Kerry Wood, who electrified baseball with a 20-strikeout game as a rookie in 1998 before his career was slowed by injuries, is retiring. Wood announced his decision Friday after coming in to face a single batter in the eighth inning during a 3-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox at Wrigley Field.
Wood struck out Dayan Viciedo on three pitches before he was replaced. His teammates joined him on the mound to congratulate him, and he left to a rousing ovation. He was hugged by his son as he reached the dugout and moments later, he came out for a curtain call waving his cap to the fans.
Wood went on the disabled list earlier this season with shoulder fatigue and had struggled all year.
Soto to have knee repaired
Chicago Cubs catcher Geovany Soto will have surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee and will be out three to four weeks.
The Cubs optioned struggling right-hander Chris Volstad to Triple-A Iowa and purchased the contract of catcher Blake Lalli from the same club.
Volstad, acquired in the deal that sent Carlos Zambrano to the Marlins, was 0-6 with a 7.46 ERA in eight starts. The Cubs are expected to call up lefty Travis Wood.
Padres’ Stauffer, Darnell on DL
The San Diego Padres placed starter Tim Stauffer on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained right elbow, retroactive to Tuesday, and put James Darnell on the DL a day after he partially separated his shoulder diving for a fly ball in left field.
The Padres recalled right-hander Nick Vincent from Triple-A Tucson. Also Friday, left-hander Eric Stults, claimed off waivers from the White Sox, reported to the Padres.
Surgery for two Royals pitchers
Kansas City Royals pitchers Danny Duffy and Blake Wood are scheduled to have Tommy John elbow surgery within the next two weeks after being evaluated Friday by Dr. Lewis Yocum.
Duffy, 23, had been the Royals’ best starter, going 2-2 with a 3.90 ERA. Wood hasn’t pitched this season after going 5-3 with a 3.75 ERA last year.
Arizona activates Young
The Diamondbacks reinstated outfielder Chris Young from the disabled list and optioned outfielder A.J. Pollock to Triple-A Reno. Young has been on the disabled list since hurting his right shoulder while running into the wall during a game April 17 against Pittsburgh. He was hitting .410 with five homers and 13 RBI in his first 11 games before getting hurt. Young played in four games for Class-A Visalia and Triple-A Reno.
Pollock was hitting .229 with a homer and four RBI in 20 games.
Cards’ Craig, McClellan out
The St. Louis Cardinals placed outfielder Allen Craig on the 15-day disabled list because of a left hamstring strain, along with reliever Kyle McClellan due to an elbow strain. Outfielder Adron Chambers and right-hander Brandon Dickson were recalled from Triple-A Memphis before the opener of a three-game series at Dodger Stadium.
