--LHP Rich Hill will not pitch on his next turn in the rotation, Tuesday against Milwaukee at Wrigley Field. The Cubs prefer to throw three right-handers at the Brewers, meaning Hill's next start will be pushed back to the following series, at St. Louis. By that time, Hill will have had eight days of rest.
--Wednesday night's 7-6 victory at Colorado was the 10,000th in franchise history. Only the Giants (New York/San Francisco) have more wins. --LHP Scott Eyre threw one inning of relief for Class A Daytona on Wednesday as he continues his rehab from a bone chip in his pitching elbow. The Cubs have set no timetable for Eyre's return. Sean Marshall has taken over as the lone lefty in the Cubs bullpen.
--CF Felix Pie started Thursday in place of Reed Johnson and went 2-for-3 with an RBI. The Cubs have kept minor league hitting coordinator Dave Keller with the big club. Keller, manager Lou Piniella and hitting coach Gerald Perry continue to work intensely with Pie on his weight shift.
--C Geovany Soto, batting .352, has 14 RBI for March/April. He became the second Cubs rookie since 1956 with 14 RBIs in the first month of the season, joining 1B Hee Seop Choi in 2003.
--RHP Kerry Wood earned the victory but suffered a blown save in Wednesday night's 7-6, 10-inning victory over the Rockies. Wood has two blown saves in six chances. Wood struck out the first two batters in the ninth but got behind Scott Podsednik, who singled. Wood then gave up a run-scoring triple to Ryan Spilborghs before getting out of the inning. Both Wood and pitching coach Larry Rothschild agreed Wood still has to harness his adrenalin in his first year as a closer and not get overly aggressive.
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.
