Associated Press 18y

Lee to rejoin Cubs for Sunday's game at Twins

Chicago Cubs

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Derrek Lee will be back with the Chicago Cubs for Sunday's game at Minnesota after just one minor league rehab appearance.

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The move to activate Lee from the disabled list will come one day sooner than expected, as injuries to Tony Womack and Freddy Bynum during Saturday night's 3-0 loss to Minnesota forced Chicago's hand.

Lee went 1-for-4 and with an RBI single Saturday night in a rehab start for Triple-A Iowa.

The Omaha Royals beat Iowa 10-4.

"I've got to go to work tomorrow. It wasn't expected, but unfortunately two guys got hurt tonight so we had to make a move," Lee said. "I'm excited. I'm ready to go."

After groundouts in the first and third inning, Lee smacked a 1-1 pitch from Omaha's Runelvys Hernandez into center field for an RBI single. Lee grounded out to short in the seventh and was pulled from the game after the inning.

After the game Lee said his wrist was "good to go."

"It's what we expected it to be, just not quite as strong. But in a week or two it will be ready to go full strength," Lee said.

Lee had never landed on the disabled list during his 10-year major league career before a collision with Los Angeles shortstop
Rafael Furcal left him with two broken bones in his right wrist.

Lee had picked up where he left off following last year's breakout campaign, hitting .318 with three homers and 10 RBI in 44 at-bats before the injury.

His absence coincided with a Cubs tailspin. Chicago was 9-5 before Lee went down but has gone 19-40 since.

Lee wasn't the only big leaguer in town for a rehab appearance. Royals closer Mike MacDougal, who strained his right shoulder during spring training, pitched two-thirds of an inning for Omaha and allowed three runs.

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