Hart called up, replaces Wuertz

Michael Wuertz's worst hurt.

It essentially earned him a demotion Friday.

Before their series opener against San Francisco, the Cubs optioned the veteran right-hander to Class AAA Iowa and called up fellow righty Kevin Hart.

Wuertz relieved starter Ted Lilly in the third inning of Thursday's game against Cincinnati with the Cubs trailing 4-3. When he departed, the Cubs' deficit had swelled to 8-3.

Wuertz pitched 1 innings, allowing 4 runs, 3 of which scored on a home run by Ken Griffey, as the Cubs lost 12-7.

Did Wuertz's performance seal his fate?

"It didn't help," manager Lou Piniella said.

Wuertz, who spent all of last season with the Cubs, appearing in 73 games and posting a 3.48 ERA, last pitched for Iowa in 2006. He's been with the Cubs since they drafted him in 1997.

Wuertz is 1-1 this season with a 3.55 ERA in 37 relief appearances.

"It's not easy to tell anybody that they're going down, especially a veteran pitcher who's been here for a while," Piniella said. "But he needs to work on some things and he'll be able to do that."

Hart was a member of the Cubs' Opening Day roster but was sent down May 2 after giving up 13 earned runs in 17 innings (6.62 ERA). He was recalled June 3, then sent down again June 12.

In 10 appearances, all starts, for Iowa, Hart is 2-1 with a 3.35 ERA.

Piniella, who used five pitchers Thursday, said Hart will give the Cubs a fresh arm for the weekend.

The Cubs are still carrying 13 pitchers.

"We're just going to stay the way we are through these next three games and then we'll address our roster over the all-star break," Piniella said before Friday's game.

Giving 'em a break: Lou Piniella's starting outfield Friday had Reed Johnson in center field, flanked by Daryle Ward in left and Mark DeRosa in right.

Jim Edmonds and Kosuke Fukudome were out of the starting lineup. Edmonds, 1-for-10 on the Cubs' homestand, had started 17 of the last 18 games in center. Fukudome, who struck out three times Thursday against Cincinnati, is 8-for-47 (. 170) in his last 12 games.

Fukudome pinch-hit with two out in the seventh with the scored tied 0-0 and pinch runner Ronny Cedeno at second base. He fouled out.

Edmonds pinch-hit in the eighth and struck out.

Rich outing: Newly acquired Rich Harden is scheduled to make his much-anticipated Cubs debut today against the Giants.

While the game will mark Harden's National League debut, the 26-year-old righty has made 4 career starts against the Giants in interleague play as a member of the A's.

Harden is 2-0 with a 0.84 ERA (21 innings) in his career against San Francisco.

On June 14, Harden pitched 6 scoreless innings of 1-hit ball, striking out nine and walking two.

Harden last pitched last Sunday against the White Sox. He threw 5 innings, allowing 3 runs (2 earned) in suffering the loss.

"He was actually scheduled to go (Friday)," Lou Piniella said. "We just gave him an extra day."