(Courtesy of The Sports Xchange)  Cubs catcher Michael Barrett comes off a 10-game suspension on Friday for punching White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski in a May game.

Interestingly enough, Barrett's first game back will come against the White Sox at Wrigley Field.

But Barrett doesn't expect any fireworks.

"We're both mature enough and professional enough to put it behind us," Barrett said. "I think there will be a time when things sort of settle down for both of us to sit down and talk about it and just hang out.

"I think the last thing on their (the White Sox's) mind and their plate right now is that incident. They're more concerned about the Cubs, not Michael Barrett."

Barrett hit .308 with eight homers and 30 RBIs before the suspension. The Cubs hope he will complement a lineup that has power hitter Derrek Lee back.

REPLAY: The Cubs dropped three out of four games to Milwaukee, losing the series finale 5-4 Thursday. They have lost 10 of their last 11 games at Wrigley Field.

Mark Prior (0-3) had some bad luck in the sixth inning when he jammed pinch hitter Gabe Gross, who blooped a single with the bases loaded to bring home the fourth and fifth runs of the game.

Jacque Jones drove in three runs for the Cubs, who fell to 29-49.

--story continued below advertisement--

NOTES

--RHP Mark Prior looked sharp in spots, striking out nine batters in 5 2/3 innings against Milwaukee on Thursday afternoon. But he also gave up five runs on eight hits and fell to 0-3 in his three starts back from a shoulder injury. "It's there sometimes, but I can't keep hanging so many breaking balls," he said.

--RHP Scott Williamson pitched in his first game since returning from the disabled list and threw two scoreless innings against Milwaukee on Wednesday. Williamson had been out with right elbow tendinitis.

--LHP Glendon Rusch (back spasms) made his first rehab start for Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday and allowed one run on two hits with two strikeouts in four innings. The reports the Cubs received said Rusch's velocity was down but he was throwing strikes and changing speeds effectively. The Cubs are not sure when he will return, but when he does, it will be as a long reliever.

--RHP Angel Guzman hasn't been used since a 5 1/3-inning relief stint against Detroit on June 16. Manager Dusty Baker said he hoped Guzman can get some work soon but said, "That's the peril of long relief. Sometimes you don't get enough work."

--C Geovany Soto could be sent down to Triple-A Iowa as soon as Friday when Michael Barrett comes off a 10-game suspension. The Cubs are unlikely to carry three catchers. Soto was brought up on Tuesday but has not played in a game.

==============
www.mysportspage.com
==============