Pie takes a seat against left-handers

PITTSBURGH -- Don't expect to see Felix Pie in center field for the Cubs until Thursday night's series finale against the Pirates.

Reed Johnson made his third straight start in center Monday. The main reason Johnson started was because the Pirates sent lefty Tom Gorzelanny to the mound. Johnson bats right-handed, while Pie is a lefty.

The same scenario will hold true Wednesday when the series resumes with the Pirates sending out left-hander Zach Duke.

However, manager Lou Piniella started Johnson twice against the Astros over the weekend even though Houston started all right-handed pitching.

"We're looking for offense, obviously," Piniella said. "You need to score runs, and the guys who are hitting the ball are the guys who are going to play. What can I say?"

Johnson went 1-for-3 with 2 walks in Monday's 10-8 victory. He also slid home safely under the tag in the sixth inning on Aramis Ramirez's grounder to second.

"I feel good at the plate," Johnson said. "For myself just to be able to get on base with the way Derrek (Lee) is swinging the bat, I think, is the most important thing, whether it's a hit-by-pitch or walk or working a deep count and getting a basehit."

Nothing's different: First baseman Derrek Lee has hit 3 home runs already this year compared with only 1 for all of April last year.

He swears up and down that nothing is different.

"Like I said, home runs are just a byproduct of hitting the ball well and getting some air," he said. "This year, the ball's going in the air. I didn't change one thing. I don't have an explanation for it.

"I've gotten some balls in the air, and they've gone out of the ballpark. Last year it didn't seem like I got balls in the air."

Speculation has been rampant that the broken right wrist Lee suffered in 2006 hampered him last year.

"I don't think so," he said. "It didn't hurt while I was hitting. I didn't change my swing. I'm not doing anything different. I'm just trying to have a good approach at the plate.

"Last year I felt great. I just didn't hit home runs. This year I've got a couple in the air. Hopefully it continues."

Theriot rests: Ronny Cedeno started at shortstop in place of Ryan Theriot, who is batting .200 (5-for-25).

Lou Piniella said he didn't think Theriot needed a "mental break."

"No, I'm just giving him a little rest," Piniella said. "His hand was bothering him a little bit yesterday. I said we're going to play our bench some. Cedeno's actually had success against these Pittsburgh lefties. We'll give him a chance to play and we'll see what happens."

Cedeno hit a 3-run double in the Cubs' 6-run third inning. He also committed a costly throwing error in the Pirates' 5-run fourth.

Theriot entered the game in the ninth inning and walked twice. He led of the 12th with a walk and scored the go-ahead run.