Major League Baseball
NL notebook: Wood escapes serious injury, ready for rehab

Kerry Wood took one on the chin yesterday.

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Kerry Wood got a scare when he was hit under the chin by a line drive yesterday in his final simulated game before an anticipated minor-league rehab assignment next week.

Wood, on the disabled list since May 12 with a sore triceps muscle, threw four innings to teammates Paul Bako, Jose Macias and Tom Goodwin.

Bako hit a hard liner through the middle and Wood was able to deflect the ball with his glove and slow it down before it clipped him under the chin. He shook it off and continued his outing.

"I didn't see it," Wood said.

"Part of the simulation," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said.

If he feels fine today after his 60-pitch workout yesterday, Wood hopes to make a rehab start with Class AAA Iowa on Tuesday and return to the Cubs' rotation for one start before the All-Star break, probably in St. Louis on July 10 or July 11.

"I don't want to miss any more starts," said Wood, 3-3 in seven starts this season. "If I get some good work in and get my pitch count up to 75 or 80 pitches and have everything go well, I'd like to get back and make a start before the All-Star break."

Wood said the Cubs have taken the cautious approach because he doesn't want the injury to be worrisome in the second half of the season or in the future.

Atlanta: The Braves transferred 2B Marcus Giles to the 60-day DL. Giles, out with a broken collarbone, can be activated July 15, the day after the All-Star break.

Cincinnati: Ken Griffey Jr. had a pinch, run-scoring single in the eighth, then left for a runner. Griffey was out of the lineup for all three games of the series because of cramps in his calf. He is expected back in the lineup today. ... 1B Sean Casey hit in the batting cage. He hasn't played since he pulled his calf Sunday.
 
Colorado: 3B Vinny Castilla has 1,615 hits — four short of tying Jorge Orta for most by a Mexican-born player in the majors.

Houston: 2B Jeff Kent missed his second consecutive game with a strained hamstring.

Los Angeles: RHP Hideo Nomo, winless in his past nine decisions, was placed on the 15-day DL with inflammation in his right rotator cuff. Nomo was scheduled for an MRI today. However, general manager Paul DePodesta said it's likely Nomo will be sidelined longer than that. "It's pretty clear he's not right," said DePodesta, emphasizing that he's interested in obtaining a player who can best help the team, regardless of position. "I'm still definitely a buyer," he said.

Milwaukee: CF Scott Podsednik was a last-minute scratch from the lineup because of the flu.

Montreal: 1B/OF Brad Wilkerson has three leadoff homers this season, all against Philadelphia.

New York: The Mets signed 19th-round draft pick Jim Burt Jr., son of the former New York Giants defensive lineman. He was assigned to Class A Brooklyn. Burt was carried on the field by his father after the Giants won the 1987 Super Bowl.

San Diego: RHP Jake Peavy (strained flexor tendon) will come off the DL today to start against Kansas City.

San Francisco: The Giants have finished higher than the Dodgers in the National League West each of the last seven seasons. It's the longest stretch in the teams' West Coast histories and longest since the New York Giants finished ahead of the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1921 to 1931.

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