Cubs don't give up, but cannot get the win against the Phillies; Blake Parker called up; Crosstown Classic on deck

The Cubs lost to the Philadelphia Phillies, 8-7 at Wrigley Field tonight.  The Cubs were hoping that starting pitcher Chris Volstad would turn his season around and help lead the team to a win, but Volstad lasted just two innings and allowed four runs on six hits and also walked three batters.

Cubs manager Dale Sveum said if Chris Volstad is pulled from starting rotation, Travis Wood would be called up from Triple-A Iowa.

Sveum brought in Casey Coleman, who was called up from Triple-A Iowa, in the third inning of tonight's game.

For more details, here's a link to a game recap from the Chicago Tribune.

Catcher Geovany Soto was scratched from tonight's lineup because of inflammation in his left knee.  His status is day to day.  Wellington Castillo took Soto's spot in the lineup.

The Cubs called up right handed reliever Blake Parker from Triple-A Iowa today and Scott Maine was sent back down. 

RHP Blake Parker was called up from Triple-A Iowa today (photo from cubs.com)

Relief pitcher Carlos Marmol will throw three to four innings on a brief rehab stint with Triple-A Iowa next week before returning from the disabled list.  He is due to come off the disabled list on May 27th and said,  "I'll be ready soon.  I have to figure out how to pitch good again, and I don't know what will happen after that."

The Chicago Police Department has confirmed there will be a larger-than-normal security presence at Wrigley Field this weekend with the two-day NATO summit set to begin in Chicago on Sunday.  Before Wednesday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies, uniformed law-enforcement personnel had dogs sniffing throughout the entire park.

Tomorrow the Cubs will kick off a three-game series with their crosstown rivals the Chicago White Sox.  Jeff Samardzija is scheduled to start for the Cubs and will try for his fifth win of the season at 1:20pm CT.