Cubs Recall Blake Parker; Chris Rusin Sent Down

Chris Rusin did an outstanding job saving the bullpen during Saturday's loss, throwing five innings and allowing just one run.

His reward? A trip back to Des Moines (actually, Memphis, where the Iowa Cubs will play Sunday).

Blake Parker is here, will take Rusin's roster spot

— Mark Gonzales (@MDGonzales) April 13, 2014

Rusin has probably piled up more frequent-flyer miles from promotions and demotions than any other Cub over the last season-plus. He'll likely be back again at some point, but since the Cubs don't really need a fifth starter for 10 more days, Rusin might have sat in the bullpen gathering dust. Instead, he'll go back into the Iowa rotation.

Blake Parker was one of the final cuts from the spring-training roster, and that was largely because he got outpitched this spring (7.00 ERA, 1.778 WHIP in nine appearances). He had a decent year for the Cubs in 2013 (2.72 ERA, 1.165 WHIP, just 15 walks in 46⅓ innings), and the Cubs could use someone like that now, with the bullpen being somewhat in tatters.

He sure looks angry -- or something -- throwing that baseball above. I'm sure you have an appropriate caption for the photo.