Animated Bradley? Get used to it

Milton Bradley was surrounded by reporters tonight after his monster blast to right-center helped the Cubs to a 6-2 win over the Padres. Bradley put his hand up to his ear when he got to home plate, looking for some love from the fans. Whether it's doing that or "discussing" calls with umpires, Bradley is a live wire on the field.

"You want a bunch of duds walking around with their shoulders slumped and having no emotion, no feeling?" he said. "I don't think the fans want that. I think they want a guy who's going to get into the game and 'feel' a little bit. I've always said I really don't 'play' baseball; I 'feel' it. I try to grasp the moment and make the most out of it. I never really get too cocky about anything I do because I expect to do well."

Milton said he saved his smile for rookie Bobby Scales, who hit a pinch homer in the seventh. It was Scales' first big-league homer.

Bradley said he appreciated the fan support.

"They should understand I'm a good hitter, and you're going to go through this sometime," he said of his early-season struggles. "But I need the support. You know what I'm saying? Part of the reason I came here is you know they've got great fans, and they're going to be into the game, and I like that life."

As far as Scales goes, he has hit hit safely in his first five games of his big-league career. When he homered, he raced around the bases.

"Even in the minor leagues, when I hit home runs, there's no point showing anybody up," the 31-year-old rookie said. "You hit it. It went over the fence. That's enough. Get all four bases and get off the field."

Carlos Marmol picked up his seventh straight hold. Kosuke Fukudome extended his hitting streak to five games with a pair of doubles and s single. Lou said he was happy that all 3 of Fukudome's hits went to the left, or opposite, side.