Look closer and one was listed as "Patterson" and another as "C. Patterson." For the first time since they were in high school together, Corey Patterson and his younger brother, Eric, were playing in the same game.

Eric Patterson, an eighth-round draft pick by the Cubs last year, is Corey's younger brother and was called up for the intrasquad game. A second baseman, he made a good first impression by hitting a triple into the gap in left-center past his brother in the first inning.

The two have not played in the same game since Corey was a senior and Eric was a freshman at Harrison High School in Kennesaw, Ga.

"It's been a few years," Eric said. "It'll be fun to get out here and run around with him again."

The brothers, who are rooming together in Arizona, sat near Corey's locker before the game. They don't talk much about baseball off the field.

"Usually when we're off the field, we just hang out, big brother, little brother," Eric said. "There will be things that come up that I'll ask him. For the most part, I'll try to figure out things on my own."

"I told him he has to be himself," Corey said. "What works for me may not work for you. If he has a question, I'll tell him whatever I can but for the most part we haven't gone into detail.

"He's a smart kid and he'll catch on pretty quick," Corey said. "The sooner you can start doing things and get used to it, the better you are."

The brothers are both fast. Who's speedier?

"I don't know," Corey said, laughing. "He can move pretty good."

They won't have a match race.

"I don't want to get embarrassed," said Corey, 25.

Eric, 21, seemed at ease in the big league clubhouse. The minor league players have only been in camp a few days, and he was a little surprised to be called up for Wednesday's game. He's not sure which Cubs minor league team he'll be assigned to. It's all rather new.

"I'm going to pick up things and learn what I can," Eric said. "It's the same game I've been playing since I was five or six years old."

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Also, FYI:

Corey is the Cubs' all-time home run leader for the month of March, with two. He hit both on Opening Day in 2003. (read that in the Vine Line that I got today)