--SS Ryan Theriot sat for a second straight game because of lower back pain. Theriot said he has been bothered on and off by the pain, which he said is not serious. He is listed as day to day. Ronny Cedeno replaced Theriot and drove in a career-high five runs, with a fourth-inning double and an eighth-inning grand slam. It was Cedeno's first career grand slam.
--3B Aramis Ramirez has reached base on all 20 Cubs games. He walked and singled Tuesday. Ramirez has 13 walks. His single-season best is 50, set two years ago. --RF Kosuke Fukudome entered Tuesday leading the NL in pitches per plate appearance with 4.72 pitches on average. He singled twice, doubled and walked twice Tuesday, raising his OBP to .477 and his batting average to .357. Fukudome has reached base seven straight appearances going back to Monday.
--2B Mark DeRosa extended his hitting streak to nine games in Tuesday's win over the Mets. He's 11-for-30 (.367) during the streak, and he's two game shy of his career-best streak, set in 2006, with Texas.
--CF Felix Pie started for the first time Tuesday since April 15. He recorded his first multi-hit game of the season, going 2-for-5. The Cubs continue to work with Pie on shortening his swing.
--LHP Ted Lilly enjoyed his first "quality start" Tuesday, working six innings and giving up four hits and one run. He lowered his ERA from 9.16 to 7.30. Lilly had been bothered by a lack of arm strength over his first four starts, only one of which lasted more than five innings.
BY THE NUMBERS 5-1 -- The Cubs' record this season against left-handed starting pitchers.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "This team is playing with more confidence. Last April, after a 96-loss season, I'm not so sure they thought they could win." -- Manager Lou Piniella on his team's good start.
