--LF Alfonso Soriano rejoined the Cubs in Tampa on Tuesday and said he's hopeful of playing in the All-Star Game, should he be elected. Soriano also said he's hopeful of returning to the Cubs' regular lineup before the All-Star break. Soriano has been out since last week with a broken left hand. The original prognosis called for him to be out six weeks. Soriano will have an additional X-ray taken Friday when the team returns to Chicago.
--Manager Lou Piniella continued rotating DHs when C Geovany Soto served in the role with Henry Blanco catching. 1B Derrek Lee and 3B Aramis Ramirez DH'ed in Toronto as Piniella's way of resting his regulars without keeping them out of the lineup. --CF Reed Johnson went 2-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to three games. Johnson also was thrown out trying to steal third base with two outs in the seventh inning.
--3B Aramis Ramirez went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts as his seven-game hitting streak ended.
--INF Ronny Cedeno made his second start in three games, playing second base while regular second baseman Mark DeRosa moved to right field as Kosuke Fukudome didn't start. Fukudome doubled as a pinch hitter in the ninth.
BY THE NUMBERS: 40 -- Walks 3B Aramis Ramirez took into this week. Ramirez's career high for walks in a single season is 50, set two years ago. He has become significantly more selective at the plate in 2008.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "He came to camp ready to fight De La Hoya for 15 rounds. He was in shape. He was on a mission, and he's gotten off to a great start." -- Manager Lou Piniella, on the fast start of pitcher Ryan Dempster, who has gone from closer to starter.
