ATLANTA -- Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez had to leave Thursday's game against the Braves after an awkward slide home resulted in a deep bruise on his left hip, but he may be available Friday.

"We'll know [Friday], but it's not that serious," Ramirez said. "I should be OK."

Ramirez hit a three-run homer in the third inning and singled to lead off the fifth against Atlanta's Buddy Carlyle. One out later, Geovany Soto lofted a ball to center, which Mark Kotsay lost in the lights. The ball dropped for a double, and Ramirez scampered home safely, sliding headfirst. He was in pain and left the game with a left hip contusion.

"I couldn't breathe down there," Ramirez said. "I thought it was real serious, because I couldn't breathe, but I'm good now."

Ramirez's homer was his 20th, and he now has at least 20 homers and 30 doubles in five straight seasons with the Cubs. He's the first to do so for the team since Hack Wilson in 1926-30.