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CHICAGO -- Cubs catcher-infielder Steve Clevenger was sent for an MRI on his left side after being injured on a strikeout swing to end Saturday's 3-2 loss to the San Francisco Giants.

Clevenger was pinch hitting for pitcher James Russell when he took an awkward swing at Giants closer Santiago Casilla's last pitch. Clevenger fell down and writhed in pain as teammates and training staff came to his aid.

A source said that the first diagnosis by team doctors indicated Clevenger sustained a left oblique injury. The 27-year-old utility man was the team’s third catcher and had added first- and third-base duties to his résumé during spring training. Clevenger started his first major league game at third base Friday and handled three chances flawlessly.

The Cubs will most likely play with 24 players in Sunday's finale with the Giants. The team has an off day on Monday. Second baseman Darwin Barney is scheduled to return from the disabled list Tuesday. Barney is on a rehab assignment at Triple-A Iowa. He has been on the DL since Opening Day with a left knee laceration.

Chicago Cubs manager Dale Sveum made the right call -- an easy one -- when he announced James Russell and Shawn Camp would close games while Kyuji Fujikawa is on the disabled list with a right forearm strain. It allows Carlos Marmol to continue to work in less pressure-filled situations, as he’s done his past two outings.

“I don’t think I’ll use Marmol right now,” Sveum said on Saturday. “Right now, I want to keep him in the role we talked about a few days ago.”

Is it a coincidence Marmol has given up nothing on the scoreboard in his two appearances that did not occur in the ninth inning this week?

Maybe.

But more than likely, pitching in any other inning is giving him a chance to relax. Even coming into a tight 3-3 game in the 8th inning, as he did on Tuesday against the Milwaukee Brewers, isn’t the pressure of the ninth inning. Hitters and pitchers alike have been talking about how different those last three outs are.

“The thing that’s different is the adrenaline,” new part-time closer Russell said. “There’s just a big aura around the last three outs.”

Russell saved two games last season after Marmol lost his job early in the season, so he feels comfortable doing it.

“The crowd lets you know you’re close to the game being over,” he said. “You get more juices going. You have to look at it as another inning.”

But we all know it’s not just another inning. David DeJesus has talked about hitters “locking in” knowing it’s the final chance for their team, while Sveum is under the belief that the tying run always gets to the plate -- unless a Mariano Rivera is on the mound -- in those save situations. It just does.

In any case, Russell and Camp were under consideration for the closer’s role when Marmol was demoted in the first place. With Fujikawa out, it makes sense to go to them. For those wanting Marmol’s trade value to increase, there is plenty of time for that. Let him earn the job back, just as he did last season, then maybe he’ll save some games this summer and the Cubs will still get something for him in a trade by July 31.

At least that’s the plan, right?

Here’s a quick look at the Chicago Cubs' 3-2 defeat by the San Francisco Giants on Saturday:

How it happened: Wrigley Field produced another pitching duel, this time between Jeff Samardzija and Madison Bumgarner, as neither team scored until the fifth inning. The Giants tallied once each in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings while the Cubs finally got on the board on a pinch-hit two-run home run by Dioner Navarro in the bottom of the seventh.

Navarro’s streak: The Cubs' backup catcher has pinch hit home runs on consecutive days from either side of the plate, a feat that, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, hasn't been accomplished since Todd Benzinger did it for the Dodgers in 1992. On Friday, he hit a game-tying blast in the ninth inning from the left side and pulled the Cubs within one Saturday with a long ball from the right side. They're the first two pinch-hit home runs of his career.

What it means: The Cubs battled to the end, but the lack of offense against lefties this season has been striking. In three games, Cubs starters have managed one run combined against left-handers. Manager Dale Sveum says he is sticking with righties Dave Sappelt and Scott Hairston when a lefty is on the mound, which means sitting David DeJesus and .355 hitter Nate Schierholtz. DeJesus had three hits Friday, including a home run, but was on the bench Saturday.

Defensively, the Cubs continue to be sloppy. They left several double plays on the field, and right fielder Hairston made an errant throw as Bumgarner crossed the plate with the eventual winning run in the seventh.

