Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois • Page 3-3

123456 SECTION3CHICAGO TRIBUNE 3 SPORTS CUBS eighth, however, when Omar Infante hit an apparent three-run homer that Welke ruled a two-run triple because he see it bounce back onto the field. The success has given the Cubs a glimmer of hope. Walker recalled the Tigers losing 119 games in 2003, suggesting a parallel. they are, one of the best teams in Walker said. you turn it around in the short term, you know possible to turn it around in the next couple of years.

good for baseball what done. I know those guys suffered like suffering now, and here they are, on top of the By Paul Sullivan Tribune staff reporter The blue flag waved in the wind from the center-field scoreboard Saturday after the 9-3 loss to Detroit, just as it has after every game on the current homestand. The Cubs have lost five straight and 10 of their last 12 at Wrigley Field despite near-sellout crowds every day. second baseman Todd Walker said. not fun to go out there and lose every day, especially when giving your heart to The Cubs were one game ahead of last-place Pittsburgh in the NL Centralwith the third- lowest winning percentage in baseball.

Since April 20, the day Derrek Lee went on the disabled list, the Cubs are 17-36, the second-worst record in the majors in that span. Kansas City was 16-37 after Saturday loss at Houston. Mark Prior returns Sunday, but instead of trying to save the season, his main task will be to help keep the Cubs from enduring an 0-6 homestand. Wrigley somehow has become the home away from home for almost every team the Cubs play. knew when I was on the opposing team, everybody gets up to play in center fielder Juan Pierre said.

the whole So why the Cubs get up to play in Wrigley, since the atmosphere should be conducive to winning? get motivated just seeing the opposing Pierre said. been tough on us this season, and the fans are letting us hear it. But the only way to stop all that is to start winning. If getting booed, then start doing your job. fans are the fans.

They come out and they buy the tickets, so they should be able to voice their opinions. We get up every day because blessed enough to play in Wrigley for 81 games. It works for you and against you. But you have no problem getting up playing at Tigers starter Justin Verlander (8-4) and two relievers scattered 12 hits, only three of which were for extra bases, even though the wind was blowing out. The Cubs were 3-for-11with runners in scoring position and left 11on base.

bottom line is getting manager Dusty Baker said. just not getting them when it Rookie Carlos Marmol (1-1) gave up three first-inning runs, including a two-run homer by Carlos Guillen, before settling down. The Cubs could have tied it in the second when Henry shot appeared to kick up chalk on the left-field line, but third-base umpire Bill Welke ruled it foul. been 3-3 and Henry on Baker said. been a whole different ballgame.

But the not bouncing our It bounced their way in the Tribune photo by Bonnie Trafelet Cubs left fielder John Mabry falls into the vines as he catches Placido drive to end the top of the seventh Saturday. TIGERS 9, CUBS 3 Home turns sour on skidding Cubs UP NEXT Sunday vs. Tigers, 1:20 p.m., WGN-Ch. 9 Sean Marshall, Carlos Marmol and Angel Guzman are three prospects from whom the Cubs expect big things. But with veterans Mark Prior and Kerry Wood returning to the rotation, one, two or all three might soon be headed to Triple-A Iowa.

can look on the back of a lot of baseball cards and see that some great pitchers cer- tainly start out the first year or two being all that Cubs pitching coach Larry Rothschild said. like to see young guys sent back when throwing well, but a lot of times young starters can get good experience coming out of the bullpen if not quite ready to start Sandy Koufax was 36-40 in his first six seasons with the Dodgers, and Greg Maddux went 8-18 with a 5.59 ERA in his first two seasons with the Cubs. The Cubs might not expect any of the three to turn out like a Koufax or a Maddux, but each has the talent to be a rotation regular for years. The Cubs could make Marmol a long reliever. The Cubs also soon will have to clear room for Scott Williamson, who is rehabbing at Triple-A Iowa and eligible to come off the disabled list Monday, and Wood, eligible to return for game.

The Cubs are unlikely to eat Glendon contract, which runs through 2007 and has more than $3 million left on it. continue to shelve and and we carry Baker said. have some tough decisions to make, definitely. But seeing tremendous progress from our minor-league kids from last year to the start of this year to right The Cubs may have to go with an 11-man staff when catcher Michael Barrett begins serving his suspension, since they lose his roster spot, and likely will call up Geovany Soto to back up Henry Blanco. Sitting out Baker rested Barrett again Saturday with a lower back problem.

The upcoming suspension could come at a perfect time for Barrett, who could use the time to rehab his back instead of going on the disabled list. CUBS BITS BY PAUL SULLIVAN 3 pitching prospects face roster roulette this week By Paul Sullivan Tribune staff reporter ark comeback games are becoming an annual rite of passage, a time for the Cubs to dream of better things on the horizon. It always pan out in the long run, though Prior has had strong outings in every one of his comeback starts. Since he last pitched at Wrigley Field in September, Prior has been hospitalized with pharyngitis, rumored to be part of a trade for Miguel Tejada, ordered to repay a memorabilia shop more than $30,000 from a lawsuit, denied an Internet report he was injured, gone on the disabled list with a moderate shoulder strain and come down with triceps soreness and possible food poisoning. As Prior prepares for the fifth comeback start of his relatively young career, a recap of how he fared in the previous four: Aug.

