Hamstring strain sends Ruggiano to DL

Justin Ruggiano hit his first home run of the year for the Cubs Wednesday. But the afternoon turned out to be eventful in a bad way, too.

On Thursday, Ruggiano ended up on the disabled list with a strained left hamstring, an injury that could keep him sidelined for at least 3-4 weeks.

Ruggiano injured himself as he chased Aaron Hill's game-breaking 2-run triple in the ninth inning. The hit propelled the Diamondbacks to a 7-5 victory. Ruggiano hurt the hamstring as he chased the ball while heading toward the right-field line. He fell to the grass and although he was able to walk off the field, he needed help from the trainer.

"About three steps before I went into a dive, I felt a pull in the hamstring, and then one step before I went into my dive, I felt a pop," he said. "It's something that's manageable, but it'll take three weeks, probably four weeks, with a rehab assignment.

"I never felt a pop like this before. It's one of those things where the natural reaction is as soon as you hear the pop, you grab it."

The Cubs obtained the right-handed hitting Ruggiano last December in a trade with Miami for Brian Bogusevic. He's been a platoon player with the Cubs. His line is .229/.308/.343 with the 1 homer and 6 RBI.

"The swing was starting to feel good," he said. "Of course, it's never a good time (to get hurt). I can't look back and have to worry about getting back on the field."

Bullpen symmetry:

The Cubs recalled two relievers from Class AAA Iowa on Thursday: lefty Zac Rosscup and right-hander Neil Ramirez. Rosscup was up last week for the doubleheader at Yankee Stadium, and Ramirez is looking to make his major-league debut.

The Cubs obtained Rosscup, 25, from Tampa Bay in January 2011 as part of the big trade that brought pitcher Matt Garza to the Cubs.

When the Cubs traded Garza to Texas last summer, one of the players they got back was Ramirez.

"I was surprised to get the call," Ramirez said. "I was just going about my business down there, trying to get better every day and that's what I'm going to try to do up here."

Speaking of Garza, the Cubs will face him Friday night as he pitches the series opener against them for the Brewers in Milwaukee. Garza is known for his excitable nature.

"I'm sure Garza's going to be Garza," said Cubs pitcher Edwin Jackson, who started Thursday's 5-2 loss to Arizona.