(Courtesy of The Sports Xchange) Mark Prior was hoping to come back this season -- even as a reliever if possible -- but indications are that it's a long shot.

Prior went on the disabled list with right shoulder tendinitis on Aug. 11, and three weeks later he has not yet been cleared to throw.

"I don't think there's a finality to it, but right now it's looking more and more doubtful," Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said. "I haven't talked to Mark about it, maybe the last week or so. But if he's doing it just to get a day in -- that doesn't make much sense."

Prior had two previous stints on the DL with shoulder and oblique problems and was 1-6 with a 7.21 ERA in nine starts.

If Prior is healthy, Hendry believes the pitcher can be a force again.

"There is no reason to believe that at 25 years old, assuming he has good health, that he won't be real good. He pitched tremendously in '03 and pitched in some big games. He can rebound. A lot will be his own state. When he feels he's healthy, I think it will come real fast.

"You can't help but lose some of that confidence and that swagger when you are not out there throwing like you can. That can beat you down. But at his age, I think it all revolved around his health."

REPLAY: The Cubs snapped a six-game losing streak when left-handed rookie pitcher Rich Hill gave up one run in eight innings and hot rookie infielder Ryan Theriot hit his first major league homer in a 6-2 victory over San Francisco at Wrigley Field on Friday afternoon.

The Cubs (56-79) have not had a complete-game performance yet this season, and Hill was pulled after eight for reliever Scott Eyre, who came off the disabled list on Friday.

"Enough was enough," Hill said. "We didn't need to push it."

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NOTES

 --RHP Juan Mateo, who left Wednesday's game against Pittsburgh in the third inning after taking a line drive off of his right forearm, had a deep bruise and is expected to make his start on Tuesday against Pittsburgh at Wrigley Field.

--LHP Scott Eyre (right hamstring injury) came off the disabled list on Friday and returned to his role as the main left-handed setup man.

--IF-OF John Mabry will now get most of the backup playing time at first base after the Cubs traded Phil Nevin to Minnesota. Derrek Lee will play two games and rest one, and Mabry figures to fill in on the rest days.

--RHP Wade Miller, who has been on the disabled list all season recovering from shoulder surgery performed last September, has been removed from the 60-day disabled list and activated to the 40-man roster. But the Cubs are not sure when he will be able to pitch.

--OF Felix Pie, one of the top position-player prospects in the Cubs organization, will be a possible call-up next week. The Cubs are still weighing whether he will merit a call-up.

BY THE NUMBERS: 35 -- Times in the Cubs' first 134 games in which a Cubs starting pitcher failed to go at least five innings in a game.

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