--LF Alfonso Soriano suffered a strained right calf in the first inning of Tuesday night's game. Soriano came up limping after catching a flyball off the bat of the Reds' Ken Griffey Jr. to end the first inning. Whenever he catches a flyball, Soriano jumps and makes a little hop. He came up lame on his landing. Manager Lou Piniella set it likely would be "awhile" for Soriano, who underwent an MRI Tuesday night. Results will be available Wednesday. A stint on the disabled list is likely, meaning the Cubs probably will recall OF Matt Murton from Class AAA Iowa.
--Manager Lou Piniella has adjusted his pitching rotation again for this weekend. LHP Rich Hill will start Friday against the Pirates, followed by RHPs Jason Marquis and Ryan Dempster. Originally, Piniella had said Marquis would start Friday. --CF Felix Pie started Tuesday for the first time since April 10. With the Reds throwing three right-handed pitchers at the Cubs, it's a good bet the left-handed-hitting Pie will get three starts. Reed Johnson has seen most of the playing time lately, with RF Kosukue Fukudome even getting a start in center. Higher-ups in the organization say it's too soon to panic on Pie, who is inconsistent at the plate.
--RHP Bob Howry was not available for Tuesday night's game after working five of six games on the recent road trip. Howry earned a save Sunday in Philadelphia, his first of the year.
--1B Derrek Lee has five home runs in the first month of the season after hitting a grand total of six before the All-Star break last year. Lee is hitting .368 with 12 RBIs, an on-base percentage of .422 and a slugging percentage of .737. Lee also is displaying the defensive form that won him his third Gold Glove last year. He started a key 3-6-3 double play in Tuesday's 9-5 victory over the Reds.
BY THE NUMBERS: 4 -- The Cubs already have a pair of games in which they've stolen four bases. They had only one such game last year, when manager Lou Piniella lamented a lack of team speed.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "That's no indication of who I am as a pitcher, but it's just something that I've got to go through. It's over. I'm just looking forward to the next start." -- Pitcher Rich Hill on his first two starts.