What’s next: The 4-7 Cubs will try to salvage a split of the series when Edwin Jackson takes the mound Sunday.

CHICAGO -- Chicago Cubs pitcher Carlos Villanueva doesn't much care that he is still winless despite a sparkling 0.64 ERA after throwing his second stellar game of the season on Friday.

He's just happy the Cubs beat the San Francisco Giants 4-3 after blowing a 2-0 ninth-inning lead.

"Personal stats will come if I keep doing my job, eventually, but the atmosphere in our clubhouse right now, I wouldn't change for the world," Villanueva said.

Villanueva was long gone when closer Kyuji Fujikawa blew the save for him just as Carlos Marmol did in Villanueva's first start against the Atlanta Braves on Saturday.

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CHICAGO -- What looked like another disaster for the Chicago Cubs bullpen ultimately turned out well for closer Kyuji Fujikawa and his teammates on Friday.

After Fujikawa blew his first save, allowing the Giants to take a 3-2 lead with three runs in the ninth inning, Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro hit a walkoff RBI double to give the Cubs a 4-3 victory.

Starting pitcher Carlos Villanueva was in line for his first win after throwing 7 1/3 shutout innings before the Fujikawa meltdown.

"I told him (through Fujikawa's translator) I believe in him; we all believe in him and think he is going to be fine," Villanueva said. "He was very apologetic and felt bad. We need him."

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CHICAGO -- From goat to hero.

That's how Chicago Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro feels after winning Friday's game against the San Francisco Giants with a walk-off double scoring David DeJesus to break a 3-3 tie in the ninth. It was just the day before Castro struck out with the tying run on second after making a critical error earlier in the game.

"That's the part I love about this game," Castro said. "Every day is a new day. You can be a hero."

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CHICAGO -- Here's a quick look at the Cubs' 4-3 win over the San Francisco Giants on Friday:

How it Happened: After a stellar 7.1 innings by Carlos Villanueva, the Cubs looked poised to even the series. But once again, the Cubs' bullpen blew it, and Carlos Marmol wasn't to blame this time. Kyuji Fujikawa inherited a 2-0 lead to start the ninth, and he proceeded to yield three hits and three runs. But Starlin Castro, who homered earlier in the game, lifted an RBI hit in the bottom of the ninth to drive in David DeJesus with the winning run. DeJesus is 7-15 in his last three games, with three doubles and one homer.

What it Means: In lowering his ERA to 0.64 Villanueva is showing he belongs in the rotation. He got 11 ground outs by keeping the ball down on a day where the wind was blowing straight out. It's early but Villanueva is proving to be a nice pick up.

Under the Radar: Steve Clevenger made the first start of his career at third base but didn't touch the ball until the sixth inning, then he made three plays in a row including one on a slow roller by Buster Posey. Anthony Rizzo struck out his first three times up and fourth in a row overall going back to Thursday's ninth inning, before he lined out in the 7th inning on Friday.

What's Next: The four-game series continues on Saturday with Jeff Samardzija on the mound for the Cubs. Game time is 12 CT.

Cubs infield/third base coach David Bell talks about the team's recent defensive struggles.



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Chicago Cubs infielder Brent Lillibridge considers former teammate Carlos Quentin a good friend, which is why he knows how intense Quentin is during a game.

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Chicago Cubs infielder Steve Clevenger makes the first start of his career at third base on Friday when the Cubs host the San Francisco Giants.

Clevenger has played a total of two innings in the majors at third, including one on Thursday in the Cubs 7-6 loss to the Giants.

"He (manager Dale Sveum) kind of gave me a heads up yesterday that I would be playing third today," Clevenger said Friday morning before the game. "I got my ground balls in. I feel very comfortable over there. I played infield when I was first drafted."

Clevenger has mostly been a catcher, behind the plate for 53 of the 63 career games he's played in. He's also played first base.

"I thought it was going to take a little bit longer before I got a start at third base but like I said I'm very happy, I feel very comfortable being out there," Clevenger stated.

Clevenger is taking Brent Lillibridge's place in the lineup as Luis Valbuena moves over to play second base. Clevenger will bat seventh.

