Cubs Recall Ramirez, Rosscup; Option Parker

Colorado Springs - The Chicago Cubs placed OF Justin Ruggiano on the disabled list, optioned RH Blake Parker to Iowa, and recalled RH Neil Ramirez and LH Zac Rosscup to the big leagues today. LH Jeff Antigua joins the I-Cubs from extended spring training. Both Parker and Antigua are available for Iowa's game tonight in Colorado Springs.

Parker opened the season with Iowa and made three appearances before being recalled to Chicago on April 13. With Iowa, he allowed three hits and struck out five in three innings while earning one save. In two games with Chicago, he was charged with three runs on five hits in 1.2 innings. The Cubs drafted Parker in the 16th round of the 2006 draft out of the University of Arkansas. He is Iowa's career saves lead with 42 in 159 appearances.

Ramirez has no record and a 7.71 ERA (6ER/7.0IP) in six games with Iowa. He pitched scoreless relief in four of his six appearances. All of the runs he allowed came on two home runs, including a grand slam by Audry Perez of Memphis on April 5. The Cubs acquired Ramirez as the player to be named later from Texas to complete a five-player deal on July 31 last year that sent RH Matt Garza to the Rangers. Ramirez' first appearance with Chicago will be his major league debut. The Rangers selected Ramirez in the supplemental first round (44th overall) of the 2007 draft.

Rosscup is 1-0 with a 4.26 ERA (3ER/6.1IP) with four walks and nine strikeouts in five games with Iowa this year. He was previously recalled by Chicago on August 16 to be the "26th man" for a double-header against the Yankees in New York. He pitched 1.2 scoreless innings in the night cap of that twin bill and was optioned to Iowa the next day. The Cubs acquired Rosscup along with Garza from the Tampa Bay Rays in an eight-player deal on January 8, 2011. The Rays drafted Rosscup in the 28th round of the 2009 draft out of Chemeketa (OR) Community College.

Antigua pitched with all four of the Cubs' full-season affiliates last season and combined to go 8-3 with a 3.73 ERA (34ER/82.0IP) and one save in 35 games, including one start. He was 2-2 with a 5.40 ERA (24ER/40.0IP) in 16 games (one start) with Iowa. The Cubs signed Antigua as a non-drafted free agent out of the Dominican Republic on October 5, 2006.

The Cubs open a four-game series against the Colorado Springs Sky Sox at 7:35 Central time. LH Tsuyoshi Wada (2-1, 0.84) will start for the Cubs. The game will be broadcast live on AM 940, and streamed live at iowacubs.com, with the On-Deck Circle Pre-Game Show starting at 7:15.