Silva 'feels good' in return to rotation

Carlos Silva was just happy to be back on a major-league mound Tuesday night.

The results were something else again.

Silva started his first game since Aug. 1 as he came back from a procedure to correct an irregular heartbeat. However, he and the Cubs fell well short of the Houston Astros, who scored early and came away with a 7-3 victory at Wrigley Field.

The hitting star for Houston was Michael Bourn, who singled, doubled, tripled and drove in 3 runs.

"I feel very good; I don't enjoy the result," said Silva, who worked 5 innings and gave up 9 hits and 6 runs. "Especially after the second inning, I started feeling like (I had a) better rhythm, more confidence on the mound."

Silva, who began the season 8-0, fell to 10-6 with a 4.22 ERA. He'd like to finish as strong as he started.

"That's what I'm looking for, try to finish very strong and come next year ready to go," he said. "It's that way for any player."

After the Astros scored once in the top of the first, the Cubs went ahead 2-1 in the bottom half. Houston then scored three times in the second and didn't trail again.

Five arrive: The Cubs called up five players from Class AAA Iowa, whose season ended Monday with a heartbreaking loss to Memphis.

Pitchers Jeff Samardzija and Justin Berg were recalled, as was outfielder Sam Fuld. Two players previously not on the 40-man roster had their contracts selected: infielder Bobby Scales and outfielder Brad Snyder.

The 32-year-old Scales has been in the Cubs' system since 2008, and he made his major-league debut last year. Snyder had a big offensive year at Iowa with a line of .308/.381/.568, 25 home runs and 106 RBI. The Cubs claimed the 28-year-old Snyder from Cleveland in September 2008.

"Snyder had a really, really good year," general manager Jim Hendry said. "A guy like that, we like to take a look at kind of to see where we're at with him by the end of the year moving into the off-season.

"He knocked in 106 runs, and we're always looking for left-handed hitting. He'll get some chances to see what he can do. It was a well-earned promotion."

To make room on the 40-man for Scales and Snyder, the Cubs placed injured pitchers John Grabow and Esmailin Caridad on the 60-day disabled list.

Praise for Ryno: Although Iowa fell short in its playoff bid, players coming up had praise for manager Ryne Sandberg, the Hall of Fame Cub.

"Awesome," Bobby Scales said. "All year long, the best thing he had was that he had a steady hand on us. We had enough veteran guys that we knew if we didn't play well or didn't step it up.

"He never aired us out; I don't think he really had to. We played so well all year long."

Scales got the call as infield insurance. Third baseman Aramis Ramirez remains day to day with an injured right quadriceps.

Samardzija plan coming: Manager Mike Quade said the Cubs soon will determine when to get a start for Jeff Samardzija, who threw a side session Tuesday.

Samardzija wound up a starter at Iowa. Despite 2 rough starts to finish the season, he was 11-3 with a 4.37 ERA at Iowa after being sent down in late April.

"Right where I want to be; absolutely where I want to be," he said. "I feel great. I've been starting down there the last two months. My mechanics feel great. I had a great time pitching."