--LHP Neal Cotts was recalled from Class AAA Iowa, giving the Cubs two lefties in the bullpen. Scott Eyre is the other. Cotts began last season with the Cubs but was sent to Iowa in May and didn't come back. This season, he was 2-0 with three saves and a 2.00 ERA for Iowa. Cotts worked a third of an inning in Thursday's 8-4 victory over the Rockies and suffered a blown save. He allowed one hit.
--RHP Jose Ascanio was sent back to Class AAA Iowa. He allowed one run in five innings over four appearances with the Cubs. --INF/OF Daryle Ward could need another 10 days before he comes off the disabled list, according to manager Lou Piniella. Ward has been on the DL since May 18 with a bulging disk in his lower back. Ward said his right leg "fatigues faster" than his left leg.
--1B Derrek Lee hit his 13th homer in an 8-4 victory over the Rockies. Last year, Lee didn't reach No. 13 until Aug. 14. Eleven of Lee's 13 homers have come at Wrigley Field.
--SS Ryan Theriot was on base four times, with two walks and two singles. Theriot has his on-base percentage up to .402.
--INF/OF Micah Hoffpauir picked up his first major league RBI with a pinch single in the eighth inning of Thursday night's 8-4 victory over Colorado. Hoffpauir and CF Reed Johnson also pulled off a double steal. It was Hoffpauir's first stolen base.
BY THE NUMBERS: 2 -- Most losses in a row for the Cubs this year through May 25. The Cubs were the only major league club not to have lost three games in a row this year.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "You can see our division alone, the Central, you don't have a team in the division playing under .500 at home. That tells you something. What it tells me is it's going to be a scramble." -- Manager Lou Piniella, on his team's difficulty winning on the road.
