Neal, Guerrier placed on disabled list

PHILADELPHIA -- The Cubs have struggled all year with their health, but even the fact that they have had 49 players suit up and play this year didn't prepare them for the seventh inning of Wednesday's 5-2 win at Citizens Bank Park over the Phillies.

In the span of five minutes, outfielder Thomas Neal, reliever Matt Guerrier and catcher Dioner Navarro all sustained injuries. Guerrier was placed on the 60-day disabled list due to a right elbow injury while Neal was added to the 15-day DL. Navarro is currently listed as day-to-day with a right ankle injury.

"Not exactly," said manager Dale Sveum when asked if he had ever seen anything like the seventh inning. "We claim [Neal], that's a nice hitter. Maybe bring some stuff to the table with his bat and then he goes down in his second game.

"Losing [Guerrier] is a tough one because that solidified our bullpen in the seventh, eighth inning when we were winning. You don't want major injuries like that happening and we had three in one inning."

Neal sustained a dislocated shoulder on a throw early in the inning, and Guerrier indicated he first noticed on a curveball to Chase Utley something in his elbow had gone wrong, then he tried to power through the rest of the inning before he told Sveum what was happening with his arm.

With Guerrier headed to the 60-day DL, the Cubs purchased the contract of 33-year-old catcher J.C. Boscan from Triple-A Iowa. Boscan gives the Cubs depth with Navarro day-to-day with an ankle contusion.

To replace Neal, the Cubs recalled Eduardo Sanchez from Iowa. On Tuesday, it was Sanchez who was sent to Iowa to make room for Neal. Sanchez had a 3.00 ERA in two appearances this season for the Cubs. The right-hander came out of the bullpen on Thursday to replace Jeff Samardzija, who struggled through 3 1/3 innings. Sanchez allowed one run over 2 1/3 innings.