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Cubs' Ramirez gets lacerated lip from groundball

Third baseman Aramis Ramirez became the Cubs' latest injury casualty as he was hit in the mouth with the ball as he made a diving attempt of Chris Johnson's grounder down the line in the seventh inning.

Ramirez did not lose consciousness, and he walked off the field with a trainer.

He left the ballpark for stitches for what the Cubs termed a lacerated lip. A Cubs official said the cut was on the inside part of the upper lip.

“It doesn't look too bad,” said manager Mike Quade. “Better than getting hit in the eye.”

The Cubs already have six regulars on the disabled list.

No Marmol concerns:

Mike Quade said any drop in velocity with closer Carlos Marmol was not a concern. Marmol imploded Tuesday night, giving up 6 runs in the ninth inning and blowing his third save of the season. He came back Wednesday and worked a scoreless ninth, giving up a hit and a walk and striking out two.

“He has days where his command just isn't as good as other days,” Quade said. “It's a little unusual. The velocity wasn't a problem as much as the command. I just didn't think he was as sharp with his slider. That's what he goes to to get people out, to strike people out. And he got hurt on a couple of fastballs.”

Garza gets closer:

Pitcher Matt Garza threw 30 pitches off the mound Wednesday as he recovers from a bruised right elbow. Garza will throw another side session in St. Louis over the weekend.

Mike Quade said he'll slot Garza back into the rotation during the series at Cincinnati next week (Monday-Wednesday). Garza has been on the disabled list since May 24 (retro to May 18).

“I'm excited,” Quade said. “Somewhere in Cincinnati. Everything has gone real well, and I think it's a good idea that he's going to have a second side. Would loved to have seen him in St. Louis, but we'll be happy to have him start in Cincinnati.”

Bat-breaking work:

Mike Quade said he spoke with Carlos Zambrano about Zambrano breaking his bat over his leg Tuesday night after striking out.

“I told him, ‘Next time you're frustrated, just come and whack me upside the head,'” Quade said. “We don't need him hurting himself.”

That's as big an outburst, if you can even call it that, that Zambrano has had this season. He spent part of last season undergoing treatment for anger management. This year, he's been the model citizen and perhaps the Cubs' best starting pitcher. “Z can say whatever he wants,” Quade said. “I don't worry about that. When it's all said and done, he's going to have to control (his emotions). I'm just glad he was healthy and OK.”

In the clubhouse before the game, Zambrano did show reporters his “soccer legs,” as he called them, referring to their strength.

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