Quade ends Castro's bench time
Rookie shortstop Starlin Castro was back in the lineup Wednesday against Houston after being benched for two days. Castro lost track of the number of outs in Sunday's loss to the New York Mets and was tagged out unnecessarily at first base after a force play at second.
"Let's get him back in the lineup and get him playing and get him doing what he needs to do," manager Mike Quade said before the game. "He understands where I'm coming from and we've talked at length about his youth.
"It's a step in the process of growing - that's the way I look at it. I'm as anxious as anybody to see him come out and play well."
Castro, 20, made a harmless error on a groundball in the first inning, then added a couple of stellar plays in the field.
He made a diving catch of a line drive with runners on first and second in the fifth. The following inning, he gloved a hard grounder up the middle and recorded an out at first with the bases loaded.
Castro started the night tied for third in the National League with a .317 batting average. He went 1-for-4 on Wednesday, grounding a single to the right side in the eighth after fouling off several 2-strike pitches.
Since July 10, Castro led the major leagues in both hits (76) and doubles (20), through Tuesday's games.
Health issues: Third baseman Aramis Ramirez missed his third straight game with a sore right quad. Manager Mike Quade is hoping Ramirez will be available to pinch hit soon. "My sense is he's still a ways away from standing at third base," Quade said.
Pitcher Tom Gorzelanny, out with a hairline fracture in his left pinkie finger, will throw a bullpen session this weekend. The left-handed starter was hit on the hand by a line drive from Pittsburgh's Jose Tabata on Sept. 1.
Carlos Zambrano, Ryan Dempster and Casey Coleman are scheduled to start this weekend in Milwaukee.
Award winners: Tyler Colvin was presented with the Cubs Heart and Hustle Award before Wednesday's game by ex-Cubs catcher Randy Hundley. It's an honor given by The Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association to players who demonstrate a passion for the game. A national winner will be announced Nov. 5.
Pitcher Sean Marshall was the Cubs' recipient of the Roberto Clemente Award, which recognizes positive contributions in sportsmanship and community involvement.