NEW YORK (AP) -Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee missed Chicago’s game Monday night against the New York Mets because of neck spasms.
Lee, who leads the major leagues with a .390 batting average, went back to Chicago for tests on his neck and was not at Shea Stadium for the game. Mark DeRosa started at first base – and planned to use Lee’s mitt. Lee had started all 35 games for the Cubs this season.
“Nothing serious, and we think he’ll be here tomorrow,” manager Lou Piniella said. “He’s day to day. We’ll see how he is when he gets here.”
Piniella said Lee was sent for tests because the team wanted to be extra safe when dealing with a neck problem.
Lee was originally left out of the lineup for Sunday’s game in Philadelphia, but he persuaded Piniella to let him play. Lee left in the second inning due to his ailing neck. He grounded into a double play in the first and Piniella pulled him in the second.
Lee, the 2005 NL batting champion and a two-time Gold Glove winner, was limited to 50 games last year because of a wrist injury. This season, he has two homers, 17 doubles and 21 RBIs.
For the first time this year, Alfonso Soriano moved from the leadoff spot to No. 3 in the lineup, where Lee normally hits. Second baseman Ryan Theriot batted leadoff against Mets starter Tom Glavine.
“When Derrek comes back, we’ll put D-Lee back in the 3-hole,” Piniella said.
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