"The first part of Derrek Lee's strange Friday started when he pulled into the Cubs parking lot and was told "no.''

"They said, 'You can't park here.' But they were playing a trick on me,'' he said, his presence and vehicle still welcome in their accustomed spot, even with Lee a member of the Atlanta Braves.

"But it was weird walking past the (Cubs) clubhouse, seeing all the same workers. Definitely weird. I'm sure the first inning will be different, too. I'm used to catching the third out and running across the field.''

Before Lee took the field, he came to bat in the first to a standing ovation. Lee stepped from the batter's box and waved his helmet in acknowledging the crowd. He swung at friend Ryan Dempster's first pitch and flied out to Alfonso Soriano in left.

"If I take him deep, I'll text him right away,'' Lee said grinning before the game. And if he struck out against Dempster? "I'm sure I'll get a phone call right after the game.''

Lee's break from the Cubs included going back to No. 27, the number he had his rookie year, instead of his No. 25, which belongs to Braves teammate Troy Gloss, who's on the disabled list."