Since Manager Ozzie Guillen has joined the Florida Marlins last week, there have been rumors that he would try and get his new team to make a trade with the Chicago Cubs for fellow Venezuelan and old pal Carlos Zambrano(notes).

MLBlogs.com now reports that Venezuela’s El Nacional has it that “Guillen has reached out to Zambrano and wants to bring him to Miami.”

The Cubs certainly would like to jettison Zambrano, who hasn’t played for the team since Aug. 12 after he left a game against the Atlanta Braves early and informed fellow team members that he was “retiring.”

The site notes that Zambrano is owed $18 million for next season and the Marlins “would pay that money in deferred payments.”

The 30-year-old three-time All-Star has been with the Chicago Cubs for his entire big-league career, going 125-81 with a 3.60 ERA and 1,542 strikeouts since his debut on Aug. 20, 2001. This season, he went 9-7 with an ERA of 4.82.
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Source: MLBlogs.com

Related: Carlos Zambrano, Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs, Florida Marlins

ATLANTA — Dan Uggla was quick to acknowledge he never thought he’d have a hitting streak as long as 33 games.

Now the Chicago Cubs are streaking.

The Cubs stopped Uggla’s 33-game hitting streak and rallied from a four-run deficit to beat the Atlanta Braves 6-5 on Sunday for their fourth straight series win.

The Cubs have won 11 of 14.

Uggla’s streak was the longest in the majors in five years. He was 0-for-3 with an RBI.

“That’s more games than I thought I would ever have,” Uggla said.

His best chance to extend the streak came in the fifth. Second baseman Darwin Barney made a diving catch of Uggla’s fly ball in shallow right field. Barney was fully extended when he made the catch in front of right fielder Tyler Colvin.

“I wasn’t even looking at him,” said Uggla of Barney. “I was looking at Colvin and I was like ‘Oh, it’s going to drop in front of him.’ And the next thing you know Barney comes flying through.”

Barney said the catch was more important because of Uggla’s streak.

“Because of the circumstances and all that, I’m pretty happy about it,” Barney said.

“It was a good streak for him. He’s a great player. But I think our pitchers are happy. They take a lot of pride in that, and I’m happy for them.”

Uggla grounded out to shortstop against Jeff Samardzija in the seventh in his final at-bat. He didn’t come up in the ninth, when Carlos Marmol earned his 28th save.

“The streak is one thing. I’m more disappointed in the loss,” Uggla said. “It was a fun run but all things have got to come to an end sometime. I had fun with it. We had a nice, little roll as a team and we’re looking to get back on track tomorrow.”

Uggla’s streak was the longest in the majors since 2006, when Philadelphia’s Chase Utley had a 35-game streak. Philadelphia’s Jimmy Rollins had a 38-game streak that began in 2005 and carried through the start of 2006.

Uggla was hitting only .173 when he started the streak on July 5. He has raised his average to .231.

Uggla had 15 homers and 32 RBIs in the streak.

Marmol walked Michael Bourn, who had three hits, with two outs in the ninth. Bourn stole second base but Martin Prado popped out to third baseman Aramis Ramirez to end the game. Uggla was on deck.

Uggla’s teammates patted him on the back and hugged him in the dugout after the game.

“For me, it’s impressive,” said Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez. “It was a streak where at any given time Chipper (Jones) wasn’t in the lineup and Brian McCann wasn’t in the lineup, and Uggla carried us. That was impressive.”

Uggla streak passed Rico Carty’s 31-game streak in 1970 as the longest in Atlanta Braves history. The franchise record is 37 games by Tommy Holmes for the 1945 Boston Braves.

The Braves led 4-0 through five innings and 5-4 through six before Carlos Pena’s two-run homer in the seventh.

Atlanta took a 5-4 lead in the sixth when Jason Heyward singled off John Grabow (3-0), stole second and scored on Grabow’s wild throw to first on a grounder by Alex Gonzalez.

The Cubs answered in the seventh when Barney singled and scored on Pena’s 23rd homer to right field off Eric O’Flaherty (1-4).

