Latest elbow injury could be it for Fox

MILWAUKEE - Veteran reliever Chad Fox more than likely reached the end of the line in his baseball career.

Fox was wearing a sling on his right arm Sunday, one day after feeling severe elbow pain from throwing a pitch. The 38-year-old Fox, who has a long history of elbow problems, was attempting another comeback with the Cubs.

He said Saturday's incident felt like someone taking "a hammer into my elbow." He will have X-rays Monday in Chicago. Fox is walking around with three screws in the elbow.

"We'll wait and see," he said. "It's in an area where the screws are. I have no regrets. I can honestly sit here and tell you I've played the game 100 percent."

Fox suffered the latest injury in Saturday's game, when he threw a pitch to the Brewers' Prince Fielder in the eighth inning. The ball sailed over the head of catcher Geovany Soto, and Fox grabbed his elbow in pain.

In 2005 Fox pitched in 11 games for the Cubs before he reinjured his elbow in April. He sat out the 2006 and 2007 seasons before going to spring training with the Cubs last year. He got into 3 games before being sidelined with ulnar neuritis.

Fox went to spring training again this year as a nonroster man and was called up last week.

"You get to this point, and with me, I don't want to start messing with quality of life," he said. "I'm very confident in everything I've done. I'll hit this head-on."

Fox added that he may see noted surgeon Dr. James Andrews and see where he goes.

"I was at peace if I would have got released in spring training," he said. "I was at peace when I decided to come back. You only have so many bullets in your arm. I have no regrets whatsoever."

D-Lee leaves: First baseman Derrek Lee left Miller Park early Sunday and was not present during the game. The Cubs moved up his MRI to Sunday instead of Monday. They should know the results by Monday morning.

Lee has a bulging disc in his neck that is causing spams.

Hello, Jose: The Cubs recalled right-hander Jose Ascanio from Class AAA Iowa to take Chad Fox's roster sport. Ascanio moved from the bullpen to the starting rotation for Iowa, where he was 1-1 with a 1.01 ERA and a WHIP (walks plus hits per 1 inning pitched) of 0.94.

"I was surprised, but at the same time, I was kind of expecting it," Ascanio said through teammate and translator Angel Guzman. "I was working on the command of my pitches and doing what they were telling me to do."

The Cubs obtained the 24-year-old Ascanio from the Braves in December 2007 in a trade for reliever Will Ohman and infielder Omar Infante.

Looking ahead: After an off-day, the Cubs welcome the Padres to Wrigley Field. San Diego will send Jake Peavy, Chris Young and former Cub Chad Gaudin to the mound.