Howry's back better after barbecue mishap
Reliever Bob Howry suffered the latest outdoor-appliance injury when he strained something in his upper back while moving his barbecue grill Thursday. Howry, who said it hurt to breathe that night, was fine by Saturday, throwing before the game without a problem.
''It was kind of a freak thing,'' he said, echoing comments made by converted starter Kerry Wood after he bruised his chest slipping in his hot tub during the first week of spring training.
Howry said he could have pitched Friday, if necessary, but manager Lou Piniella gave him the day off, using closer Ryan Dempster to get the final five outs of a 5-3 victory against the St. Louis Cardinals instead of risking the setup man.
Howry was considered available Saturday, but he wasn't needed in the 8-1 victory.
CYCLE WATCH: Jacque Jones, who started in center field after getting a day off Friday, was a home run short of hitting for the cycle.
''I'll take the win,'' said Jones, who had a double and a three-run triple in the Cubs' seven-run fifth inning and added a run-scoring single in the seventh for a four-RBI day. ''It would have been nice [to get the cycle], but I'll take the win over that any time.''
MARQUIS DAY: After becoming the first pitcher in major-league history to leave a World Series champion, then beat that team twice the next April, right-hander Jason Marquis received his 2006 World Series ring from the Cardinals in a pregame ceremony.
Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty made the presentation, and Marquis got warm greetings from his former teammates. He also received warm applause from the fans, who booed him Friday.
''They have respectful fans here,'' he said. ''It's an exciting thing to know you're part of something special, and to have your ex-teammates greet you like that is definitely a sign of respect. ... [The ring] is something that I'll cherish for the rest of my life.''
SHORT HOPS: Piniella said he plans to start Cesar Izturis at shortstop today after playing Ryan Theriot there for the last three games. Despite Theriot's rough game in the field Friday, Piniella said doesn't have a problem with his fielding ability, including his range.
• • Hitting coach Gerald Perry won't be suspended over his altercation with umpires after the Cubs' loss Monday to the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field, a major-league official said, but the Cubs expect him to be fined. Perry said Friday he hadn't heard from the commissioner's office about the matter.
• • If the Cubs win today, they'll sweep the Cardinals in St. Louis for the first time since June 10-12, 1988.