The Cubs, who won two of three from the Braves, have won four straight series for the first time since Sept. 9-21, 2008.

Cubs manager Mike Quade said before the game the team has moved past the controversy of pitcher Carlos Zambrano cleaning out his locker and leaving the team on Friday night and being placed on the disqualified list on Saturday.

“Look, grown-ups make decisions, and he made a decision,” Quade said. “And that’s his deal at this point, it’s not mine.”

Zambrano’s Cubs equipment bag was seen on the truck being loaded outside the clubhouse, but there was no indication he will join the team before the end of his 30-day leave without pay. He cannot be involved in team activities while on the disqualified list.

Bourn singled in the first and moved to third when Matt Garza fielded Prado’s soft grounder and threw high to second for an error. Bourn scored on Uggla’s fly ball to left.

Garza’s six errors lead all pitchers in the majors, according to STATS LLC. He gave up four runs, two earned, on six hits and a walk in five innings.

The Braves added two runs in the second on RBI singles by Bourn and Prado and stretched the lead to 4-0 in the fourth when Jose Constanza walked, stole second and third and scored on Bourn’s broken-bat single to center.

Colvin had a two-run single in Chicago’s four-run sixth. Brandon Beachy, who gave up two runs on six hits in 5 1-3 innings, was lifted after allowing singles by Barney and Ramirez and Pena’s run-scoring fly ball. Scott Linebrink gave up three straight hits, including Colvin’s two-run single.

Arodys Vizcaino’s wild pitch to Blake DeWitt allowed Geovany Soto to score from third.

NOTES: Atlanta pitchers combined for 18 strikeouts. … Quade said RHP Casey Coleman will be recalled from Triple-A Iowa to replace Zambrano in the rotation. Coleman is 2-4 with a 7.23 ERA in 11 games, including nine starts, with Chicago this season. … Former Braves two-time NL MVP Dale Murphy threw out the first pitch. … The Braves will open a four-game series against San Francisco on Monday night when Tim Hudson faces the Giants’ Madison Bumgarner. … The Cubs begin a game at Houston when Rodrigo Lopez is schedule to face the Astros’ Henry Sosa. … McCann came off the 15-day disabled list and was 0-for-4. … The Braves placed RHP Tommy Hanson on the 15-day DL with right shoulder tendinitis and activated Linebrink. The team optioned RHP Anthony Varvaro to Triple-A Gwinnett. Fredi Gonzalez said RHP Randall Delgado will be recalled from Gwinnett to start Tuesday against San Francisco.

ATLANTA (AP) — The Chicago Cubs refused to be distracted after teammate Carlos Zambrano was placed on the disqualified list Saturday.

The focused Cubs took care of business with an 8-4 win over the Atlanta Braves on Saturday night to continue their recent strong play. Chicago has won 10 of 13.

Manager Mike Quade said he wasn’t surprised when his team responded to the controversy with a win.

“You know what? I’m never surprised at these guys,” Quade said. “They just come to the park and play.

“They just go about their business. And that’s a good thing. No distractions. Let’s just play.”

Starlin Castro and Darwin Barney each had four hits and Carlos Pena had a two-run double.

Atlanta’s Dan Uggla had two hits, including a homer, to extend his hitting streak to 33 games, the longest in the majors this season.

Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said Zambrano would receive no pay and have no part in team activities for 30 days.

Zambrano cleaned out his locker and left the team after giving up five homers and being ejected from Friday night’s 10-4 loss to the Braves. He did not return to the team Saturday.

Hendry said Saturday that Zambrano’s actions were “intolerable.”

“This was the most stringent penalty we could enforce without a release,” Hendry said.

Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster had similarly strong words.

“He’s made his bed. Let him sleep in it,” Dempster said.

“It’s not like it’s something new.”

Randy Wells (4-4) gave up two runs on eight hits in five-plus innings.

Distractions?

“Just a normal day,” Wells said. “Try to forget about last night.

“I haven’t heard the whole story. I’ve tried to stay out of it. I really don’t even feel comfortable talking about it. I don’t know the details.”

