Hamstring leaves Zambrano out of the game for three weeks after win
Issue date: 5/6/09 Section: Sports
CHICAGO (AP) - Carlos Zambrano is out two or three weeks after being placed on the disabled list due to a strained left hamstring.
The right-hander was injured while running out a bunt for a hit in Sunday's win over the Florida Marlins on Sunday. Zambrano pitched five innings and earned the victory before leaving. He is 3-1 with a 4.50 ERA on the season.
"He doesn't want to go on the DL which is the part of him we like, but at the same time, the doctors feel probably he needs two, two-and-a-half weeks to be 100 percent, and there is no reason to push it, and it would be foolish on our part to push it and have it get worse," said Cubs general manager Jim Hendry.
Manager Lou Piniella said the Cubs plan to call up right-hander Randy Wells from Triple-A Iowa on Friday to take Zambrano's spot in the rotation at Milwaukee. Wells is 3-0 with a 3.13 ERA. He will be making his first major league start. He made four appearances as a reliever for the Cubs in 2008.
Zambrano, at 6-foot-5, 255 pounds, does not have any intentions of taking it easy at the plate. He said he felt pain when he was three steps from first base. Piniella has also used Zambrano as a pinch-hitter. He is hitting .278 on the season with a home run.
"If I feel my leg is a 100 percent I will be the same," Zambrano said. "I take everything into winning a ballgame, whatever it takes. This is the National League, in the National League you have to be at the plate and have to be able to do everything."
Also Monday, the Cubs called up utility infielder Bobby Scales from Triple-A Iowa before their game against the San Francisco Giants. Scales hit .303 in 21 games for Iowa.
The right-hander was injured while running out a bunt for a hit in Sunday's win over the Florida Marlins on Sunday. Zambrano pitched five innings and earned the victory before leaving. He is 3-1 with a 4.50 ERA on the season.
"He doesn't want to go on the DL which is the part of him we like, but at the same time, the doctors feel probably he needs two, two-and-a-half weeks to be 100 percent, and there is no reason to push it, and it would be foolish on our part to push it and have it get worse," said Cubs general manager Jim Hendry.
Manager Lou Piniella said the Cubs plan to call up right-hander Randy Wells from Triple-A Iowa on Friday to take Zambrano's spot in the rotation at Milwaukee. Wells is 3-0 with a 3.13 ERA. He will be making his first major league start. He made four appearances as a reliever for the Cubs in 2008.
Zambrano, at 6-foot-5, 255 pounds, does not have any intentions of taking it easy at the plate. He said he felt pain when he was three steps from first base. Piniella has also used Zambrano as a pinch-hitter. He is hitting .278 on the season with a home run.
"If I feel my leg is a 100 percent I will be the same," Zambrano said. "I take everything into winning a ballgame, whatever it takes. This is the National League, in the National League you have to be at the plate and have to be able to do everything."
Also Monday, the Cubs called up utility infielder Bobby Scales from Triple-A Iowa before their game against the San Francisco Giants. Scales hit .303 in 21 games for Iowa.
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