Cubs Lose Gonzalez for Six Weeks

Shortstop Alex Gonzalez will be out at least six weeks after breaking a bone in his right wrist, joining the Chicago Cubs’ growing list of injured players.

Gonzalez was hurt in the seventh inning of Wednesday’s 2-0 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks when he was struck by a pitch from Mike Koplove.

The Cubs will call up veteran Damian Jackson from triple-A Iowa today and transfer right-hander Mark Prior to the 60-day disabled list. Ramon Martinez will fill in as the starting shortstop.

Chicago is already without starting second baseman Mark Grudzielanek, who has been on the disabled list since April 10 with a partial tear of his right Achilles’ tendon. Prior (Achilles’ tendon) and Mike Remlinger (shoulder) have been on the disabled list all season.

“No feeling sorry for yourself, that happens to everybody in the business,” Cub General Manager Jim Hendry said. “Everybody usually has a traumatic injury over 162 games.”

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Slumping Seattle Mariner backup catcher Ben Davis was optioned to triple-A Tacoma. Seattle called up Pat Borders, 40, from its Pacific Coast League affiliate to take over for Davis as the No. 2 catcher behind Dan Wilson.

Davis, 27, was three for 33 with no extra-base hits and two runs batted in 14 games. Borders, in his 22nd season of professional baseball, was the 1992 World Series MVP with the Toronto Blue Jays.

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Commissioner Bud Selig visited Oakland’s ballpark for the first time since 1989 and declared the Athletics need a new stadium soon to survive.

Selig did not offer a timetable, adding that “there’s no question the club will have to make a considerable contribution.”

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New York Yankee backup first baseman Travis Lee will have surgery next week on his injured left shoulder.