The Associated Press

CHICAGO - The city gave the Chicago Cubs the go-ahead to play ball at Wrigley Field Monday night after the stadium passed another round of inspections of repair work done on its crumbling upper deck.

Chunks of concrete fell from the deck of the 90-year-old ballpark on at least three occasions since June, forcing officials to install protective nets and inspect the upper deck and mezzanine levels.

"I can say at this point we found no evidence of shoddy repairs, and the Cubs can play tonight's game," buildings commissioner Stan Kaderbek said Monday.

Kaderbek threatened last week to cancel the game if the ballpark did not pass new inspections. The team faced a similar situation last month, but the city deemed the park safe after the nets were put up.

Kaderbek ordered the new inspections after a Los Angeles Times reporter, citing sources within the Cubs organization, told him repair work at Wrigley had been shoddy. The reporter and the Tribune Co., which owns the newspaper as well as the Cubs, withdrew the remarks, saying their information was incorrect.

RED SOX: Catcher Jason Varitek dropped his appeal Monday of a four-game suspension for his part in a bench-clearing brawl with the New York Yankees last month.

Varitek, Boston's hottest hitter this month, began serving his suspension by sitting out Monday night's game against the Toronto Blue Jays.

YANKEES: Derek Jeter bruised his left elbow when he was hit by a pitch Monday night against the Cleveland Indians.

The New York Yankees' All-Star shortstop came out of the game after he was plunked by Bob Wickman in the ninth inning, but X-rays were negative. Jeter said he expects to play tonight.

"I've been hit there before," Jeter said. "It doesn't feel good, but I wasn't scared."

Jeter winced in pain and let his limp arm dangle by his side before being helped to the dugout by a trainer. He was immediately taken to a hospital.

He returned to the clubhouse after New York's 6-4 victory and downplayed the injury.

"It's not that big of a deal," Jeter said.

PIRATES: Pitchers Kip Wells and Sean Burnett were placed on the 15-day disabled list Monday.

Wells, 5-7 with a 4.50 ERA, has missed two starts with right elbow inflammation and was placed on the DL retroactive to August 14. Burnett, who is 5-5 with a 5.02 ERA, was diagnosed with an inflamed left elbow after making his last start Saturday in St. Louis.

Pittsburgh also recalled right-handed pitcher John Van Benschoten and purchased the contract of left-handed pitcher Frank Brooks from its Triple-A affiliate in Nashville.

METS: The team called up Aaron Heilman from Triple-A Norfolk to pitch his first major league game of the season, facing the San Diego Padres Monday night.

Heilman was 2-7 with a 6.75 ERA for the Mets last year. The right-hander was 6-9 with a 4.28 ERA at Norfolk this season. He had won six of his last eight decisions in the minors and ranked among the International League leaders in strikeouts.

To recall Heilman, the Mets optioned right hander Matt Ginter to Norfolk.

Ginter was 1-3 with a 4.61 ERA in three stints with New York this season, including a 3-1 loss at the Giants Sunday. He lasted six innings, giving up a homer to Barry Bonds.