Piniella: Samardzija improved

MILWAUKEE - Jeff Samardzija earned the loss Wednesday night as the Cubs fell 3-2 to the Brewers at Miller Park.

He also earned something else: his manager's respect.

"I thought he was much improved," said Lou Piniella, whose club had its three-game wining streak snapped. "He's starting to look like a major-league pitcher. He sure as (heck) looked like a major-league hitter."

More about that in a minute, as Samardzija's first big-league hit happened to be a home run.

On the mound, the 24-year-old right-hander worked 5 innings, giving up 5 hits and 3 runs. The big hits were a 2-run homer by Prince Fielder in the fourth and a solo home run by Jody Gerut in the sixth.

Outside of that, Samardzija looked fluid and smooth while the scoreboard radar gun clocked his fastball at upward of 99 mph.

"We've been working on a handful of things, it seems like, throughout the year," he said. "The last month, when I was down in Triple-A, we really had it ironed out. It's been smoothing some things out, off-speed pitches."

The Cubs struck out 10 times against Brewers lefty Chris Narveson. Samardzija led off the sixth against Narveson with an opposite-field homer to right.

"It's been in my pocket," he said. "I just went up there swinging. The ball found the bat. I probably should have slowed down and enjoyed it because it might not happen for a long time."

Harden update: Rich Harden said he'd like to return to the Cubs in 2010. Of more concern is 2009. It's uncertain when, or if, Harden will start again this season.

"I'm not sure about Harden, I'm really not," said Lou Piniella. "I'm not certain on whether Rich is going to get another start again."

Harden has not pitched since Sept. 16. He's made 26 starts despite a history of shoulder problems, but the Cubs have been resting him because of "fatigue." Harden will be a free agent this off-season.

"I'll talk about that with you guys (reporters)," Harden said. "I'd like to (come back). The organization's great. I have a lot of respect for (GM) Jim Hendry and Lou and everybody, the staff, the trainers. It's been a good fit for me."

Unsure about Lilly: The Cubs list Ted Lilly as Sunday's starting pitcher in San Francisco, but it's possible Randy Wells could get the start. Lilly has battled an inflamed shoulder, and the Cubs are taking it easy on him.