Report: Idled Garciaparra will have MRI on Achilles’

Nomar Garciaparra was scratched from the starting lineup for the second straight day yesterday as his Chicago Cubs beat the Astros, 11-6, in Houston.

The Chicago Tribune is reporting Garciaparra is suffering from a sore right Achilles' tendon and the shortstop will likely have an MRI upon his return to Chicago today.

Garciaparra, traded from Boston July 31, missed 57 games with the Red Sox because of his Achilles' woes.

Jim Hendry, the Cubs' general manager, told the Tribune Garciaparra was sitting more as a precaution.

Garciaparra downplayed the extra day of rest and said he told manager Dusty Baker he was ready to go.

"I told Dusty I was ready to play," Garciaparra told the Tribune. "He was great. He said, `No, you're not playing. I'm making the decision. He's just looking after me, which says a lot about him. He said, `No, let's get more answers. Let's go get it checked out before you go out there.' "

The former Red Sox star is hitting .333 in 17 games since landing in Chicago as part of a four-team trade that netted the Red Sox shortstop Orlando Cabrera from Montreal and infielder Doug Mientkiewicz from Minnesota.