Blister Might Delay Wood’s Return Plan

Kerry Wood’s return to the Chicago Cubs from elbow surgery might be delayed by a blister.

Wood, the 1998 National League Rookie of the Year who sat out all of last season, pitched seven strong innings Sunday for triple-A Iowa against Colorado Springs before being pulled in the eighth after a blister developed on the middle finger of his throwing hand.

The right-hander yielded four hits, four walks and two earned runs, while striking out seven.

“It’s frustrating, just because this could’ve been my last one--or should’ve been,” Wood said of his third rehabilitation assignment. “I felt like I’ve got everything together, and now we get to this point and something small like this comes up.”

Cub General Manager Ed Lynch said trainers will examine the hand today before making a decision.

Lynch said he had hoped Wood would be ready to join the major league club as early as Friday, when the Cubs return to Wrigley Field for the start of a three-game series with Arizona.

*

Tony Saunders, the Tampa Bay pitcher who broke a bone in his left arm last season, threw off a bullpen mound for the second time in three days.

“Right now, we’re just building strength,” Saunders said after his five-minute throwing session. “Hopefully, mine will come back pretty quick.”

Saunders fractured his left humerus--the bone from the shoulder to the elbow--in a game against Texas.

“He’s got a stubborn personality, and in this situation that’s great,” Tampa Bay Manager Larry Rothschild said. “He’s made up his mind he’s going to pitch again and he’s taken strides toward that. He’s set a goal and now he’s going about accomplishing it.”

Since 1989, three other pitchers--Dave Dravecky, Tom Browning and John Smiley--have had similar injuries, but never fully recovered.

*

The Detroit Tigers put starting pitcher Brian Moehler on the 15-day disabled list and recalled pitcher Dave Borkowski from triple-A Toledo of the International League.

Moehler, whose last start April 16 was a no-decision against Tampa Bay, underwent an emergency appendectomy Saturday at Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn, Ill. He is 1-1 with a 3.93 ERA in three starts. Borkowski was 1-0 with a 2.81 ERA in three starts for Toledo.

*

Andy Pettitte, who has been sidelined two weeks because of a strained muscle on the left side of his back, will start for the New York Yankees on Wednesday. Pettitte threw 35 pitches in the bullpen and pitched six minutes of batting practice Sunday at Toronto. “I feel like it’s ready. Hopefully it holds up,” he said. . . . The Chicago White Sox activated infielder Herbert Perry and optioned outfielder McKay Christensen to triple-A Charlotte. Perry was claimed off waivers from Tampa Bay on Friday. He hit .214 (six for 28) in seven games with the Devil Rays. Christensen was hitless in five at-bats.