5, 2003, in San Diego baserunning collision with Marcus Giles on July 11resulted in what was diagnosed as a right shoulder contusion. Though Prior was allowed to continue pitching in that decision that ultimately factored into the firing of trainer Dave wound up rehabbing the shoulder injury for 24 days with the Cubs in the thick of a division race with St. Louis and Houston. In his returnPrior threw six shutout innings against the Padres, allowing two hits while striking out six and improving to 9-5. In his first six starts back, Prior had a 0.57 earned-run average.

wish he run into Giles first baseman Eric Karros said. Prior wound up going 10-1 with a 1.52 ERA in his final 11 starts, helping the Cubs win the National League Central. But he threw 126 or more pitches in six September starts and experienced elbow painthe following spring. June 4, 2004, at Wrigley Field After missing most of spring training and the first two months of the season with tendinitis and elbow painthe club originally tried to conceal, Prior returned amid much fanfare and controversy. The night before his comeback, Prior walked out during a memorabilia-signing appearance at a Naperville store called Just Ducky.

The incident caused a dispute that was settled last month in Will County Circuit Court, with Prior ordered to repay $30,900 of his fee, which was said to be in excess of $50,000. Prior ignored the tempest and threw six shutout innings against the Pirates, striking out eight in an 85-pitch outing. But his effort was wasted when closer Joe Borowski blew a one-run lead in the ninth inning of a 2-1 loss, the final straw for manager Dusty Baker, who inserted La- Troy Hawkins into the role the next day. Prior went 2-2 with a 4.06 ERA in his first seven starts before being removed in the second inning of a 4-1victory over Milwaukee with discomfort in his right elbow. get any more worried than being sick to your Baker said.

But Prior missed only one start and eventually finished with a 6-4 record and a 4.02 ERA in 21starts. April 13, Wrigley Field While rehabbing his elbow in spring training, Prior joked in a radiointerview that he was on pace to the Hall of Fame in simulated The Cubs put Prior on the disabled list with right-elbow inflammation to start the season, though they insisted Prior was not injured and was only on the DL to give him more time to get ready because he pitched in exhibition games. Prior threw six shutout innings against the Padres, allowing four hits in the 8-3 victory, striking out six in a 92- pitch outing. He went 4-1with a 2.93 ERA in his first nine starts, limiting opposing hitters to a .194 average and averaging 2.0 walks per nine innings. In a May 22 victory over the White Sox, Prior pitched his first complete game since August 2003 but threw 126 pitches, or 25 more than in his previous outing.

In his next start, a line drive by Brad Hawpe hit Prior on the right elbow, forcing him to the disabled list once again. June 26, 2005, at U.S. Cellular Field The return of Prior and Wood during the same week was supposed to be the answer to the problems. Baker said it felt like entire army was In his comeback start against the White Sox, Prior threw six shutout innings in a 2-0 victory, allowing one hit while striking out three in a 55-pitch performance. Prior wound up going 7-6 with a 4.07 ERA in his final 18 starts after being hit by the line drive, averaging 3.4 walks per nine innings and holding opposing hitters to a .244 average.

He struggled with his location after the injury, with high early- inning pitch counts that led to him lasting six or fewer innings in seven of his last nine starts. The comeback kid By Paul Sullivan Tribune staff reporter Though no puff of white smoke emanated Saturday morning from Wrigley Field, the Cubs announced that Mark Prior would make his 2006 debut Sunday against Detroit ace Kenny Rogers. The comeback, the fifth of brief career, will end a seven-month stretch in which the right-hander has been rumored to be traded, headed to surgery and unwilling to pitch in pain. When Prior steps to the mound, finally get a chance to erase the doubts that have hovered thanks to four injury- riddled seasons. For the first time this year, his mind should be at ease.

think about a Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. had two freak accidents that I think very few people pay attention to. One was a line drive and the other was the collision with Giles One was on the elbow, and one was on the shoulder. do anything about speculation. You really listen to what people say.

They had him going from Tommy John (elbow ligament-replacement) surgery to a shoulder operation to this or that. still here and in one piece and doing Prior, 25, has beenrehabbing a strained right shoulder for three months. He made four minor-league starts to build stamina and arm strength, but the Cubs delayed a decision until Saturday to make sure he had no lingering arm soreness. really want another minor-league Baker said. think he needed it.

about as ready as going to Kerry Wood also could return, next weekend in Minnesota, which would be the first time since July that Prior and Wood are in the rotation together. on Baker said. might have a simulated game this and go from Wood is eligible to return from the disabled list Thursday, an off-day. So whether he starts in Minnesota will depend on how the Cubs juggle their rotation. return gives everyone else an extra rest.