Derek Lowe (7-11) gave up five runs on 10 hits in six innings. He allowed three hits, including Pena’s two-run double that gave Chicago a 3-1 lead in the fifth.

James Russell walked Uggla to load the bases with one out in the ninth after giving up singles to Martin Prado and Freddie Freeman.

Quade brought in closer Carlos Marmol, who gave up a long fly ball to Chipper Jones to drive in Prado before ending the game when Alex Gonzalez hit a pop fly to Castro at shortstop. Marmol earned his 27th save.

The Cubs added two runs in the sixth. Tyler Colvin led off with a triple to center. Atlanta’s Michael Bourn had the long drive in the top of his glove before losing the ball when he crashed into the wall.

Colvin scored on Geovany Soto’s grounder to third. Chipper Jones threw high to the plate and was initially charged with an error. After the game, Soto was awarded an RBI when the error was changed to a fielder’s choice grounder. Soto scored on Castro’s single.

A fielding miscue by left fielder Martin Prado hurt the Braves in the eighth. After Alfonso Soriano led off the inning with an infield hit, Colvin hit a liner that skipped off the charging Prado’s glove for an error, allowing pinch-runner Tony Campana to advance to third.

Right-hander Cristhian Martinez fielded pinch-hitter Blake DeWitt’s grounder and threw to the plate, but Campana slid under Ross’ tag. Castro and Barney added run-scoring singles.

Hendry said Major League Baseball and the players’ association would discuss Zambrano’s statements about his baseball future.

Quade said Friday night that Zambrano told team personnel he might retire.

Asked if he knew where Zambrano was on Saturday, Hendry said: “I have no idea.”

Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez said Zambrano would be welcomed back by his teammates, but only if he made changes.

“If he changes his attitude, he’s more than welcome,” Ramirez said.

“He’s got to think a little bit more. He’s one man. It’s not just one time. A lot of people have tried to help him. He won’t let them.”

Zambrano was placed on the restricted list for six weeks and sent to anger management last season after a verbal altercation with then-teammate Derrek Lee.

In 2009, he was suspended following a tirade against an umpire in which he threw a baseball into the outfield and slammed his glove against the dugout fence.

In 2007, Zambrano signed a deal adding $91.5 million over five seasons through 2012. He was to earn $17.85 million this season and $18 million in 2012.

He is 9-7 with a 4.82 ERA.

A message was left Saturday seeking comment from Barry Praver, Zambrano’s agent. Hendry said Praver indicated Zambrano is not retiring.

The Cubs did not immediately announce a corresponding roster move for Zambrano. The team will need a starting pitcher for his next scheduled turn in the rotation Wednesday at Houston.

NOTES: The Braves had a pregame video tribute for former radio and TV broadcaster Ernie Johnson Sr., who died Friday night at the age of 87. Johnson was involved with the team for more than 50 years as a player, executive and broadcaster. … A collection of players from the Braves’ 1991 NL championship team took a 7-7 tie in a softball game against former Braves players from other years. John Smoltz hit a two-run homer and made an over-the-shoulder catch in center field for the 1991 team, which was managed by Bobby Cox. Many of the players attended Friday night’s ceremony to retire Cox’s No. 6. … Braves rookie Brandon Beachy will try for his sixth win against Chicago’s Matt Garza in Sunday’s final game of the series. Garza will be making his first career start against Atlanta, and Beachy will make his first start against the Cubs. … Braves C Brian McCann expects to return from a strained left oblique injury Sunday. He played his second rehab game with Triple-A Gwinnett on Saturday. … Castro matched his career high with his four hits

___

AP freelance writer Amy Jinkner-Lloyd in Atlanta contributed to this report.

