(Courtesy of The Sports Xchange) The novelty of pitching in the major leagues has worn off.

Now it's time to get town to business.

Cubs rookie left-hander Rich Hill makes his season debut Thursday night against Arizona, replacing Glendon Rusch, who was demoted to the bullpen.

Hill was a strikeout machine (averaging 13 per nine innings) in the minor leagues but made 10 major league appearances last year and was 0-2 with a 9.13 ERA. He walked 17 and struck out 21 in 23 2/3 innings.

He feels as if this year he will have a better mindset heading into his first game.

"It feels like anything else you do," Hill said. "You get that initial rush of a new job or whatever that might be. But the second time around, it's nothing new."

REPLAY: The offensive woes continued for the Cubs as they collected 10 hits but scored just one run in a 5-1 loss to Arizona at Chase Field on Wednesday night.

The Cubs have lost four of their past five games and have been outscored 39-5 in those five contests. Shortstop Ronny Cedeno's three-hit performance went to waste Wednesday.

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NOTES

 --RHP Greg Maddux, who won all five of his starts in April en route to a National League Pitcher of the Month honor, struggled with his command in his first start in May. He gave up five runs in five innings Wednesday night against Arizona. Maddux fell to 1-9 lifetime against the Diamondbacks, 0-5 against them in Arizona.

--RHP Kerry Wood (shoulder and knee surgery) was given the green light to make a rehab start with Class A Peoria on Sunday night. Wood pitched five innings in a Rookie League game Tuesday, and he said Wednesday that he felt no pain. Wood figures he needs two rehab starts to stretch out to 85-90 pitches before he will be ready for a return to the major leagues. On his current pace, he could be back May 17 against Washington.

--RF Jacque Jones was burned twice in three days by aggressive baserunning. Jones was doubled off second base Monday against Pittsburgh when left fielder Jason Bay made a running catch on a line drive. He also was doubled off second base Wednesday night when Arizona left fielder Luis Gonzalez made a similar play.

--RHP Wade Miller (shoulder surgery) is back to throwing off flat ground in extended spring training. Miller was shut down last week because of fatigue.

--OF Angel Pagan, who is on the disabled list with a strained left hamstring, has been rehabbing in extended spring training in Arizona, and he visited with the team in Phoenix on Wednesday. The Cubs are hoping he will be back by June.

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