Cubs ship Samardzija to Iowa, call up reliever Berg

After getting pounded by the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday night in his first major-league start, Cubs pitcher Jeff Samardzija was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Thursday.

To fill his spot on the roster, the Cubs recalled right-handed pitcher Justin Berg from the Iowa farm club.

Berg, 25, is available for this afternoon's game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Wrigley Field.

Berg is 6-1 with a 2.33 ERA (12 ER/46.1 IP) in 30 relief appearances for Iowa this season. He has limited opponents to a .208 batting average, including a .162 mark by right-handed hitters. Berg is 5-0 with a 1.72 ERA (7 ER/36.2 IP) in his last 22 appearances since the start of June, allowing only 21 hits in 36.2 innings in that span.

Overall this season, Berg has allowed only two home runs in 46.1 innings pitched.

Berg, who is pitching exclusively in relief this season for the first time in his professional career, is 33-28 with one save and a 4.59 ERA (263 ER/516.0 IP) in 145 minor league outing (82 starts).

The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder has allowed only 28 home runs in 516.0 innings pitched, an average of just one home run allowed per 18.1 innings pitched.

A native of Antigo, Wis., Berg was acquired by the Cubs from the Yankees for outfielder Matt Lawton on Aug. 26, 2005. Berg was originally selected by New York in the 43rd round of the 2003 Draft out of Triton Junior College in River Grove, Ill.

Samardzija is 1-2 with a 7.81 ERA (24 ER/27.2 IP) in 17 appearances with the Cubs this season.