catlover79
06-02-2007, 07:38 AM
CHICAGO (Reuters) - The Atlanta Braves' 20-hit, 8-5 victory was so frustrating to the Chicago Cubs that the losing pitcher and his catcher were swinging at each other before the game ended on Friday.
Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano injured catcher Michael Barrett's lip in a clubhouse fight following a five-run fifth inning by the Braves that led to Chicago's fifth consecutive loss.
Zambrano, whose 26th birthday was on Friday, was upset that Barrett allowed a passed ball in the fifth, then threw wildly to third base, permitting a run to score.
"It's something that shouldn't happen, but it did," manager Lou Piniella said of the fight. "We'll address it."
Both players are expected to be disciplined.
Zambrano confronted Barrett in the Cubs dugout after the top of the inning and pointed to his head. Zambrano then took a swing at Barrett, Major League Baseball reported on its Web site, www.mlb.com.
"We broke it up," Piniella said. "I walked Zambrano up (into the clubhouse) with a couple players. I was back on the bench watching the ballgame, and they got into it again in the clubhouse."
Barrett was scheduled to stay in the game, but his lip was busted in the clubhouse fight and he was taken to hospital for treatment, the Cubs said.
"As an organization, we're very disappointed about the incident today between Michael and Carlos," Cubs assistant general manager Randy Bush told reporters.
Jeff Francouer keyed the five-run fifth for Atlanta with a two-run double.
Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano injured catcher Michael Barrett's lip in a clubhouse fight following a five-run fifth inning by the Braves that led to Chicago's fifth consecutive loss.
Zambrano, whose 26th birthday was on Friday, was upset that Barrett allowed a passed ball in the fifth, then threw wildly to third base, permitting a run to score.
"It's something that shouldn't happen, but it did," manager Lou Piniella said of the fight. "We'll address it."
Both players are expected to be disciplined.
Zambrano confronted Barrett in the Cubs dugout after the top of the inning and pointed to his head. Zambrano then took a swing at Barrett, Major League Baseball reported on its Web site, www.mlb.com.
"We broke it up," Piniella said. "I walked Zambrano up (into the clubhouse) with a couple players. I was back on the bench watching the ballgame, and they got into it again in the clubhouse."
Barrett was scheduled to stay in the game, but his lip was busted in the clubhouse fight and he was taken to hospital for treatment, the Cubs said.
"As an organization, we're very disappointed about the incident today between Michael and Carlos," Cubs assistant general manager Randy Bush told reporters.
Jeff Francouer keyed the five-run fifth for Atlanta with a two-run double.