CHICAGO -- In a bullpen devoid of roles, Milwaukee Brewers reliever David Riske showed exactly what kind of role he can fill with a perfect 10th inning in Monday's 4-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs.

With the exception of long man Seth McClung, situational left-hander Brian Shouse and closer Eric Gagne, manager Ned Yost says he is not going to designate specific bullpen roles for his quartet of hard-throwing relievers that in addition to Riske includes Salomon Torres, Guillermo Mota and Derrick Turnbow.

While Gagne faltered in his first assignment for the Brewers when he allowed a three-run homer to Cubs newcomer Kosuke Fukudome in the ninth, Torres, Mota and Riske were good enough to give credence to Yost's belief this may be the best bullpen he has had in six years as manager.

"I don 't need (roles) to be determined," Yost said. "I don't want them to be determined. I want them to pitch whenever needed and that way I can keep the whole pen healthy and not have to use a certain pitcher five days in a row."

Torres relieved starter Ben Sheets in the seventh and survived a shaky start to get Felix Pie to ground out with two on to end the inning. Mota was overpowering, closing out his perfect, two-strikeout eighth with a 95 mph fastball that caught Alfonso Soriano looking.

Yost called on Riske in the 10th to protect the lead because of the right-hander's reputation for throwing strikes. He didn't fail, either, throwing seven in a nine-pitch outing.

"I've always been known to throw strikes. That's my game," said Riske, who signed a free agent deal in the offseason. "I think sometimes people get too caught up in the roles, the sixth inning, seventh inning, eighth inning guy. We have so many great power and command arms out there, it really doesn't matter who pitches what inning because they are all very important."

Gallardo on track

Yovani Gallardo pitched four innings Sunday at the Brewers' minor-league training camp and is on target to join the Brewers' starting rotation sometime in the next three weeks.

Gallardo is expected to join the Class AAA Nashville Sounds and make a start Friday in New Orleans and could rejoin the Brewers when the team is in Cincinnati April 18 to 20. Gallardo underwent surgery on his left knee the first week of spring training.

A statue for Mr. Cub

As part of their opening day festivities, the Cubs unveiled a statue of Hall of Famer Ernie Banks at the home plate entrance to Wrigley Field near the corner of Clark and Addison.

Among the dignitaries joining Banks at the ceremony was his old Milwaukee rival, Henry Aaron. "I know it will be here 100 years from now," said Banks, 77. "It's a miracle. But it's proof that if you find satisfaction in your life, miracles can happen."

Start me up

On Sunday, Cubs manager Lou Piniella was extolling the virtues of getting off to a good start, something understandable considering the Cubs got off to a 22-30 start through the first two months last year before rallying to overcome the Brewers' lead in the National League Central.

As is his style, Yost doesn't buy into the thinking. "We got off to a good start last year. What good did it do us? We just want to play good today," he said.

"An eight-, nine-, 10-game lead in June doesn't mean anything. Teams get hot and they get cool, and it depends on the timing. You have to be prepared for the marathon."

Around the horn

The Brewers claimed right-hander Richie Gardner off waivers from Cincinnati and assigned the 26-year-old to Nashville, where he will join the starting rotation. Gardner was one of the most highly rated pitchers in the Reds organization but underwent shoulder surgery late in the 2005 season. Gardner was a sixth-round pick in 2003. ... Pitchers Manny Parra and Carlos Villanueva rejoined the team after throwing in camp games Sunday in Phoenix, where the temperature was pushing 90. It might have been a rude shock for some to come from those temperatures to here but not Parra. "Remember," he said, "I played in Beloit."