By Andrew Seligman
CHICAGO - The Chicago Cubs threw no punches. Manager Lou Piniella kicked dirt and threw his cap, though.
And it was more of the same for the Cubs - this time a 5-3 loss to the Atlanta Braves on Saturday for Chicago's sixth straight loss.
One day after Carlos Zambrano and Michael Barrett fought, Piniella got ejected after Angel Pagan got caught stealing third base in the eighth inning.
Yunel Escobar doubled in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning and Andruw Jones led off the ninth with a homer (ninth) to lead the Braves over the reeling Cubs.
Escobar doubled to left off reliever Will Ohman (0-3) with two outs to drive in Scott Thorman and give Atlanta a 4-3 lead. It was the second hit for Escobar, who was called up to replace the injured Chipper Jones.
With the Cubs trailing 4-3, Pagan led off the eighth with a double down the right-field line off Tyler Yates (2-0) and tried to steal on the second pitch to Jacque Jones.
Third-base coach Mike Quade argued. Piniella stormed out of the dugout and kicked dirt as he argued and tossed his cap, leading to an ejection by third-base umpire Mark Wegner. Piniella continued to argue as fans littered the field with debris and he tossed his hat again before leaving.
Fans chanted "Lou! Lou! Lou!"
The umpires cleared the Braves from the field and bullpen while the grounds crew picked up the garbage. Play resumed 7 minutes later.
It was the first ejection this year for Piniella.
The frustration continues for the Cubs. They fined Zambrano and Barrett on Saturday for their altercation.
The Braves scored three runs in the fourth, while Bob Wickman pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his ninth save in 11 chances.
CHICAGO - The Chicago Cubs threw no punches. Manager Lou Piniella kicked dirt and threw his cap, though.
And it was more of the same for the Cubs - this time a 5-3 loss to the Atlanta Braves on Saturday for Chicago's sixth straight loss.
One day after Carlos Zambrano and Michael Barrett fought, Piniella got ejected after Angel Pagan got caught stealing third base in the eighth inning.
Yunel Escobar doubled in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning and Andruw Jones led off the ninth with a homer (ninth) to lead the Braves over the reeling Cubs.
Escobar doubled to left off reliever Will Ohman (0-3) with two outs to drive in Scott Thorman and give Atlanta a 4-3 lead. It was the second hit for Escobar, who was called up to replace the injured Chipper Jones.
With the Cubs trailing 4-3, Pagan led off the eighth with a double down the right-field line off Tyler Yates (2-0) and tried to steal on the second pitch to Jacque Jones.
Third-base coach Mike Quade argued. Piniella stormed out of the dugout and kicked dirt as he argued and tossed his cap, leading to an ejection by third-base umpire Mark Wegner. Piniella continued to argue as fans littered the field with debris and he tossed his hat again before leaving.
Fans chanted "Lou! Lou! Lou!"
The umpires cleared the Braves from the field and bullpen while the grounds crew picked up the garbage. Play resumed 7 minutes later.
It was the first ejection this year for Piniella.
The frustration continues for the Cubs. They fined Zambrano and Barrett on Saturday for their altercation.
The Braves scored three runs in the fourth, while Bob Wickman pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his ninth save in 11 chances.
