Carlos Zambrano Attacks Michael Barrett in the Dugout
Cubs show fight -- in dugout
June 1, 2007
The big action at Wrigley Field on Friday was in the Chicago Cubs' dugout.
Pitcher Carlos Zambrano and catcher Michael Barrett shoved each other and had to be separated in the fifth inning of the Cubs' 8-5 loss to the Atlanta Braves.
Chicago Cubs pitching coach Larry Rothschild, center, talks to pitcher Carlos Zambrano, right, and catcher Michael Barrett during the fifth inning against the Atlanta Braves Friday. The pitcher and catcher had an altercation in the dugout after the top of the fifth ended.
(AP)
Atlanta had just scored five runs in the top of the fifth to increase their lead to 7-1. Jeff Francoeur's two-run double made it 4-1 and, with runners on first and second, Barrett allowed a passed ball and threw wildly to third for an error that let Scott Thorman score. Pitcher Kyle Davies (3-3) and Kelly Johnson followed with RBI doubles.
Zambrano (5-5) was seen pointing at his head and yelling at the catcher in the dugout before the bottom half, then shoved him. Moments after they left the dugout, a clubhouse attendant told manager Lou Piniella something.
While that was going on, Derrek Lee jumped up and headed up the tunnel, and Piniella and pitching coach Larry Rothschild followed. Zambrano and Barrett did not come out for the sixth.
Scott Eyre relieved Zambrano, who was pitching on his 26th birthday and allowed a career-high 13 hits in five innings. Koyie Hill, who had just been called up from Triple-A Iowa, replaced Barrett.
Davies allowed one run and six hits in seven innings for the Braves, who had 20 hits. Davis, Johnson, Edgar Renteria and Willie Harris had three apiece.
Chicago has lost nine of 11 and dropped to 22-30 -- not exactly the start the Cubs were looking for after spending $300 million to bring in Piniella along with free agents Alfonso Soriano, Ted Lilly and Jason Marquis.
Chicago committed several baserunning blunders -- one by Barrett -- Tuesday in a 9-4 loss to Florida that Piniella said "might be our worst game of the year." A day later, the players held a lengthy pregame meeting, and Piniella and team executives had one of their own. Then, the Marlins beat them 9-0.
It was just as bad Friday.
Johnson sent a pop to shallow left on the game's second pitch and it fell for a single as shortstop Ryan Theriot seemed to lose in the sun. With one out, Aramis Ramirez bobbled Renteria's grounder to third and had to settle for getting the runner at first instead of a double play. Brian McCann then singled to put the Braves ahead to stay.
Cubs right fielder Matt Murton dropped a fly in the fourth, allowing another run to score.
Although they won for the third time in four games, the Braves got some more bad news on third baseman Chipper Jones. He'll go on the 15-day disabled list with a bruised right hand on Saturday, manager Bobby Cox said.
Jones has been experiencing pain in both hands since a baserunning collision on May 11 and had missed his eighth straight game.
AP
Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
June 1, 2007
The big action at Wrigley Field on Friday was in the Chicago Cubs' dugout.
Pitcher Carlos Zambrano and catcher Michael Barrett shoved each other and had to be separated in the fifth inning of the Cubs' 8-5 loss to the Atlanta Braves.
Chicago Cubs pitching coach Larry Rothschild, center, talks to pitcher Carlos Zambrano, right, and catcher Michael Barrett during the fifth inning against the Atlanta Braves Friday. The pitcher and catcher had an altercation in the dugout after the top of the fifth ended.
(AP)
Atlanta had just scored five runs in the top of the fifth to increase their lead to 7-1. Jeff Francoeur's two-run double made it 4-1 and, with runners on first and second, Barrett allowed a passed ball and threw wildly to third for an error that let Scott Thorman score. Pitcher Kyle Davies (3-3) and Kelly Johnson followed with RBI doubles.
Zambrano (5-5) was seen pointing at his head and yelling at the catcher in the dugout before the bottom half, then shoved him. Moments after they left the dugout, a clubhouse attendant told manager Lou Piniella something.
While that was going on, Derrek Lee jumped up and headed up the tunnel, and Piniella and pitching coach Larry Rothschild followed. Zambrano and Barrett did not come out for the sixth.
Scott Eyre relieved Zambrano, who was pitching on his 26th birthday and allowed a career-high 13 hits in five innings. Koyie Hill, who had just been called up from Triple-A Iowa, replaced Barrett.
Davies allowed one run and six hits in seven innings for the Braves, who had 20 hits. Davis, Johnson, Edgar Renteria and Willie Harris had three apiece.
Chicago has lost nine of 11 and dropped to 22-30 -- not exactly the start the Cubs were looking for after spending $300 million to bring in Piniella along with free agents Alfonso Soriano, Ted Lilly and Jason Marquis.
Chicago committed several baserunning blunders -- one by Barrett -- Tuesday in a 9-4 loss to Florida that Piniella said "might be our worst game of the year." A day later, the players held a lengthy pregame meeting, and Piniella and team executives had one of their own. Then, the Marlins beat them 9-0.
It was just as bad Friday.
Johnson sent a pop to shallow left on the game's second pitch and it fell for a single as shortstop Ryan Theriot seemed to lose in the sun. With one out, Aramis Ramirez bobbled Renteria's grounder to third and had to settle for getting the runner at first instead of a double play. Brian McCann then singled to put the Braves ahead to stay.
Cubs right fielder Matt Murton dropped a fly in the fourth, allowing another run to score.
Although they won for the third time in four games, the Braves got some more bad news on third baseman Chipper Jones. He'll go on the 15-day disabled list with a bruised right hand on Saturday, manager Bobby Cox said.
Jones has been experiencing pain in both hands since a baserunning collision on May 11 and had missed his eighth straight game.
AP
Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
