Marshall inherits eighth-inning role

With the move of Carlos Zambrano out of his short-lived setup role, the eighth inning now belongs to left-hander Sean Marshall.

Marshall has outpitched fellow lefty John Grabow, who figures to share seventh-inning duties with rookie right-hander Esmailin Caridad.

"We're basically almost strictly going left-handed in the seventh and eighth inning," said manager Lou Piniella. "We tried the other approaches, and it's worked much better with the lefties, so that's what we're going to do.

"I look at Marshall right now as our eighth-inning guy. I look at (Carlos) Marmol, obviously, as our closer. In the seventh, we need to do what we need to do. Outside of the game last night, Grabow's been throwing the ball much better, too. Get them out left-handed or right-handed, it doesn't really matter as long as you get them out."

Marshall entered Tuesday leading the Cubs in appearances with 21, so Piniella will have to watch his workload. In 202/3 innings, Marshall had given up 11 hits while walking five (two intentionally) and striking out 27.

Grabow has struggled much of the year, and he recently had a cortisone shot in his left knee. He began Tuesday having given up 21 hits and 8 walks in 141/3 innings.

Lefties were hitting .200 against Marshall while righties were at .140. Against Grabow, lefties were at .190 while right-handed batters were at .415.

"I don't know about right or left," said general manager Jim Hendry. "Grabow, for most of his career, has gotten righties out more than lefties. Marshall's been terrific. People aren't giving him enough credit. I don't know too many people who have pitched in the eighth inning in the game better than him."

Howry redux? The Cubs aren't actively pursuing veteran right-hander Bob Howry, recently released by the Diamondbacks, but they may talk to him. Howry pitched for the Cubs from 2006-08.

This year, he was 1-0 with a 10.67 ERA and 1.67 WHIP with the D'backs. Options at Class AAA Iowa are right-handers Jay Jackson and Jeff Samardzija.

"We'd certainly like to have another reliever that could pitch," Hendry said.