Heyward to miss three to five games for Cubs with side bruise

Jason Heyward of the Chicago Cubs. (Matt York/AP)

SAN FRANCISCO — Chicago Cubs right fielder Jason Heyward will miss three to five games with a bruise on his right side near his ribs.

The injury happened in the bottom of the first inning in Friday’s 8-1 Cubs victory over the San Francisco Giants. Heyward crashed into a padded section of the wall to the left of the 421-foot sign with an outstanding catch that robbed Giants leadoff man Denard Span of extra bases on the third pitch he saw from Jake Arrieta.

Cubs manager Joe Maddon was initially concerned that Heyward suffered a neck injury.

“You saw the way his head crunched into the wall,” Maddon said. “Three to five days isn’t awful. When I saw him walk off the bus this morning I felt good about it.”

The Cubs also activated outfielder Matt Szczur of the 15-day disabled list where he’s been since May 3 with a right hamstring strain.

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