After Steve Wilson pitched 1 1/3 innings of scoreless, hitless relief Sunday, the Cubs optioned the lefty to Triple-A Iowa and bought the contract of outfielder Ced Landrum.
Landrum, 27, was leading the American Association with a .338 batting average and 13 stolen bases.
Kelleher tabbed: Mick Kelleher, a minor-league instructor for the Cubs since 1987, will succeed Jim Essian as manager at Triple-A Iowa. Kelleher, 43, will join the team June 1. Minor-league instructor Steve Roadcap and Iowa pitching coach Grant Jackson will run the team until then.
One of those days: Montreal manager Buck Rodgers, ejected by rookie plate umpire Dan Wickham, said, ”He was taking pitches away from the guys
(pitchers) all day. He was bad against (Rick) Sutcliffe, too.
”I don`t know him. He`s a new ump. I`ll give him the benefit of the doubt, but he had a bad day.”
Bielecki better: Mike Bielecki, removed from Saturday night`s victory because of back spasms, is not seriously injured and probably will make his next start Sunday, said Essian.
”The problem is minor,” Essian said. ”We don`t expect him to miss more than a couple of days, which is normal. He should be throwing on the side in two or three days.”
The injury report for the Expos is more serious, especially concerning first baseman Andres Galarraga. A strained hamstring caused him to be lifted from Friday`s game, and he pinch-hit Saturday.
”We first thought he`d be out three or four days, but it hurt him when he swung,” said Rodgers. ”It`s worse than we first thought. We need him, but we can`t panic.”
Rodgers fears that returning Galarraga to action too soon could aggravate his injury and put him on the disabled list.
Former White Sox outfielder Ivan Calderon, whom Rodgers calls ”our best player,” should return to the lineup for the Phillies series this week. He has a jammed shoulder.
Windy assessment: Cubs catcher Damon Berryhill wasn`t surprised Saturday night when he and three other players drove home runs through the damp, heavy air in Wrigley Field.
”If the wind isn`t blowing in, the ball still jumps off the bat here,”
Berryhill said. ”The humidity doesn`t matter much. If the wind blows in, it`s another ballpark.”
Happy birthdays: Cubs General Manager Jim Frey turned 60 Sunday. Coach Joe Altobelli turned 59.