East Division
	W	L	Pct	GB
Philadelphia	31	19	.620	–
Florida	29	19	.604	1
Atlanta	28	23	.549	3
New York	23	26	.469	7
Washington	21	28	.429	9
Central Division
	W	L	Pct	GB
St. Louis	30	21	.588	–
Milwaukee	27	23	.540	2
Cincinnati	26	25	.510	4
Chicago	22	26	.458	6
Pittsburgh	22	26	.458	6
Houston	19	31	.380	10
West Division
	W	L	Pct	GB
San Francisco	27	22	.551	–
Arizona	26	24	.520	1
Colorado	24	25	.490	3
Los Angeles	22	29	.431	6
San Diego	20	30	.400	7

___

Philadelphia 10, Cincinnati 4

Chicago Cubs 9, N.Y. Mets 3

Florida 1, San Francisco 0

Arizona 6, Colorado 3

Pittsburgh at Chicago Cubs, 2:20 p.m.

San Diego at Washington, 7:05 p.m.

Philadelphia at N.Y. Mets, 7:10 p.m.

Cincinnati at Atlanta, 7:35 p.m.

Arizona at Houston, 8:05 p.m.

San Francisco at Milwaukee, 8:10 p.m.

St. Louis at Colorado, 8:40 p.m.

Florida at L.A. Dodgers, 10:10 p.m.

Pittsburgh (Maholm 1-7) at Chicago Cubs (R.Wells 1-0), 1:05 p.m.

San Diego (Stauffer 0-3) at Washington (Zimmermann 2-5), 1:05 p.m.

San Francisco (J.Sanchez 3-3) at Milwaukee (Wolf 4-4), 4:10 p.m.

Arizona (Duke 0-0) at Houston (W.Rodriguez 3-3), 7:05 p.m.

Cincinnati (Arroyo 3-5) at Atlanta (D.Lowe 3-4), 7:10 p.m.

Philadelphia (Hamels 6-2) at N.Y. Mets (Pelfrey 3-4), 7:10 p.m.

St. Louis (J.Garcia 5-0) at Colorado (Nicasio 0-0), 7:10 p.m.

Florida (Sanches 3-1) at L.A. Dodgers (Kuroda 5-4), 10:10 p.m.

Philadelphia at N.Y. Mets, 1:10 p.m.

San Diego at Washington, 1:35 p.m.

Arizona at Houston, 2:05 p.m.

San Francisco at Milwaukee, 2:10 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Chicago Cubs, 2:20 p.m.

St. Louis at Colorado, 3:10 p.m.

Florida at L.A. Dodgers, 4:10 p.m.

Cincinnati at Atlanta, 8:05 p.m.

Philadelphia at Washington, 1:05 p.m.

San Diego at Atlanta, 1:05 p.m.

Houston at Chicago Cubs, 2:20 p.m.

San Francisco at St. Louis, 4:15 p.m.

Milwaukee at Cincinnati, 7:10 p.m.

Pittsburgh at N.Y. Mets, 7:10 p.m.

Colorado at L.A. Dodgers, 8:10 p.m.

Florida at Arizona, 8:10 p.m.

ATLANTA – The Atlanta Braves have traded veteran right-hander Rodrigo Lopez to the Chicago Cubs in a deal for minor league left-hander Ryan Buchter.

Buchter, 24, will be assigned to the Braves’ high Class A team in Lynchburg, Va. He was a combined 4-0 with one save and a 3.38 ERA for the Cubs’ Class A Daytona and AA Tennessee teams this season.

The 36-year-old Lopez signed a minor league deal with Atlanta in the offseason. He was 6-1 with a 2.59 ERA in nine games for Triple-A Gwinnett.

Lopez is 75-82 in nine seasons in the major leagues, including a 7-16 record and 5.00 ERA with Arizona last season.

April 1 at Chicago Cubs, 2:20 p.m.

April 2 at Chicago Cubs, 1:05 p.m.

April 3 at Chicago Cubs, 2:20 p.m.

April 4 at St. Louis, 8:15 p.m.

April 5 at St. Louis, 8:15 p.m.

April 6 at St. Louis, 1:45 p.m.

April 7 Colorado, 1:35 p.m.

April 8 Colorado, 7:05 p.m.

April 9 Colorado, 7:05 p.m.

April 10 Colorado, 1:35 p.m.

April 12 Milwaukee, 7:05 p.m.

April 13 Milwaukee, 7:05 p.m.

April 14 Milwaukee, 7:05 p.m.

