(670 The Score) Already down one key member of their starting rotation, the Cubs are facing some more adversity.
Left-hander Cole Hamels exited after one inning of work at Cincinnati on Friday night after experiencing discomfort in his left side, the team said. The extent of the injury wasn't immediately known. Hamels threw two warmup pitches ahead of the bottom of the second and then made a beeline for the dugout. He was accompanied to the clubhouse by a trainer shortly thereafter.
Hamels' fastball was sitting around 91 miles per hour in the first inning. The Reds led 1-0 at the time of his exit. Left-hander Mike Montgomery replaced Hamels and promptly allowed a solo homer on his first pitch.
Hamels has been a rock in the Cubs' rotation, going 6-2 with a 2.92 ERA and 1.19 WHIP. The Cubs are already missing right-hander Kyle Hendricks, who's on the injured list with an impingement in his throwing shoulder. The expectation is he'll be back right after the All-Star break, if not not right before it.
