--RHP Carlos Marmol got a breather after hitting two batters and walking two Thursday night in Tampa Bay. Marmol, the team's ace setup man, didn't pitch in the previous two games, but manager Lou Piniella said he wasn't rusty or "too strong."
--1B Derrek Lee and 3B Aramis Ramirez connected for back-to-back homers for the second time this year. The other time was April 11 at Philadelphia. Thirteen of Lee's 15 homers have come at Wrigley Field. --Neither CF Jim Edmonds nor OF Reed Johnson played Friday, but both were available to pinch hit. Edmonds is nursing a sore left foot, and Johnson has had a bad back. They're listed as day-to-day to start.
--LF Alfonso Soriano had a fresh set of X-rays taken on his broken left hand. The X-rays were taken to make sure the bone hadn't moved. The timetable for Soriano's return hasn't changed. He's been on the DL since June 12, and he's expected to be out six weeks total.
--IF/OF Daryle Ward has been taking batting practice in Arizona. The Cubs would like to him to go to Class AAA Iowa (Des Moines) as early as this weekend to play on a rehab stint. If all goes well, they'd like Ward to play DH next weekend against the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field. Ward has a bulging disc in his lower back.
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 (Oscar) 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.
