Chicago Cubs Hunter pressed into quick action

MILWAUKEE - The Cubs officially added pitchers Dan Haren and Tommy Hunter to their roster Saturday, one day after trading for them.

Hunter was decked out in Cubs blue - except for his black and orange Baltimore Orioles shoes - and ready to do what he does best.

"When you get the ball, throw it as hard as you can and hopefully strike people out," he said. "I don't think it really needs to be said. I'm just here to fit in and do whatever I can whether it's the second inning or 11th inning. I'm just going to try to get outs and try to help this team make it to the postseason."

Hunter did that Saturday, getting the final two outs of the game to earn the save in a 4-2 Cubs victory over the Brewers. He reached 99 mph on the Miller Park radar gun.

"Winning, man," he said afterward. "It's fun."

The Cubs obtained the 29-year-old right-handed reliever from the Orioles on Friday in exchange for minor-league outfielder Junior Lake. In 39 games with Baltimore, he was 2-2 with a 3.63 ERA.

Among those giving Hunter a hug were former Orioles teammates and now-Cubs teammates Jake Arrieta, Jason Hammel and Pedro Strop. They kiddingly said Hunter was crazy.

"I don't know what they all said about me, but I'm sure you can believe everything they say," Hunter admitted. "I think the older you get, the less you can do late at night. I was a crazy (so-and-so) when I was in Texas in my early days. I definitely had some of those and got it all out, though - pretty much, sometimes."

On a more serious note, Hunter said he's happy to be closer to his family in Indianapolis. His mother is undergoing treatment for kidney cancer.

"It was pretty rough," he said. "She's going through some surgeries now, and she had a good one (Friday), and it was successful. She's going through radiation and doing all of that. We found out maybe two months ago. It was bad timing at the time.

"I went home at the all-star break and it was huge for me personally."

The kid is staying:

Catcher Miguel Montero headed out to Class AA Tennessee Saturday to begin an injury-rehab assignment. Montero is on the disabled list with a left-thumb injury.

When Montero comes back, it's not likely the Cubs will send rookie catcher Kyle Schwarber back to Class AAA Iowa.

"It would be hard to do that; it would be very difficult," said manager Joe Maddon. "This guy hitting second, you want his bat in the lineup. He's done a nice job behind the plate, too. He's shown versatility by playing in the outfield. Yeah, I'd like to believe he's here for a while."

This and that:

Pitcher Dan Haren will make his Cubs debut Wednesday at Pittsburgh. The Cubs obtained Haren on Friday in a trade with Miami … Outfielder Mike Baxter has cleared waivers and has been outrighted to Class AAA Iowa. The Cubs designated him for assignment last week.