PITTSBURGH -- The Cubs needed a fresh arm in the bullpen and recalled left-hander Sean Marshall from Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday while optioning southpaw Carmen Pignatiello to the Minor League club.

Cubs manager Lou Piniella said the team was a little short-handed in the 'pen. Jon Lieber wasn't available after pitching three innings on Monday against the Pirates, and the club wanted to avoid using Kevin Hart if possible.

"It had nothing to do with fact that Pignatiello didn't have control the other day," Piniella said. "It's the fact that we need innings."

On Monday, Pignatiello faced two batters and walked both in the Cubs' extra-inning win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. He had made the Opening Day roster for the first time in his career, and made two relief appearances this season.

"With Marshall here, we've basically got two starters sitting in the bullpen," Piniella said.

Marshall had made one start at Iowa, striking out six over three innings. He did not issue a walk or give up a hit in the outing. The lefty was one of the last players trimmed from the roster in Spring Training.

"I was fine," Marshall said with the Cubs' decision to send him to the Minor Leagues. "I knew my gig was to be a starting pitcher, and that's what the Cubs had planned to do. I guess I'm back in a relief role. We'll go with it from there."

In the final week of Spring Training, when the Cubs realized Scott Eyre would not be available for the season because of inflammation in his left elbow, Marshall and Pignatiello competed for the final spot in the bullpen. It was a crash course in relieving for Marshall.

"It was kind of quick there, but I did learn a lot in a short time," he said. "I was in the bullpen last September, so I did get acclimated to it."

The biggest difference is getting ready quicker. A starter usually takes 30 minutes before the first pitch to loosen up.

"In a relief role, the phone rings, get it ready, 15 throws, and go in," Marshall said.

His approach will be the same. Marshall has the same scouting reports as the starters do. He likely will not be used solely against left-handed hitters.

"We have such a strong bullpen anyways," Marshall said. "We have a lot of right-handed guys who can get left-handed hitters out. It's going to be an interesting role, and I'm ready to take it and roll."

It isn't easy to get to the Major Leagues, and it was tough for Marshall on Tuesday trying to catch up with the team in Pittsburgh. He was stuck on the tarmac in Des Moines for two hours, then had to sprint through the O'Hare Airport to catch his plane, and missed it. He eventually got to town.