Scary moment, but Castro escapes serious injury

If a Cubs fan's hair didn't stand on end a little in the ninth inning, then it was time to check for a pulse.

That's when when Reds reliever Francisco Cordero drilled rookie Starlin Castro with some high heat.

Initially, it looked as if the pitch might have hit Castro in the head, but the ball hit him in the left shoulder and then deflected off his helmet.

Castro showed off his bruise in the locker room after the game.

"I was trying to protect my face," he said.

Castro admitted he was "a little' sore," but he vowed to be in the lineup Sunday.

"Yeah," he said, "why not?"

New at the top: Kosuke Fukodome was in the leadoff spot Saturday and took full advantage, going 1-for-2 with a run scored, 3 walks, a double and a couple of solid defensive plays.

"I'm just preparing myself each and every day," Fukudome said. "It's not my decision (who gets in the lineup)."

Fukudome replaced rookie Tyler Colvin, who is 2-for-17 on the current homestand.

"We're giving Colvin a few days off," said Cubs manager Lou Piniella. "He's been struggling a little bit."

Xavier Nady is expected to start in right on Sunday.

It's catching: Geovany Soto was unavailable to play Saturday because of a mild ligament sprain in his right shoulder.

According to the Cubs, Soto feels the injury more when he swings than when he throws.

Lou Piniella says Soto is day to day.

In a pinch: The Cubs' 28 RBI from their pinch hitters are tied for the most in baseball with Tampa Bay, while their 7 pinch homers rank second to the Reds.

Dynamic duo: Rookies Starlin Castro and Tyler Colvin have combined for 62 extra-base hits, making them just the third Cubs rookie duo to reach that mark in the last 21 seasons.

Kosuke Fukudome and Geovany Soto had 98 extra-base hits as rookies in 2008.

Agent zero: After going 53 straight games without being shut out (April 21 to June 18), the Cubs have been kept off the board seven times in their last 43 games.

He said it: "When I got it down I kind of put my head down and thought, 'that was a good bunt.' I asked him at first if that was a pretty good bunt and he kind of chuckled. I didn't even see what kind of play he made."

- Randy Wells on a sacrifice attempt in the seventh that was spoiled by a great play by Reds' first baseman Joey Votto to force Koyie Hill at second.