" Alfonso Soriano's standing appears to be growing, along with his batting average. Manager Lou Piniella batted Soriano in the cleanup spot Friday night against the Rangers, something he never had done.

"He's swinging the bat as consistently as anybody we have,'' Piniella said. "Put him in the 4-hole, try it, see how he does with it.''

Soriano, who was hitting .215 on April 15, entered Friday night batting .323 with seven homers and 23 RBIs in 39 games."