ST. LOUIS (AP) — Chicago Cubs cleanup hitter Aramis Ramirez missed his second straight start Sunday night with a sore left wrist from getting hit by a pitch.

"Ramirez is still sore," manager Lou Piniella said. "He's still got some swelling and discomfort, so he didn't feel like he could go today. We'll give him another day and see how he is tomorrow."

Piniella said Ramirez, batting .276 with six home runs and 22 RBIs, reported difficulty gripping a bat. That also made it unlikely that Piniella would use him off the bench.

Ramirez was hit in the sixth inning Friday, and left the game an inning later.

"He has a rough time and no sense rushing this thing," Piniella said. "Our lineup responded pretty well yesterday and it gives him another day.

"I would think that if he can't play it would be stretching it to pinch-hit."

Kosuke Fukudome replaced him in the cleanup spot for the second straight game and Mark DeRosa started at third base, Ramirez' position, for the second straight game.

Fukudome had three hits, including two doubles, and two RBIs in a 9-3 victory on Saturday.