Murton's call-up not without its hang-ups

Considering all the trouble Matt Murton has had the past three years becoming a fixture in the Cubs' outfield plans, it figures his return would come with a hassle.

Murton found out at 5 p.m. Friday he was being called up from Class AAA Iowa. But he couldn't catch a flight out of New Orleans on Friday and didn't make his way into the Cubs' clubhouse until 10:16 a.m. Saturday after a morning flight and a cab ride to Wrigley Field.

Facing left-handers Saturday and today, the Cubs decided to recall Murton and option Eric Patterson to Iowa.

"It's unfortunate obviously that (left fielder) Alfonso (Soriano) got hurt," Murton said. "I've been feeling pretty good at the plate down there. I want to come up here and keep doing what I've been doing."

What the 26-year-old has been doing is getting on base without a trace of power. He has an on-base percentage of .462 without an extra-base hit among his 13 hits for a batting average and slugging percentage that sit at the same .317.

"We were hoping he'd hit the ball for a little power," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "Sometimes it takes some at-bats."

Murton entered in the sixth inning Saturday and went 0-for-2.

Patterson took the news in stride. He was 0-for-6 in three games, including a start at second base Friday when he recorded his first major-league RBI and stolen base.

"It's just one of those things," Patterson said. "Baseball is so unpredictable. You never know what's going to happen. I'm not going to sulk or be upset or anything like that."

Patience pays off: The Cubs continued their disciplined approach at the plate, walking 10 times Saturday against Pittsburgh. Seven of the walks turned into runs.

They began the day leading the majors in seeing an average of 3.94 pitches per plate appearance. The Cubs had 12 hits in their 13-1 victory and are just a half-game behind St. Louis in the NL Central.

"It's nice to get off to a good start rather than fighting your way back uphill the rest of the season," Derrek Lee said.

Better than advertised: Coming into the season, the National League Central was maligned as possibly the worst division in baseball, and there's still plenty of time for it to play out that way.

So far the division has been a surprise, including a 12-6 start by St. Louis.

"It's a competitive division," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. " If you look at the records of this division, they are as good as the rest of the teams in the other divisions."

Balls and strikes: Josh Vitters, the Cubs' first-round pick from last year, made his debut Friday at Class A Peoria after extended spring training. Vitters, a third baseman who was chosen No. 3 overall, went 3-for-4 with 3 doubles. …

Kosuke Fukudome is eligible to win Rookie of the Year, something Piniella said doesn't fit for the 30-year-old outfielder. "I don't think Fukudome would want to consider himself a rookie," Piniella said. "He's a player."