Two pitchers gave up five home runs Friday night in Major League Baseball: Yankees C.C. Sabathia who brushed it off as another bad outing, and the Cubs, Carlos Zambrano, who is now considering leaving the game.
Zambrano, who cleared his locker and walked out of the clubhouse after he was ejected in the fifth inning, is apparently ready for retirement after he imploded on the mound Friday night, during the Cubs 10-4 loss to the Braves.
Although the Cubs are used to Zambrano’s temper, the organization probably didn’t see this coming. They are reportedly talking to Zambrano’s agents Saturday as they try to figure out why he threatened to retire after he was thrown out of the game for throwing two inside pitches at Braves third baseman Chipper Jones, following back-to-back home runs by Freddie Freeman and Dan Uggla.
Zambrano—who told clubhouse personnel that he was retiring—has yet to file retirement papers a source told the Chicago Tribune.
The pitcher has had anger issues throughout his career, and was placed on the restricted list indefinitely last year when he was sent to anger management counseling after a dugout altercation with Derrek Lee. According to the report, the Cubs may place Zambrano on the restricted list for the second year in a row.
After the game, Cubs manager Mike Quade was just as confused as Zambrano’s teammates when he arrived in the clubhouse and noticed the pitcher was gone and his locker was empty. “I’m really disappointed,” he said, according to the Associated Press. “His locker is empty. He walked out on 24 guys … I don’t know where he’s gone or what he’s doing.”
After the ejection the Braves bench cleared but were cautioned by home plate umpire Tim Timmons to not charge the field.
Dan Uggla extended his hitting streak to 32 games after hitting two home runs off Zambrano.
