by Chris De Luca, The Chicago Sun-Times , Chicago Sun Times

The proof came in the sixth inning Wednesday in Pittsburgh, when Piniella sprang out of the dugout and argued with first-base umpire Chad Fairchild after a close play at the bag.

''I'm done with that,'' Piniella said Thursday of questions about his famous fiery approach. ''You know, my chest was hurting after the ballgame. The trainer told me to take a nice, cold shower. I don't know why I had to answer that before.

''I went out and argued and I got kicked out, so now I don't have to answer that question anymore.''

Last month, Piniella was asked about his perceived lack of fire this season, and he dismissed the question by saying: ''What do I need to show fire for? I'm not a dragon.''

His players believe the topic is now dead.

''Well, I saw some fire [Wednesday], for sure,'' shortstop Ryan Theriot said. ''Lou's been Lou. One thing that he has done this year more than ever is teach. He has pulled guys aside. Man, this guy's got a lot of knowledge. ... As far as losing the fire, I don't see it at all. When the cameras are on, maybe not, but I've seen the fire, and I embrace it.''

It was Piniella's first ejection since July 26, 2008. Had he ever gone 11 months as a manager without getting tossed?

''My wife ejected me a couple of times,'' Piniella said.

HENDRY DEALS

July is Baseball's trading season, and Cubs general manager Jim Hendry struck quickly, acquiring versatile infielder/outfielder Jeff Baker from the Colorado Rockies for minor-league right-hander Al Alburquerque. Baker took the roster spot of infielder/outfielder Ryan Freel, who was designated for assignment.

Baker, 28, was activated from the 60-day disabled list before the trade. He was limited to 12 games with the Rockies because of a sprained left hand that put him on the DL on April 29. Baker hit .130 with three RBI in those 12 games, but hit .268 with 12 homers and 48 RBI in 104 games last season.

Alburquerque was 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA in 24 relief appearances at Class A Daytona. Freel, acquired by the Cubs from the Baltimore Orioles for outfielder Joey Gathright on May 8, hit .143 in 14 games.

HOT SEAT?

Hendry has come under his most intense fire as GM, but has a contract that runs through 2012. Still, with no owners coming in later this year, is Hendry feeling the heat?

''I've heard a lot of great things said about me and written that I didn't quite believe,'' he said. ''And I try not to go too far in the down column when it's not going too well.

''If it doesn't go well, it should start with me. I'm OK with that. I'm as disappointed as anyone else that we're not playing better, but at the same time, we're not quite even halfway done yet.''

HEALTH WATCH

Left-hander Neal Cotts, who was optioned to Class AAA Iowa on May 28, underwent reconstructive elbow surgery Thursday in Cincinnati.

- Outfielder Reed Johnson -- on the disabled list since June 21 because of back spasms -- will join third baseman Aramis Ramirez at Class A Peoria for a rehabilitation assignment that begins tonight in Geneva against the Kane County Cougars.

BOX SCORE

Milwaukee AB R H BI BB SO Avg.

Counsell 2b 4 0 0 0 1 1 .292

Hardy ss 5 0 0 0 0 3 .228

Braun lf 5 0 1 1 0 1 .328

Fielder 1b 4 2 2 1 1 2 .309

McGehee 3b 5 0 1 0 0 3 .317

M.Cameron cf 4 2 3 2 0 0 .248

C.Hart rf 3 0 0 0 0 0 .248

Kendall c 4 0 2 1 0 1 .237

McClung p 1 0 0 0 0 1 .000

C.Smith p 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000

a-Gerut ph 1 1 1 0 0 0 .199

Narveson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --

b-Catalanotto ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .258

DiFelice p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --

Totals 37 5 10 5 3 12

Chicago AB R H BI BB SO Avg.

Fuld lf 4 2 2 0 1 0 .500

Theriot ss 4 2 2 0 1 0 .289

D.Lee 1b 4 2 2 7 0 0 .285

Bradley rf 4 0 1 0 0 1 .239

J.Fox 3b 3 1 1 1 1 0 .317

Heilman p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --

Marmol p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --

Fukudome cf 4 0 1 0 0 0 .260

Soto c 4 1 1 1 0 1 .237

Fontenot 2b-3b 4 1 1 0 0 0 .220

Dempster p 2 0 0 0 0 0 .088

Marshall p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231

A.Blanco 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 .228

Totals 34 9 11 9 3 2

Milwaukee 020 001 110--5 10 0

Cubs 400 500 00x--9 11 1

a-singled for C.Smith in the 7th. b-popped out for Narveson in the 8th.

E--Fontenot (5). LOB--Milwaukee 9, Chicago 5. 2B--Fielder (20), M.Cameron (15), Fuld (2), Fukudome (16). HR--M.Cameron (13), off Dempster; Fielder (21), off Dempster; D.Lee (13), off McClung; J.Fox (3), off McClung; Soto (8), off McClung; D.Lee (14), off C.Smith. RBIs--Braun (58), Fielder (75), M.Cameron 2 (35), Kendall (22), D.Lee 7 (48), J.Fox (12), Soto (26). S--Dempster.

Runners left in scoring position--Milwaukee 4 (C.Hart, Braun, Fielder, Counsell); Cubs 3 (Theriot, Dempster, J.Fox).

Runners moved up--Fontenot. GIDP--C.Hart.

DP-- Cubs 1 (Fontenot, Theriot, D.Lee).

Milwaukee IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA

McClung L, 3-2 3.1 7 7 7 2 1 85 4.59

C.Smith 2.2 4 2 2 1 1 50 2.50

Narveson 1 0 0 0 0 0 11 9.00

DiFelice 1 0 0 0 0 0 13 1.72

Cubs IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA

Dempster W, 5-5 6.2 8 4 3 2 9 109 4.09

Marshall 0.1 0 0 0 0 1 4 4.37

Heilman 1 2 1 1 0 1 21 4.04

Marmol 1 0 0 0 1 1 20 3.76

Inherited runners-scored--C.Smith 2-2, Marshall 2-0. HBP--by Heilman (C.Hart).

Umpires--Home, James Hoye; First, Bill Welke; Second, Tim Welke; Third, Jim Reynolds. T--2:42. A--40,545.

HOW THEY SCORED

Cubs first Fuld walke. Theriot singled, Fuld to second. D.Lee homere, Fuld scored, Theriot scored. Bradley struck out. J.Fox homered. Four runs. Cubs 4, Brewers 0.

Brewers second Fielder doubled. McGehee grounded out. M.Cameron homered, Fielder scored. Two runs. Cubs 4, Brewers 2.

Cubs fourth Soto homered. Fontenot singled. Dempster sacrificed, Fontenot to second. Fuld infield single, Fontenot to third. C.Smith pitching. Theriot walked, Fuld to second. D.Lee homered, Fontenot scored, Fuld scored, Theriot scored. Five runs. Cubs 9, Brewers 2.

Brewers sixth Fielder homered. One run. Cubs 9, Brewers 3.

Brewers seventh Kendall grounded out. Gerut pinch-hitting for C.Smith. Gerut singled. Counsell safe at first on Fontenot's error, Gerut to second. Hardy struck out. Braun singled, Gerut scored. One run. Cubs 9, Brewers 4.

Brewers eighth Heilman pitching. McGehee struck out. M.Cameron doubled. C.Hart was hit by a pitch. Kendall singled, M.Cameron scored. One run. Cubs 9, Brewers 5.

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