Chicago Cubs News

Carlos Silva threw 25 pitches in the bullpen on Monday, the first time he's thrown off a mound since undergoing a cardiac ablation one week ago to correct an abnormal heart rate, and was close to making a Minor League rehab start.

Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee had an injection in the epidural of his lower back to ease discomfort from a bulging disk and was expected to be sidelined two to three days.

Candidates for the job of managing the Chicago Cubs in 2011 can be conveniently divided into two groups: Ryne Sandberg and everyone else. And what Sandberg lacks in managerial experience, he certainly makes up for.

Looking for their first series win in six tries, the Cubs exploded for six runs in the fourth inning Sunday and held on late for a 9-7 victory over the Cardinals.

After blasting solo home runs in his first two at-bats Sunday, Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee was removed from the game with lower back stiffness.

Alfonso Soriano's name was absent from the lineup card for the second day in a row Sunday, but both Cubs manager Lou Piniella and Soriano said it was for normal rest and had nothing to do with injury.

Cubs manager Lou Piniella announced Sunday that Thomas Diamond's turn in the rotation Wednesday was being handed off to Casey Coleman.

After struggling all season in one-run games, the Cubs came through with the clutch plays that they needed to upend the Cardinals, 3-2, on Saturday afternoon at Busch Stadium.

Third baseman Aramis Ramirez, who sat out the previous three games with a left oblique strain, returned to the lineup Saturday and homered in his first at-bat.

Carlos Silva, who underwent a procedure to regulate his heartbeat earlier this week, is recovering well but will need at least one Minor League rehab start before returning to the Cubs.

A lack of offense and another rough start for Thomas Diamond put the Cubs in an early hole they couldn't climb out of Friday night, and the North Siders fell, 6-3, to the the Cardinals at Busch Stadium.

After missing the series with the Giants after his mother was hospitalized in Tampa Bay, manager Lou Piniella rejoined the team on Friday.

After spending time with his ill grandfather, Derrek Lee rejoined the team on Friday after spending three days on the bereavement list and sitting out the four-game Giants series.

Pat Burrell hit two home runs, including his sixth career grand slam, and pinch-hitter Andres Torres hit a walk-off RBI single with one out in the ninth to lift the Giants to an 8-7 victory over the Cubs on Thursday.

Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts said Sunday he isn't pointing fingers at anyone for the team underachieving in the first half and was still having fun in his first season as owner.

Geovany Soto drove in three runs, including two on his ninth homer, Starlin Castro had two RBIs and Aramis Ramirez hit a solo homer to lead the Cubs to a 7-3 victory Saturday over the Dodgers.

Cubs manager Lou Piniella was ejected by first-base umpire Jerry Layne for arguing a call between innings after the fifth inning in Saturday's game against the Dodgers.

Ryan Dempster will open the second half of the season for the Cubs, starting Thursday against the Phillies.