The Associated Press

CHICAGO - Greg Maddux was honored before Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in recognition of his 300th career victory.

Eight days after winning No. 300 in San Francisco, Maddux gave a short speech thanking his family, teammates and the Chicago fans for their support.

"This has always been a special place for me," Maddux said. "It's an honor for me to come here and play every day here, and I want to thank my teammates, because starting pitchers, we all need a lot of help and I have been lucky enough to play on a lot of good teams."

Maddux, surrounded by his family Sunday, didn't come back on to the field after winning the game in San Francisco because he didn't want to celebrate in another team's ballpark.

Maddux is 300-171, winning four consecutive NL Cy Young Awards from 1992-1995. He has 106 victories with the Cubs, his team from 1986-92 and again this year.

YANKEES: A smiling Alex Rodriguez clutched a bottle of water in his hand as he talked about his bout with the flu this weekend.

"This is the first day in three days I've been out of bed," the New York Yankees' All-Star third baseman said with a smile. "I think this is the 23rd bottle of water I've had."

Rodriguez, who has 29 homers and 71 RBI, was back in the locker room talking to teammates.

METS: Shortstop Kaz Matsui was placed on the 15-day disabled list Sunday because of back spasms, joining Mike Piazza and Jose Reyes as the third key member of New York's lineup to succumb to an injury in a week.

Matsui hasn't played since leaving the Mets' 6-2 loss at St. Louis eight days ago. The move is retroactive to Aug. 9 and was made to add a healthy player to the roster.

"Playing a man short-handed is definitely a disadvantage to the team," Matsui said through an interpreter. "I feel bad that I got hurt."

SHORT HOPS: Montreal right-hander Jon Rauch was put on the 15-day disabled list Sunday, two days after he was forced to leave a no-hit bid in the fifth inning when he strained a muscle.

• Los Angeles placed right-hander Brad Penny on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right bicep.

Penny injured himself making his second start for the Dodgers on Aug. 9 against Philadelphia.

Penny, acquired in a trade with Florida on July 30, left the game after throwing only 14 pitches.

• Yankees first baseman Jason Giambi ran at the team's Tampa complex for the first time Sunday since being diagnosed with a benign tumor last month.

"It's going in the right direction," Giambi said. "Got on the field today and ran a little bit. I did OK. Nothing exciting."