Cubs select contract of RHP Blake Parker, option LHP Scott Maine to Iowa

CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs today selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Blake Parker from Triple-A Iowa and optioned left-handed pitcher Scott Maine to Triple-A.

Parker, who joins the first major league roster of his professional career, will wear uniform number 55 and be available for the Cubs tonight against the Philadelphia Phillies at Wrigley Field.

Chicago’s 40-man roster now stands at 39 players.

Parker, 26, is 1-0 with five saves and a 2.08 ERA (3 ER/13.0 IP) in 13 relief appearances this season with Iowa, limiting right-handed and left-handed hitters to identical .200 batting averages against.  He has struck out nine, walked five and not allowed a home run in 13.0 innings.  Parker was an invitee to major league spring training this season for the second time in his career (also 2010).

Originally selected by the Cubs in the 16th round of the 2006 Draft, Parker is 14-15 with 58 saves and a 2.96 ERA (104 ER/316.0 IP) in 233 minor league appearances, all in relief.  The 6-foot-3, 225-pounder has struck out 332 batters in 316.0 innings pitched, an average of 9.5 strikeouts per nine innings.

Parker split the 2011 campaign between Double-A Tennessee and Iowa, going 3-3 with four saves and a 2.81 ERA (16 ER/51.1 IP) in 37 appearances in Triple-A, where he spent the majority of the campaign.

Maine is 0-1 with a 6.35 ERA (4 ER/5.2 IP) in six major league relief appearances this season and is 2-1 with two saves and a 5.25 ERA (7 ER/12.0 IP) in 10 relief outings with Triple-A Iowa.