Associated Press
The MLB notebook …
SAN DIEGO ó Greg Maddux moved past Hall of Famer Phil Niekro and took sole possession of 10th place on baseballís career strikeout list on Monday night.
The San Diego Padresí right-hander struck out Arizonaís Mark Reynolds in the second inning to tie Niekro with 3,342, then moved past him in the third when he struck out Conor Jackson.
Maddux had four strikeouts through five innings. The 42-year right-hander, in his 23rd big league season, was trying to break a career-high, 14-start winless streak.
YANKEES
NEW YORK ó Five-time All-Star catcher Jorge Posada will have season-ending surgery on his right shoulder, ending his attempt to return to the lineup for the New York Yankeesí postseason push.
CUBS
MILWAUKEE ó Cubs reliever Kerry Wood threw in the bullpen on Monday, but manager Lou Piniella said his closer is not close to returning from a blister on his pitching hand.
Wood is eligible to return today at Milwaukee but still hasnít fully recovered from the blister on his right index finger thatís kept him out since July 11.
Itís left the Cubs with no clear closer.
Rookie Jeff Samardzija saved his first game with two scoreless innings on Sunday, but he wasnít available Monday night as the team monitors his workload.
Other closing options include Carlos Marmol, who has four saves this season, and Bob Howry, who has struggled recently and is 0-2 with a 13.50 ERA over five appearances in the last 10 days.
iThe healing will be there when heís ready to pitch,î Piniella said of a potential timetable for Woodís return. iIt looks better, but heís obviously not feeling well enough to pitch.î