The Cubs lead the league in errors with 10.

Barney's Gold Glove

Injured second baseman Darwin Barney will receive his Gold Glove in a ceremony before Friday's game. It was to take place on Saturday but Barney will be on a rehab assignment at Triple-A Iowa as he recovers from a knee injury suffered in the preseason. The ceremony was moved up to accommodate his schedule.

"It's exciting to get it and start the campaign for a new one. I plan on holding it for a couple days," Barney joked. "Right now my focus is on getting prepared for Tuesday."

Barney is eligible to come off the disabled list on Monday. The Cubs open a series against the Texas Rangers on Tuesday night. Barney originally hurt his knee chasing down a foul ball on March 30 in Houston.

Jesse Rogers enters the Cubs chat room at 12 CT, followed by Doug Padilla at 12:30.

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CHICAGO -- This was supposed to be the year Chicago Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro would put everything together and become a complete player.

Castro has gotten off to a rough start after nine games. He committed his third error of the season on Thursday against the San Francisco Giants, and it led to four unearned runs in a 7-6 loss. Striking out in the ninth with the tying run on second -- on a pitch way outside -- capped his awful day.

"I feel bad," Castro said of the error. "That's a play I have to make. That's a routine play with the pitcher running."

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CHICAGO -- Although nine games is just a sample size of the 162-game schedule, the Chicago Cubs appear to have some work to do on defense. After a 7-6 loss to the San Francisco Giants on Thursday, the Cubs have committed 10 errors, the most in baseball.

An over-aggressive play by shortstop Starlin Castro and two late breaks to first base by pitcher Scott Feldman led to four unearned runs in the fourth inning when the Cubs led 5-0.

"You have to be relaxed," Castro said. "Sometimes I try to be too quick. This was really frustrating because that is a routine play and is not supposed to happen."

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CHICAGO -- Here's a quick look at the Chicago Cubs' 7-6 loss to the defending world champion San Francisco Giants:

How it happened: Starlin Castro's two-out error in the fourth inning opened the floodgates for the Giants as they scored four times after the ground ball got by him. The big blow was a two-run bases loaded double by Pablo Sandoval. It came with the Cubs leading 5-0 as Brent Lillibridge had his first hit as a Cub, a two-out bases-loaded single in the third. After pulling within one in the fourth, the Giants took the lead for good in the fifth as reliever Hisanori Takahashi walked pitcher Ryan Vogelsong with the bases loaded and then gave up a sacrifice fly and two-run single to Ben Crawford. Anthony Rizzo homered for the third time this season but the Cubs managed just one run the rest of the way on a double-play grounder by Welington Castillo in the eighth.

What it means: Starter Scott Feldman didn't pitch great but it's hard to fully judge him -- as a pitcher -- when errors or mental lapses are made behind him or by him. In the same inning Castro made his error Lillibridge decided not to throw a ball to Feldman as he covered first on a ground ball which went wide of Anthony Rizzo. Feldman has been involved in three such issues covering first base this season already, although on that play Lillibridge made the mistake. Infield defense was supposed to be a strength of the Cubs this year -- it's been anything but. The Cubs are now 3-6 on the season.

Key stats: The Cubs have committed the most errors in the majors this season with 10. Castro has three … Nate Schierholtz was 3-4 with a stolen base against his former team, raising his average to .370 … Rizzo has just six hits this season but three have left the park.

What's next: The four-game series with the Giants continues as Carlos Villanueva takes the mound at 1:20 p.m. CT Friday.

CHICAGO -- Chicago Cubs pitcher Jeff Samardzjia had some tough words of advice for a potential future teammate in Jorge Soler, who was suspended five games Thursday for approaching an opponent's dugout wielding a bat during a Single-A game in Daytona Beach, Fla.

"If you are going to come here to Chicago, New York, L.A., any big city, you have to know it is not going to go your way all of the time," Samardzija said Thursday. "You have to be able to handle that. If you can't you aren't going to be around for too long. You can't lose your emotions like that. You have to stay under control, and if you don't, you definitely can't use a bat."

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