April 15 at Cincinnati, 7:10 p.m.

April 16 at Cincinnati, 1:10 p.m.

April 17 at Cincinnati, 1:10 p.m.

April 18 at Cincinnati, 7:10 p.m.

April 19 at Florida, 7:10 p.m.

April 20 at Florida, 7:10 p.m.

April 21 at Florida, 7:10 p.m.

April 22 Washington, 7:05 p.m.

April 23 Washington, 7:05 p.m.

April 24 Washington, 1:35 p.m.

April 26 San Francisco, 7:05 p.m.

April 27 San Francisco, 7:05 p.m.

April 28 San Francisco, 12:35 p.m.

April 29 at Colorado, 8:40 p.m.

April 30 at Colorado, 8:40 p.m.

May 1 at Colorado, 3:10 p.m.

May 2 at San Diego, 10:05 p.m.

May 3 at San Diego, 10:05 p.m.

May 4 at San Diego, 6:35 p.m.

May 6 Houston, 7:05 p.m.

May 7 Houston, 7:05 p.m.

May 8 Houston, 1:35 p.m.

May 9 L.A. Dodgers, 7:05 p.m.

May 10 L.A. Dodgers, 7:05 p.m.

May 11 L.A. Dodgers, 7:05 p.m.

May 12 L.A. Dodgers, 7:05 p.m.

May 13 at Milwaukee, 8:10 p.m.

May 14 at Milwaukee, 4:10 p.m.

May 15 at Milwaukee, 2:10 p.m.

May 16 at Washington, 7:05 p.m.

May 17 at Washington, 1:05 p.m.

May 18 at Cincinnati, 7:10 p.m.

May 19 at Cincinnati, 12:35 p.m.

May 20 Detroit, 7:05 p.m.

May 21 Detroit, TBA

May 22 Detroit, 1:35 p.m.

May 24 Atlanta, 7:05 p.m.

May 25 Atlanta, 12:35 p.m.

May 27 at Chicago Cubs, 2:20 p.m.

May 28 at Chicago Cubs, 1:05 p.m.

May 29 at Chicago Cubs, 2:20 p.m.

May 30 at N.Y. Mets, 7:10 p.m.

May 31 at N.Y. Mets, 7:10 p.m.

June 1 at N.Y. Mets, 7:10 p.m.

June 2 at N.Y. Mets, 1:10 p.m.

June 3 Philadelphia, 7:05 p.m.

June 4 Philadelphia, 7:05 p.m.

June 5 Philadelphia, 1:35 p.m.

June 7 Arizona, 7:05 p.m.

June 8 Arizona, 7:05 p.m.

June 9 Arizona, 7:05 p.m.

June 10 N.Y. Mets, 7:05 p.m.

June 11 N.Y. Mets, 7:05 p.m.

June 12 N.Y. Mets, 1:35 p.m.

June 13 N.Y. Mets, 7:05 p.m.

June 14 at Houston, 8:05 p.m.

June 15 at Houston, 8:05 p.m.

June 16 at Houston, 2:05 p.m.

June 17 at Cleveland, 7:05 p.m.

June 18 at Cleveland, 7:05 p.m.

June 19 at Cleveland, 1:05 p.m.

June 20 Baltimore, 7:05 p.m.

June 21 Baltimore, 7:05 p.m.

June 22 Baltimore, 12:35 p.m.

June 24 Boston, 7:05 p.m.

June 25 Boston, 7:05 p.m.

June 26 Boston, 1:35 p.m.

June 28 at Toronto, 7:07 p.m.

June 29 at Toronto, 7:07 p.m.

June 30 at Toronto, 7:07 p.m.

July 1 at Washington, 7:05 p.m.

July 2 at Washington, 7:05 p.m.

July 3 at Washington, 1:35 p.m.

July 4 Houston, 1:35 p.m.

July 5 Houston, 7:05 p.m.

July 6 Houston, 7:05 p.m.

July 8 Chicago Cubs, 7:05 p.m.

July 9 Chicago Cubs, 7:05 p.m.

July 10 Chicago Cubs, 1:35 p.m.

