Sports briefs 7/15/06

Baseball

n Cubs right-hander Mark Prior went back on the 15-day disabled list Friday, this time with a strained left oblique muscle.

He got hurt while taking batting practice last Saturday in Milwaukee. Prior, who began the season on the disabled list with a sore shoulder, came off it June 18 and went 0-4 in four starts with a 7.71 ERA.

Prior is scheduled to throw in the bullpen today and then again Tuesday. He was put on the DL retroactive to July 5, so he could come off next week.

Tennis

• Wimbledon runner-up Rafael Nadal has pulled out of next week's Mercedes Cup because of a left hand injury.

The second-ranked Spaniard and French Open winner is the defending champion of the clay-court event.

-- The Associated Press