 21st as a Cub, setting a club record. He had shared the mark with Jimmy Ryan. Soriano now has 53 leadoff homers, tying him for second all time with Craig Biggio. Rickey Henderson is the leader with 81.
BY THE NUMBERS: 61 -- Cubs relief pitchers entered the week with 61 walks in 86 innings pitched. To put that into perspective, the starting pitchers had issued 67 walks in 180 2/3 innings.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I've never seen anything quite like this. Every day, it seems to be something different. Just tough it out. What can I say? It just gets frustrating. Every time you put something a little together, something different happens." -- Manager Lou Piniella.
