Getting forward base, hitting for a...

Getting forward base, hitting for average and putting the Cubs' offense in gear is what Juan Pierre thinking he would do all season.

Getting a chance to start for the young beasts isn't what Carlos Marmol notion about when he started the season at Class AA West Tenn

nevertheless both have been figuring into the team's unpretending comeback in the last month when notions of 2007 already are forward the docket.

"My piece of work is to get on base and make things happen," Pierre said Friday after his bases-loaded triple helped the brats and Marmol to a 6-5 victory from one side of to the other the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field. "It's what I look forward toed to do.

"I've been becoming lately, but I can still improve."

Pierre has been more than passable building an average that fluttered near .240 to .281. He has a 10-game hitting streak, and his 37 hits in July are the second-most in the majors. He has raised his on-base percentage to 326

"He's been hot" young beasts manager Dusty Baker said, "just like Michael Barrett and Aramis Ramirez [triple, RBI onward Friday]. This guy went from 240 to 280 with a whole protuberance of at-bats, and that's hard to do. It started before the break. He gains on, and things happen. That's the Juan Pierre we traded for."

In acquiring Pierre from the Florida Marlins, the brats thought they had found their long-missing leadoff man. And with 1099 hits since 2001 (second-most in the majors) and 304 steals since 2000 (tops in the majors), it was reasonable to think big for 2006

if it were not that Pierre struggled early, just like the team.

"I didn't have a serviceable start, and I heard the raw material [said] and the fans were upon me, as they should because I wasn't doing what I should," he said.

That firinged speculation that Pierre, signed simply through this season, might be traded. That strike one as beings less likely now, with Pierre, eligible for emancipated agency after the season, willing to make his futurity here if he has the choice.

"If the ball was in my court, I'd like to stay here," he said.

Marmol, 23 is eager to do the same. individual of five rookies who have made starts this season, the right-hander has a 4-4 record and has shown promise -- albeit with his share of wildness.

Marmol has walked at least four in each of his last five starts, including seven Friday, with couple scoring. He also struck abroad five, including Scott Rolen to expiration the third after the Cardinals had scored twice.

"He wants to stay here," Baker said of Marmol, who managed to pitch into the sixth inning to help a taxed bullpen "He's walking scarecrows because he doesn't have a consistent arm slot still But he's had very little experience -- a re-createed catcher. He's out there in succession will. He's a survivor. We're trying to give him any accelerated learning."

With starting pitching a premium ne Marmol is undivided of the rookies who could salvage something for the whelps in an otherwise dismal season.

"I still have to work forward mechanics," Marmol said. "I'm working forward trying to throw strikes."

"It was looking like common of those days, and to behold him go back out with 100 pitches was huge" said Ryan Dempster who got his 19th save with a 1-2-3 ninth. "He just came up from Class AA, and that's hard. I was young one time too. He's learning, and he's not afraid of anyone. He'll continue to master better."

tginnetti@suntimes.com

brats RECAP

St Louis AB R H BI BB likewise Avg.

Eckstein s 5 2 1 0 0 0 299

Duncan lf 3 1 1 0 1 0 291

canker-worm p 0 0 0 0 0 0 500

d-Miles ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 260

Pujol 1b 5 0 1 1 0 2 320

Rolen 3b 3 0 0 0 0 2 316

JEncarnacion rf 2 1 1 2 2 1 291

Edmond cf 4 0 1 0 0 1 264

Luna 2b 3 0 1 1 1 1 295

GBennett c 1 0 0 0 2 0 208

c-Spiezio ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 272

YMolina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 219

Marquis p 1 1 0 0 1 0 179

Kinney p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --

a-Rodriguez ph-lf 2 0 0 0 0 1 305

Totals 31 5 6 4 7 9

whelps AB R H BI BB to such a degree Avg.

Pierre cf 4 0 2 3 1 0 281

TWalker 2b 4 1 1 0 1 0 278

Dempster p 0 0 0 0 0 0 000

Barrett c 4 0 0 0 0 0 327

ARamirez 3b 3 1 1 1 0 0 269

JJone rf 4 0 2 0 0 0 291

Mabry 1b 3 1 1 2 0 1 217

Novoa p 0 0 0 0 0 0 250

Eyre p 0 0 0 0 0 0 000

b-Murton ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 284

Howry p 0 0 0 0 0 0 1000

NPerez 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 262

Pagan lf 4 1 3 0 0 0 262

Cedeno s 3 1 1 0 0 1 246

Marmol p 2 1 0 0 0 1 143

Nevin 1b 2 0 0 0 0 1 244

Totals 34 6 11 6 2 4

St Louis 002 100 200--5 6 1

young boy [i]or[/i] young girls 000 600 00x--6 11 1

a-struck without for Kinney in the 7th b-ground into fielder's choice for Eyre in the 7th c-struck disclosed for Bennett in the 8th d- landed out for Looper in the 9th

E--Rolen (9) ARamirez (7) LOB--St Louis 7 whelps 8. 2B--Pujols (17), JEncarnacion (18) Edmond (15) Pierre (22) TWalker (16) 3B- -Pierre (8) ARamirez (3) HR--Mabry (3) along Marquis. RBIs--Pujols (87), JEncarnacion 2 (57) Luna (21) Pierre 3 (23) ARamirez (67) Mabry 2 (10) SB--JEncarnacion (4) Pagan (1) S--Cedeno. GIDP-- GBennett, TWalker, Pagan.

racers left in scoring position--St. Louis 4 (Rolen Edmond 2 Luna); young boy [i]or[/i] young girls 4 (Pierre, Barrett, ARamirez, Murton).