Piniella says Soriano just has to relax
''I would say he probably is pressing a little bit, trying to do too much,'' manager Lou Piniella said Saturday. ''He'll hit, and he'll do fine. But right now, he's probably trying to do too much.''
Soriano, who raised his average to .233 with two singles Saturday, has scored five runs and driven in one. He has had his problems on the basepaths, too, getting picked off first base Friday and off second base Saturday.
Piniella's advice to Soriano?
''Just relax and let your natural ability take over,'' he said.
INJURY REPORT: Third baseman Aramis Ramirez,, who missed his second consecutive game with tendinitis in his right wrist, said he hopes to return soon.
''It's good news there's nothing worse wrong,'' Ramirez said. ''I'm pretty sure it won't be too long.''
Ramirez is taking anti-inflammatory medication for the condition, which developed after he jammed his hand on a slide early in spring training. He was hitting .406 with a home run and five RBI before the wrist swelled up.
Piniella also kept second baseman Mark DeRosa out of the starting lineup for a second consecutive day because of soreness in his lower back. DeRosa didn't start Friday but came in during a double switch in the sixth inning.
''There's definitely a big improvement the last three days,'' said DeRosa, who suffered the injury at the start of a workout Wednesday. ''It locked up. I crawled to the training room.''
After the game, reliever Scott Eyre was stricken with a case of stomach flu and was taken by ambulance to a hospital for fluids. He's expeto be fine, but his availability for today is uncertain.
HONORING NO. 42: Players Derrek Lee, Jacque Jones, Cliff Floyd and Daryle Ward and coaches Lester Strode and Gerald Perry will wear No. 42 today as Major League Baseball honors the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's major-league debut. All players will wear No. 42 decals on their helmets.