Prior leaves in second inning with discomfort in elbow

CHICAGO -- Chicago Cubs right-hander Mark Prior left Thursday night's game against the Milwaukee Brewers in the second inning with discomfort in his right elbow.

Prior, who missed the first two months of the season with a sore right Achilles tendon and sore right elbow, was making just eighth start of the season. He came off the disabled list June 4.

With one out in the second, Prior got Milwaukee's Chad Moeller to hit a grounder to first baseman Derrek Lee. Prior started off the mound to go to first before Lee made the play unassisted.

Trainer Dave Groeschner and pitching coach Larry Rothschild quickly went to the mound and consulted with Prior before Glendon Rusch was called in from the bullpen.

Prior gave up one hit and a run, on Geoff Jenkins' sacrifice fly in the first inning. He threw 30 pitches in a long first inning and six more in the second before leaving.

The Cubs have been hit hard by injuries this season. Prior, Kerry Wood, Sammy Sosa, Alex Gonzalez, Todd Hollandsworth, Kent Mercker, Mike Remlinger, Mark Grudzielanek, Todd Wellemeyer and Joe Borowski have all been sidelined at some point this season. Third baseman Aramis Ramirez has been out since July 2 with a groin strain.

Prior was 18-6 last season, including 10-1 during the Cubs' run to the playoffs. He was 2-2 this season before Thursday night's start.

Prior, 23, has been on the disabled list in each of his three major league seasons. He hurt his left hamstring running the bases in 2002 and bruised a shoulder last season in a collision on the bases with Atlanta second baseman Marcus Giles.

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