Cabrera Promoted to Iowa; Flores Active

Round Rock, TX - The Chicago Cubs promoted RHP Alberto Cabrera to the Iowa Cubs today after an All-Star first half with double-A Tennessee. The Cubs also activated C Luis Flores from the paternity list and re-assigned C Chad Noble back to double-A. The Cubs released RHP Esmailin Caridad from the organization.

Cabrera is 9-3 with a 3.20 ERA (40ER/112.2IP) in 18 starts with the Tennessee Smokies this season. He has won his last four decisions and hasnʼt allowed more than two runs in any of his last six starts. He set a career-highs with 13 strikeouts in eight innings in a win on June 24 against Jackson and pitched his second career complete game in game one of a double-header on May 20 at Chattanooga. Cabrera is one of five pitchers tied for the Southern League lead in wins. He also leads the league in strikeouts (107) and ranks second in innings pitched. Cabrera was selected to the Southern League All-Star team and pitched a scoreless inning for the North team last night in Jacksonville.

The Cubs signed Cabrera as a non-drafted free agent on July 7, 2005 out of the Dominican Republic. The 24-year-old has pitched with Iowa in each of the last two seasons and is 5-6 with a 6.25 ERA (74ER/108.0IP) in 32 games (17 starts). He made his major league debut on August 1 last season and was 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA (13ER/21.2IP) with 27 strikeouts in 25 appearances for Chicago. Cabrera is scheduled to work out of the bullpen to begin this stint with Iowa.

Flores missed the Cubsʼ last series while on the paternity list. His son, Mason Luis Flores, was born on Friday, July 12. Flores is batting .189 (24-for-127) with seven doubles, four home runs, and 12 RBI in 40 games with Iowa this year. Flores is batting .273 (9-for-33) with four doubles, two home runs, and five RBI in his last eight games. Noble filled in for Flores and was 0-for-10 in two games with Iowa. He was 0-for-7 and caught all 18 innings of the Cubsʼ game against Albuquerque on Sunday at Principal Park.

Caridad was 3-3 with a 5.02 ERA (16ER/28.2IP) in 16 games with Iowa this season. He was 12-20 with a 4.54 ERA (134ER/265.2IP) in 113 games, including 27 starts, with Iowa over the last five seasons.

The Cubs open a four-game series in Round Rock tonight at 7:05. RH Guillermo Moscoso (7-5, 4.07) will start for the Cubs against RH Alexei Ogando (0-1, 10.50) on Major League rehab with the Express. All of the action will be broadcast live on AM 940 and streamed live on iowacubs.com with the pre-game show starting at 6:45.