text: NLC: The Chicago Cubs remain in first place. St. Louis has edged into second place by percentage points, 3.5 games back, as is Milwaukee, slipping ever so slightly into third.
  C.C. Sabathia, a new force to reckon with in the NLC, won in his first appearance for the Brewers last night, 7-3, defeating the Colorado Rockies in Milwaukee.
  Rich Harden hasn't pitched for the Chicago Cubs yet, but he strengthens an already strong rotation. The Cubs handled the San Francisco Giants last night, 7-3, behind the pitching of Ryan Dempster.
  Randy Flores pitched in one inning for Triple-A Memphis, just coming off the DL for an inflamed left ankle.
  Memphis Redbirds (AAA): Mitchell Boggs (6-1) picked up another victory versus the New Orleans Zephyrs in Louisiana last night. The Redbirds won 3-1, all of their offense coming off the longball, three solos shots. Cody Haerther counted for one of the homers, his second. Nick Stavinoha hit two, bringing his season total to 12.
  Justin Fiske is a minor-league pitcher to watch. The Springfield News Leader did a feature on the lefthanded pitcher who, undrafted, made it into the Cardinals system and has worked his way up to the Double-A level with the Springfield Cardinals. His strikes to walks ratio in junior college was an impressive 4-to-1. In Low-A ball at Quad-Cities, it was an insane 10-to-1, approximately. Now, in Springfield, the ratio is about 6-to-1.
  It is thought that Fiske keeps getting overlooked because of his small stature when compared to the common MLB pitcher. He is 5-11, 185-pounds.
  Funeral services for Jerry Chmielewski will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Amery on Friday at 11am.
  Visitation will be from 4pm to 7pm Thursday at the Williamson-White Funeral Home in Amery and from 10am to 11am Friday at the church.