It`s a little victory, but Joe Girardi will take it.
The Cubs this week gave him permission to accompany the team on its six-game swing through Atlanta and Houston.
That`s not permission to play, mind you. That could be a few weeks away, because Girardi`s has back problems that have kept him out since April 17.
But, he said, ”I`m going on the trip, so that`s a good sign.”
Girardi has begun swimming, has increased his stretching routine and could begin jogging next week. His next test comes Sunday, when trainers check to see if he needs another anti-inflammatory shot. If he does, he`ll have to go back to Chicago.
But even if that`s the case, Girardi is thankful the disc didn`t rupture. That`s what happened to former Cub Scott Sanderson, who works out with Girardi at Northwestern during the off-season.
”I would have been in bad shape if that had happened,” Girardi said.
This and that: Center-fielder Jerome Walton, who is cementing his job each day, takes a 10-game hitting streak on the road. He had a 34-gamer as a rookie in 1989 . . . The Cubs need to bottle whatever it is that makes them play so well in Wrigley. After this week`s two-game sweep of the Astros, they`re 8-3 at home. Unfortunately, they`re 3-8 on the road and face six in a row away. The good news is that by the time they`re done with the upcoming 17-of-19 stretch on the road, they`ll be nearly a quarter of the way through their road schedule . . . The 10-3 and 11-8 victories over Houston marked the first time since last Aug. 3-4 that the Cubs have scored at least 10 runs in consecutive games. The last time they scored at least 10 more than twice in a row was 1930, when they reached double figures in five straight games.
Hot Hawk: The drop to the No. 5 spot apparently isn`t bothering Andre Dawson as much as some feared. Dawson is hitting .337 with 6 homers and 20 runs batted in after 22 games. At the same point last year, he was hitting .325 with 5 homers and 20 RBIs.