CHICAGO (AP) -- The Chicago Cubs activated reliever Scott Williamson from the 15-day disabled list and recalled catcher Geovany Soto on Tuesday, sending Tony Womack and David Aardsma to Triple-A Iowa.

Womack has been day to day with back spasms since leaving a game in Minnesota on Saturday. He hit .280 with one home run and two RBIs in 19 games since the Cubs called him up on May 26. The 36-year-old infielder started the season with Cincinnati but was released May 2. He then signed with the Cubs.

"He had a special clause in his contract where he could go down without being off the roster and he's available to come back," manager Dusty Baker said.

The Cubs needed to call up Soto, who played one game last season, from Iowa because Henry Blanco's neck has been stiff the past two days, Baker said. Regular catcher Michael Barrett is serving a 10-game suspension for his role in a fight with the crosstown White Sox in May and won't be eligible until Friday, when the Cubs play host to the White Sox again.

"We didn't want to go with one catcher if (Blanco) couldn't play," Baker said. "It wouldn't be fair to (Phil) Nevin to make him catch Big Z (Carlos Zambrano)."

Aardsma had pitched well of late, holding opponents scoreless in his last four innings over three appearances. He is 1-0 with a 5.89 ERA in 18 appearances.

"We didn't want to send him down either," Baker said. "He's been throwing good, but somebody had to go when Williamson came off the disabled list and they both do kind of the same job."

Williamson has been sidelined since June 4 and made five minor league rehab appearances. The right-hander is 2-2 with a 4.22 ERA in 23 games this season.
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