Wood back with no sign of trouble

MESA, Ariz. -- Kerry Wood sought Thursday to allay any fears about his health and well being.

"I didn't know I was the first guy in history to have back spasms," Wood said. "First time for everything, I guess."

One day after being scratched from a relief appearance and generating headlines, Wood was back on the mound Thursday, and he looked none the worse for wear. In the fourth inning of the Cubs' 8-6 victory over the Colorado Rockies, Wood gave up 2 hits and 1 run while striking out two.

He woke up Wednesday with back spasms, which he has had in the past, and the Cubs scratched him from a scheduled appearance against Oakland.

"Just a little stiff," is how he described it. "I woke up and came in just a little stiff. There's no need to press it in spring. It felt great."

Wood appeared to be letting loose against the Rockies.

"I went out there and didn't even think about it," he said. "I threw a couple bad sliders and got out of there."

Manager Lou Piniella said the plan now is to have Wood pitch either today in a minor-league game or in back-to-back big-league games Sunday and Monday. Wood had appeared to have the closer's job wrapped up in a competition with Carlos Marmol and Bob Howry.

The last obstacle for Wood is going back to back.

"We want to see it," Piniella said. "We just want to see back-to-back days from everybody. Then we can go with decision time."

Eyre-ing it out: Reliever Scott Eyre seemed more than pleased about his outing Wednesday night against the San Francisco Giants in Scottsdale. Eyre worked 1 inning, giving up 1 hit and striking out two.

"That's the most fluid I've felt, rhythm-wise," said Eyre, who worked the second of back-to-back days after having not pitched since March 11 as he worked on things.

"I felt like I was in a groove, finally. I had a good fluid motion last night, and I felt I was in control of my body as opposed to being wild."

Roster cuts: The Cubs reduced their spring roster to 38 Thursday. They optioned right-handed pitchers Sean Gallagher and Jose Ascanio to Class AAA Iowa and sent outfielder Josh Kroeger to the minor-league camp.

Gallagher's name has been mentioned prominently in trade rumors involving Baltimore second baseman Brian Roberts.

The Cubs obtained Ascanio from the Atlanta Braves during the winter meetings in a trade for left-handed reliever Will Ohman and utility man Omar Infante.

Making impressions: Lou Piniella said utility man Mike Fontenot has helped his chances with good plays at shortstop, including one Thursday, when he threw out Ryan Spilborgs from the hole.

Lefty Carmen Pignatiello, who has an 0.00 ERA in six games, faces longer odds.

"His chances of making the team?" Piniella asked. "Unless there's a trade here, there's not going to be room. Let's not kid ourselves. There's just not going to be room, unless we leave a right-hander out of the bullpen, and I don't really see that happening."

Fehr himself: Don Fehr, executive director of the players association, reached Cubs camp during his tour of all major-league camps.

Fehr said he didn't think the union would get involved in asking about the ongoing sale of the Cubs or in whether the Cubs would have to play at U.S. Cellular Field if Wrigley Field gets a facelift.

"I can't imagine that if this gets to that point that we would have major difficulties sitting down with the owners and working through it," he said.

"When it comes to stadiums, most of the time, my experience in this game is that the fans are happier after the renovations when the new stadiums are done than they were before, not universally, but most of the time."

Cubs 8, Rockies 6

Cubs' record: 10-13

At the plate: Matt Murton went 2-for-4 with 2 doubles. Henry Blanco was 2-for-2, including his second homer. Ryan Theriot singled, walked, scored 1 and drove in 1.

On the mound: Lefty Rich Hill had another rocky outing, walking six in 11/3 innings. He gave up 1 hit and 3 runs, 2 earned. Hill threw 49 pitches, only 19 for strikes. Kerry Wood threw 21 pitches in the fourth. He gave up 2 hits and 1 run. Michael Wuertz (0.00 ERA) earned his first save with 11/3 scoreless innings.

Next: The Cubs and Rockies play in Tucson (3:05 p.m., ESPN2). Sean Marshall pitches for the Cubs against Jeff Francis. Carlos Zambrano will throw 85-90 pitches in a minor-league game.

-- Bruce Miles