After giving up a three-run homer to slump-weary Padres shortstop Khalil Greene last Tuesday, a TV shot showed a look of resigned acceptance on Marquis' mug. It's been that type of season for the Cubs righty, who has lost three straight starts. He'd held the Padres scoreless through three innings before Greene jacked one onto Waveland Ave. in a screaming wind.

"It seems like my mistakes get magnified right now," Marquis said. "I'm making quality pitches other than that, getting guys out, keeping the extra-base hits down as low as possible. But when you have guys at first and second, you have to execute pitches and minimize mistakes."

In his last three starts, Marquis has had big innings go against him. In his final April start, Milwaukee got to Marquis for a three-run inning in a 10-7 loss. Against St. Louis on May 4, he gave up four straight hits, resulting in two runs in one inning and a two-out, two-run double to Albert Pujols in another. He got an extra-long break after that one, getting skipped in the rotation.

Marquis said there's nothing physically vexing him, but he recognizes where he needs to improve.

"I need to make quality pitches down in the zone and be aggressive, that's all you can ask," he said. "I feel great physically. Mentally, I feel good. I just need to do a better job of in-game management and make sure I throw the right pitch and execute the right pitch."

Marquis' only win this season came against the Pirates, so the Cubs have a good chance at an 8-2 homestand.

"You've got to win at home," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "So far, we've been carrying our end of the deal at home. But it's a long season. I know here in Chicago we get excited about things really quick. I've learned that. Let's just keep playing."

Pitching matchup
CHC: RHP Jason Marquis (1-3, 5.26 ERA)
Marquis beat the Buccos on April 19, giving up one run on six hits in a 10-1 pasting. He struck out seven that game, nearly a third of his season total.

PIT: LHP Phil Dumatrait (1-1, 3.96 ERA)
Dumatrait looked sharp in his third start since joining the rotation. He extended himself to 88 pitches without tiring and used his new changeup with aplomb. He got a no-decision in his last start, giving up three runs during his six innings against St. Louis.

Tidbits
Triple-A slugger Micah Hoffpauir will join the Cubs in Houston, Piniella said. Hoffpauir, a first baseman, had been working out in the outfield since returning from injury in order to be promoted and back up the Cubs' outfielders. He drove in a run in the I-Cubs' 5-4 loss to Round Rock on Friday and is hitting .324 with 12 RBIs in his nine games since returning to the team. ... Southpaw Donnie Veal took the loss for Double-A Tennessee on Friday, giving up four runs in 5 1/3 innings in the 5-1 loss to Montgomery. ... Third baseman Josh Lansford went 4-for-4 with a solo homer in Class A Daytona's 3-2 win over St. Lucie. ... At Wrigley, closer Kerry Wood got the day off Saturday after working three straight. ... Piniella said he wasn't bothered that the National League manager Clint Hurdle didn't ask him to be an All-Star coach in the national goodbye to Yankee Stadium. The ex-Yankee player and manager is content with taking a little break. "It would've been an honor," he said. "But, quite frankly, I've been to Yankee Stadium [a lot over] a long time. I'd rather go home and spend three days in Florida with my family and on the beach." ... Piniella likes the makeup of his team, but mocked a reporter's suggestion that positive emotions in the clubhouse are newfound and spurring the team on. "I don't know how to correlate confidence and emotion," he said. "Do you sob before the ball comes to you? Do you sing out loud?" ... Alfonso Soriano's two homers Saturday gave him 250 for his career. He's also led off games with hits five straight times, matching his career high. ... Carlos Zambrano has 1,087 strikeouts, giving him sole possession of eighth place on the Cubs' all-time list. Hippo Vaughn is next on Z's hit list with 1,138.

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On the Internet
 MLB.TV
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On radio
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Up next
• Monday: Cubs (Ted Lilly, 4-4, 5.33) at Astros (Brian Moehler, 1-0, 4.58), 6:05 p.m. CT
• Tuesday: Cubs (Ryan Dempster, 5-1, 2.35) at Astros (Chris Sampson, 2-3, 6.46), 7:05 p.m. CT
• Wednesday: Cubs (Sean Gallagher, 1-0, 4.40) at Astros (TBD), 7:05 p.m. CT