Soriano takes b.p., mulls what to do over break

ST. LOUIS - The swings weren't wild or overdone, but they were purposeful and as effective as batting-practice swings can be.

Cubs left fielder Alfonso Soriano took batting practice Saturday for the first time since he broke the fourth metacarpal in his left hand June 11. Soriano sent several line drives to the outfield and deposited two baseballs into the grass background beyond the center-field fence.

Although he seems to be healing well and the Cubs hope he can beat the six-week timetable to return, Soriano wasn't quite sure how to approach things before taking his hacks.

"A little scared, but that's normal," he said.

Soriano has said he'd like to be ready near the all-star break. However, if he's voted into the All-Star Game and cannot play, he probably won't go to Yankee Stadium.

"I'm going crazy here just watching the games," he said. "I don't want to go there and watch the game, too. If I go, it's because I want to play."

After the Cubs' 5-4 loss to the Cardinals, Soriano was saying his hand felt weak, so an All-Star Game appearance seems unlikely at this point.

A real blast: Closer Kerry Wood was on the mound Friday night when a Fourth of July fireworks show was going full blast beyond the right field wall. Wood seemed to be able to concentrate a little better than the Cardinals batters, and he earned his 22nd save.

"I didn't see them, but I heard them," Wood said. "I turned around and saw them, but I heard them first. I would say (it was) probably more distracting to them since the ball's coming from that direction, and there's a bunch of fireworks going off. It probably helped me a little bit.

"I'm going to pull some strings to get that done more often."

Wood's performance as a closer, Saturday's blown save notwithstanding, makes him an all-star candidate. But he doesn't seem concerned with it.

"No, not really," he said. "I didn't think there was much of a chance. There are a lot of guys who are throwing well, so we'll see. Yeah, obviously I'd be honored to be invited, but either way would be good."

Minor matters: Pitcher Jeff Samardzija ran his record to 2-1 with a 3.93 ERA at Class AAA Iowa on Friday by going 6 innings in an 11-5 victory over Oklahoma. Center fielder Felix Pie had 4 hits.

Third baseman Josh Vitters, last year's No. 1 pick, had his 15-game hitting streak end Friday.

This and that: Starting pitcher Ted Lilly turned in the Cubs' sixth quality start in their last seven games. The Cubs are 3-3 in those games... First baseman Derrek Lee was 3-for-5 and has gone 10-for-21 over his last five games... The Cubs are 14-14 in 1-run games, 6-9 on the road. ... Cubs pitchers have held the Cardinals' Troy Glaus hitless in 20 at-bats this season.