July 15 at Houston, 8:05 p.m.

July 16 at Houston, 7:05 p.m.

July 17 at Houston, 2:05 p.m.

July 18 Cincinnati, 7:05 p.m.

July 19 Cincinnati, 7:05 p.m.

July 20 Cincinnati, 12:35 p.m.

July 22 St. Louis, 7:05 p.m.

July 23 St. Louis, 7:05 p.m.

July 24 St. Louis, 1:35 p.m.

July 25 at Atlanta, 7:10 p.m.

July 26 at Atlanta, 7:10 p.m.

July 27 at Atlanta, 7:10 p.m.

July 28 at Atlanta, 7:10 p.m.

July 29 at Philadelphia, 7:05 p.m.

July 30 at Philadelphia, 7:05 p.m.

July 31 at Philadelphia, 1:35 p.m.

Aug. 1 Chicago Cubs, 7:05 p.m.

Aug. 2 Chicago Cubs, 7:05 p.m.

Aug. 3 Chicago Cubs, 7:05 p.m.

Aug. 4 Chicago Cubs, 7:05 p.m.

Aug. 5 San Diego, 7:05 p.m.

Aug. 6 San Diego, 7:05 p.m.

Aug. 7 San Diego, 1:35 p.m.

Aug. 8 at San Francisco, 10:15 p.m.

Aug. 9 at San Francisco, 10:15 p.m.

Aug. 10 at San Francisco, 3:45 p.m.

Aug. 12 at Milwaukee, 8:10 p.m.

Aug. 13 at Milwaukee, 7:10 p.m.

Aug. 14 at Milwaukee, 2:10 p.m.

Aug. 15 St. Louis, 7:05 p.m.

Aug. 16 St. Louis, 7:05 p.m.

Aug. 17 St. Louis, 7:05 p.m.

Aug. 19 Cincinnati, 7:05 p.m.

Aug. 20 Cincinnati, 7:05 p.m.

Aug. 21 Cincinnati, 1:35 p.m.

Aug. 22 Milwaukee, 7:05 p.m.

Aug. 23 Milwaukee, 7:05 p.m.

Aug. 24 Milwaukee, 12:35 p.m.

Aug. 25 at St. Louis, 8:15 p.m.

Aug. 26 at St. Louis, 8:15 p.m.

Aug. 27 at St. Louis, 7:15 p.m.

Aug. 28 at St. Louis, 2:15 p.m.

Aug. 29 at Houston, 8:05 p.m.

Aug. 30 at Houston, 8:05 p.m.

Aug. 31 at Houston, 8:05 p.m.

Sept. 2 at Chicago Cubs, 2:20 p.m.

Sept. 3 at Chicago Cubs, 1:05 p.m.

Sept. 4 at Chicago Cubs, 2:20 p.m.

Sept. 5 Houston, 1:35 p.m.

Sept. 6 Houston, 7:05 p.m.

Sept. 7 Houston, 7:05 p.m.

Sept. 9 Florida, 7:05 p.m.

Sept. 10 Florida, 7:05 p.m.

Sept. 11 Florida, 1:35 p.m.

Sept. 12 St. Louis, 7:05 p.m.

Sept. 13 St. Louis, 7:05 p.m.

Sept. 14 St. Louis, 12:35 p.m.

Sept. 15 at L.A. Dodgers, 10:10 p.m.

Sept. 16 at L.A. Dodgers, 10:10 p.m.

Sept. 17 at L.A. Dodgers, TBA

Sept. 18 at L.A. Dodgers, 4:10 p.m.

Sept. 19 at Arizona, 9:40 p.m.

Sept. 20 at Arizona, 9:40 p.m.

Sept. 21 at Arizona, 3:40 p.m.

Sept. 23 Cincinnati, 7:05 p.m.

Sept. 24 Cincinnati, 7:05 p.m.

Sept. 25 Cincinnati, 1:35 p.m.

Sept. 26 at Milwaukee, 8:10 p.m.

Sept. 27 at Milwaukee, 8:10 p.m.

Sept. 28 at Milwaukee, 8:10 p.m.