Nady improving despite sporadic at-bats
Ramirez rests injured thumb in Philly finale
Worth noting
PHILADELPHIA — There was still no word Thursday whether or not Cubs starter Tom Gorzelanny will make his next scheduled start after taking a line drive off his left ring finger Wednesday night. Gorzelanny went home to Chicago for a different reason — his wife, Lindsey, was expected to give birth to their first child.
Cubs manager Lou Piniella didn't expect Gorzelanny to rejoin the team in Texas, and if he is capable of throwing, he will throw a bullpen session with somebody in Chicago.
Gorzelanny left Wednesday's game in the seventh after being hit by a line drive by Carlos Ruiz on his finger. The finger was swollen with some blood underneath the nail, but X-rays revealed no fracture.
The pitcher said he expected to make his next start, which would be Tuesday against the Dodgers. But Piniella said the team hasn't made that determination yet.
"We haven't even looked at that situation," Piniella said. "The day off on Monday allows us to skip somebody if we choose or if need be."
Another injured Cubs pitcher — reliever Esmailin Caridad — had an MRI exam on Wednesday, which revealed a left forearm strain, the same injury that put him on the disabled list for almost a month earlier this year. He was placed on the 15-day DL and sent to Arizona for rehabilitation work.
Nady improving despite sporadic at-bats
PHILADELPHIA — After going hitless in his first nine at-bats as a pinch-hitter, Xavier Nady may be rediscovering his stroke. As he continues to adjust to life without consistent playing time, the Cubs are seeing some optimistic signs that his offensive production is budding.
Nady came off the bench to lash a two-run single up the middle in the ninth inning on Wednesday, a crucial swing that gave Chicago some extra cushion in its 4-1 win over Philadelphia.
For Nady, it was his second pinch-hit in the past three at-bats after his hitless start to the season.
"It's been a tough start, but I know I'm better than what I've shown," Nady said. "I'll keep working at it and hopefully start producing."
Nady, who has been working his way back from offseason surgery on his right elbow, has 10 RBIs and a .212 batting average so far this season, in which he's made 12 starts. The Cubs have been patient with Nady as he works through his rehabilitation without any true Spring Training time.
Nady has admitted having difficulty coming off the bench to hit in the past. But he said he's growing more accustomed to the role, and it's getting easier.
"I'm just trying to find ways to mentally prepare and even take swings before and just find an approach that hopefully will work until you're playing," Nady said.
Nady recently made back-to-back starts in the outfield for the first time all year. With the Cubs set to begin Interleague Play, manager Lou Piniella expects to be able to get Nady more at-bats at the designated hitter spot.
"It's a tough situation for him," Piniella said. "He hasn't been able to play on a consistent basis. He didn't really have what you'd classify as a full swing. He's a much better hitter than what the numbers show. I'm hoping some time in the not too distant future, we'll start getting some production."
In the mean time, Nady will try and find his swing in the spare at-bats he may get.
"It's a long year, it's a crazy game," Nady said. "Sometimes they fall in, sometimes they don't. I just try to have good at-bats and go from there."
Ramirez rests injured thumb in Philly finale
PHILADELPHIA — Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez injured his left thumb while swinging a bat in Wednesday night's win over the Phillies and was out of the lineup Thursday afternoon.
Manager Lou Piniella didn't think the injury was anything serious.
"Hopefully he'll be ready tomorrow, if not over the weekend," Piniella said. "Sometimes he rolls over and squeezes it and it starts bothering him."
Ramirez went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts on Wednesday. Mike Fontenot got the start at third base on Thursday.
Ramirez didn't say much about it in the dugout before the game.
"I'm OK," he said.
Worth noting
The Cubs may be close to bringing back reliever Bob Howry, according to various reports. Howry was released by the D-backs on Monday after 14 appearances and a 10.67 ERA. He pitched for Chicago from 2006-08. … The Cubs are tied with the D-backs for the most runs scored with two outs (88) in the National League, after scoring all four runs in Wednesday's win with two outs.