MESA, Ariz. (AP) -- Starlin Castro wanted a third at-bat. He got it and then pulled up lame.
Castro left in the bottom of the fourth inning after pulling up on a ground ball to shortstop Wednesday during an 11-7 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Cubs said their shortstop had left hamstring tightness.
"It was a little bit tight but not too bad," Castro said. "I felt it when I touched the base. It scared me. I don't want to be hurt. I feel too good this year."
Castro, who was the designated hitter, played in 162 games last and expects to do so again this year.
"He was jogging around in the training room a little bit," Cubs manager Dale Sveum said. "It was more tight than a pull or anything. He pulled up quite a bit, and he was kind of hobbling, but it doesn't seem like a big deal at all. Certain players love to play period. He is one them guys and there is no taking him out of the lineup. He begged for the third at-bat and looked what happened."
Castro said he never had experienced a similar injury and thought conditioning may have been a factor.
"It felt like a Charlie horse. Nothing bad," he said. "I worked too much in the Dominican, running a lot."
Aaron Harang, bidding for a spot in the Dodgers rotation, allowed four runs, five hits and a walk in the first, then threw a 1-2-3 second. He was 10-10 with a career-best 3.61 ERA last year.
He tightened up during the top of the first.
"I felt like I was having a hard time getting loose again," he said of the bottom half. "It felt like it took to the middle of the inning before I was getting anywhere loose."
Jerry Hairston Jr. hit a two-run double off Trey McNutt in the second inning and added a sacrifice fly in the third. Darwin Barney had two singles and two RBIs.
Alfredo Amezaga had three hits and two RBIs for the Dodgers, who trailed 4-1 after the first but led 8-4 in the middle of the third.
NOTES: Dodgers INF Luis Cruz went to emergency care with flulike symptoms on Tuesday. Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said he was fine on Wednesday and will be out of for a few days. ... Cubs RHP Matt Garza (left lat muscle) is getting closer to taking the mound, possibly as early as Thursday, after two days of upper- and lower-body workouts. ... Dodgers CF Matt Kemp (offseason shoulder surgery) took some swings in the batting cages and could be at DH this weekend.
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Friday, May 24 2013 1:09 PM EDT2013-05-24 17:09:25 GMT
Andrew McCutchen had three hits and two RBIs to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates past the Chicago Cubs 4-2 on a rainy Thursday for their fourth straight win.
Andrew McCutchen had three hits and two RBIs to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates past the Chicago Cubs 4-2 on a rainy Thursday for their fourth straight win.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 10:47 PM EDT2013-05-23 02:47:43 GMT
Francisco Liriano continued his torrid start, scattering two hits over seven innings and the Pittsburgh Pirates edged the Chicago Cubs 1-0 on Wednesday night.
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Tuesday, May 21 2013 11:05 PM EDT2013-05-22 03:05:46 GMT
Travis Snider hit a pinch-hit grand slam during a five-run sixth and the Pittsburgh Pirates spoiled a strong return to the mound for Matt Garza with a 5-4 win over the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night.
Travis Snider hit a pinch-hit grand slam during a five-run sixth and the Pittsburgh Pirates spoiled a strong return to the mound for Matt Garza with a 5-4 win over the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night.
Sunday, May 19 2013 10:15 PM EDT2013-05-20 02:15:36 GMT
Daniel Murphy hit a tiebreaking home run in the eighth inning and the New York Mets beat the Chicago Cubs 4-3 on Sunday for their first series win at Wrigley Field since 2007.
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Saturday, May 18 2013 11:08 PM EDT2013-05-19 03:08:37 GMT
Scott Feldman pitched shutout ball into the seventh inning and drove in two runs with a big two-out double, helping the Chicago Cubs beat the New York Mets 8-2 on Saturday.
Scott Feldman pitched shutout ball into the seventh inning and drove in two runs with a big two-out double, helping the Chicago Cubs beat the New York Mets 8-2 on Saturday.
Wednesday, May 15 2013 11:19 PM EDT2013-05-16 03:19:36 GMT
Jeff Samardzija hit a two-run home run and pitched eight strong innings for his first win since opening day and the Chicago Cubs beat the Colorado Rockies 6-3 on Wednesday night.
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Wednesday, May 15 2013 8:42 AM EDT2013-05-15 12:42:09 GMT
Carlos Gonzalez homered twice and finished with a career-high five hits to lead the struggling Colorado Rockies to a 9-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night.
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Monday, May 13 2013 11:24 PM EDT2013-05-14 03:24:50 GMT
Travis Wood pitched seven scoreless innings and the Chicago Cubs came within two outs of their first shutout since last August in a 9-1 win over the Colorado Rockies on Monday night.
Travis Wood pitched seven scoreless innings and the Chicago Cubs came within two outs of their first shutout since last August in a 9-1 win over the Colorado Rockies on Monday night.
Monday, May 13 2013 7:06 PM EDT2013-05-13 23:06:49 GMT
Slugging first baseman Anthony Rizzo and the Chicago Cubs agreed Monday to a $41 million, seven-year contract that could be worth up to $68 million over nine seasons.
Slugging first baseman Anthony Rizzo and the Chicago Cubs agreed Monday to a $41 million, seven-year contract that could be worth up to $68 million over nine seasons.
