Positive signs from the start
Guzman justifies Piniella's decision to bring him back from minors
His focus was starting pitcher Angel Guzman, whose five innings of one-run ball helped Piniella feel like the decision to bring up the right-hander despite three poor outings in the minors was the right one.
''The win was special, but Guzman really pitched well,'' Piniella said. ''That was good to see. He threw strikes, got his breaking ball over. We can't overlook that. That's important.''
That's because the fifth spot in the rotation remains a question -- and a need if the Cubs expect to have a good season. Having Guzman as a viable option can only help.
A good performance was also important for Guzman's confidence.
''First of all, I was thinking about the opportunity Lou has given me, and that's helped me a lot,'' said Guzman, who risked blowing his chance with three poor starts at Class AAA Iowa after being sent down to work as a starter. ''I was ready to go out [Sunday] and put some zeros on the board so my team could come back and win.''
Guzman, 25, was in trouble in the fourth, loading the bases with one out. He retired Austin Kearns on a pop-up for the second out but walked Brian Schneider to force in the only run he allowed.
He gave up only two hits, struck out three and walked two.
''I didn't expect to get the call, but when I did on Friday, I was real happy and got my confidence back,'' he said. ''I'll look forward to a great season and battling out there.''
Guzman has yet to notch a major-league victory, but his ERA is a sparkling 2.19 this season, which he began in the bullpen. Guzman made four relief appearances with eight strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings and a 2.45 ERA before he was sent to Iowa.
He is scheduled to start again Saturday in Philadelphia and May 17 in New York.
JUST A PINCH: Piniella's crystal ball might have been working before Sunday's game. He talked about the need to find more playing time for Daryle Ward, who had been limited to 10 official at-bats in 17 games, 15 of them as a pinch hitter.
''I have to get him in there once in a while,'' Piniella said.
Ward became one of the heroes with a key single in the ninth, when the Cubs scored the tying run, and the game-winning hit in the 10th.
His heroics earned him a double-dose of shaving-cream pie after the game from his teammates.
''That's the first time that's ever happened,'' the nine-year veteran said. ''They were just so excited I didn't get walked [Ward has seven pinch-hit walks]. They call me the pinch-hit walker, so I got a chance to hit and it felt good. It brought me in with the team, as well.''
STREAKING: Alfonso Soriano, who struggled at the plate in early April, has raised his average to .303 with a 15-game hitting streak, matching his career high done three other times. He has reached base in all 23 games he has played.
Derrek Lee has a 14-game hitting streak, his second double-digit streak of the season after starting with a 10-gamer. His career best is 18 games from April 17 to May 7, 2005. Lee has reached base in all 29 of the Cubs' games and leads the major leagues with a .414 average.
MENDING: Wade Miller threw 80 pitches Sunday as he recovers from back spasms. Miller will throw another long bullpen session Thursday and be re-evaluated.
''If that goes well, we'll probably try to go someplace [on a minor-league rehab assignment],'' he said.
REMEMBERING: Sunday was the ninth anniversary of Kerry Wood's 20-strikeout game against Houston. Wood remains on the disabled list with right shoulder tendinitis, but he and his wife, Sarah, plan to hold their second annual charity bowling event this month to raise money for Children's Memorial Hospital.