Sean Marshall, Greg Maddux and Carlos Zambrano are slated to go in the Cleveland series Monday through Wednesday. Pitching coach Larry Rothschild said return was imminent. want to give a date, but I would think it be a whole long time after Rothschild said. Rothschild also said Prior should not have the same slow recovery Wood experienced between starts. is different from what been he said.

has been on a pretty steady schedule the workload. With Kerry we knew coming in when we activated him there would be times when touch and go, just because of his surgery and the sides in No matter how Prior fares Sunday, the Cubs hope his presence can help lift a team seemingly on the road to nowhere. been a long, hard road, and glad Mark is getting back on the Baker said. we can keep him on the mound all year Happy day for Prior Cubs ace to begin comeback with start Sunday vs. Tigers Tribune photo by Bonnie Trafelet Mark Prior, who gets his first start Sunday, takes a break Saturday from stretching exercises.

about as ready as going to manager Dusty Baker on Mark Prior TIGERS 9, CUBS 3 DETROITABRHBIBBSOAVG. Granderson cf511001.285 Polanco 2b533100.290 Rodriguez c300001.302 c-Wilson Ordonez rf523201.309 Guillen ss423310.292 Thames lf301000.308 Ledezma b-Infante ph111200.274 Rodney p100000.000 Shelton 1b401102.278 Inge 3b301012.223 Verlander p100000.000 Gomez lf200001.232 TOTALS38914928 CUBSABRHBIBBSOAVG. Pierre cf412010.246 TWalker 2b500001.287 Ramirez 3b513100.255 Nevin 1b501101.297 Jones rf413010.294 Mabry lf301011.221 Cedeno ss401102.290 Blanco c401001.179 Marmol p200000.000 a-Womack ph000010.274 Ohman p0000001.000 Howry p0000001.000 Eyre p000000.000 Aardsma p000000.000 d-Perez ph100000.207 TOTALS37312346 a -walked for Marmol in the 6th. -tripled for Ledezma in the 8th. -flied out for Rodriguez in the 9th.

-grounded out for Aardsma in the 9th. LOB: Detroit 6, CUBS 11. 2B: Polanco (10), MOrdonez (13), CGuillen (19), Inge (10), ARamirez 2 (16), Mabry (3). 3B: Granderson (4), Infante (2). HR: CGuillen (8), off Marmol.

RBIs: Polanco (26), MOrdonez 2 (46), CGuillen 3 (41), Infante 2 (12), Shelton (31), ARamirez (37), Nevin (7), Cedeno (20). SB: Inge (3). CS: Thames (1), Pierre (5). IRodriguez, Verlander. GIDP: Marmol.

Runners left in scoring position: Detroit 4 (Granderson, Polanco, Rodney, Shelton); CUBS 5 (Pierre 2, Nevin, HBlanco, Marmol). Runners moved up: Verlander, TWalker. DP: Detroit 2 (Polanco, CGuillen and Shelton), (IRodriguez and CGuillen); CUBS 1(HBlanco and TWalk- er). DETROITIPHRERBBSONPERA Verlander 2 3 911341023.21 Ledezma1 1 3 00000180.00 Rodney232212392.88 CUBSIPHRERBBSONPERA Marmol Ohman100001134.85 Howry 2 3 43302183.00 Eyre 2 3 0000182.41 Aardsma 2 3 32200237.53 Inherited runners-scored: Ledezma 3-0, Eyre 1-0. WP: Rodney.

Umpires: Home, Tim McClelland; First, Marty Foster; Second, Fieldin Culbreth; Third, Bill Welke. Time: 3:05. 41,459. HOW THEY SCORED TIGERS FIRST: Granderson tripled. Polanco singled, scoring Granderson.

Rodriguez flied out. Ordonez struck out. Guillen homered, scoring Polanco. Thames flied out. Three runs.

Tigers 3-0. CUBS SECOND: Jones singled. Mabry doubled, Jones to third. Cedeno singled, scoring Jones, Mabry to third. Blanco lined out.

Marmol grounded into a double play, Cedeno out at second. One run. Tigers 3-1. TIGERS THIRD: Polanco doubled. Rodriguez sacrificed, Polanco to third.

Ordonez singled, scoring Polanco. Guillen walked, Ordonez to second. Thames fouled out. Shelton flied out. One run.

Tigers 4-1. TIGERS EIGHTH: Rodriguez struck out. Ordonez singled. Guillen singled, Ordonez to second. Infante, pinch-hitting for Ledezma, tripled, scoring Ordonez and Guillen.

Shelton singled, scoring Infante. Inge struck out. Eyre pitching. Gomez struck out. Three runs.

Tigers 7-1. TIGERS NINTH: Granderson popped out. Aardsma pitching. Polanco singled. Wilson, pinch-hitting for Rodriguez, flied out.

Ordonez doubled, scoring Polanco. Guillen doubled, scoring Ordonez. Rodney grounded out. Two runs. Tigers 9-1.

CUBS NINTH: Perez, pinch-hitting for Aardsma, grounded out. Pierre walked. Walker grounded out, Pierre to second. Ramirez doubled, scoring Pierre. Nevin singled, scoring Ramirez.

Jones grounded out. Two runs. Tigers 9-3..