Tempers flare in Cubs 1-0 loss to San Diego

CHICAGO – Carlos Zambrano lost his no-hitter in the eighth. One inning later he lost the game.\nRussell Branyan homered with one out in the ninth Saturday and the San Diego Padres beat the Chicago Cubs 1-0 on a feisty day at Wrigley Field that featured a bench-clearing skirmish and four ejections in the fourth inning.\nZambrano (7-6) held San Diego hitless for 7 1-3 innings, but San Diego’s bullpen was just as tough after starter Chris Young was ejected in the fourth. The Cubs managed only two hits, as well, off relievers Justin Hampson, Heath Bell (1-2) and Trevor Hoffman. Hoffman pitched the ninth for his 19th save in 21 chances.\nMarcus Giles hit a chopper that bounded high over the mound and went off Zambrano’s glove for an infield single with one out in the eighth, ending the no-hit bid. The Cubs then turned their third double play to end the inning.\nBranyan connected on a 3-2 pitch to left center in the ninth for his fifth homer.\nThree players and a coach were ejected after a fourth-inning altercation that began when Young hit Derrek Lee with a pitch and Lee threw a punch at Young.\nLee and Young were ejected, as were Padres pitcher Jake Peavy and Chicago hitting coach Gerald Perry.\nZambrano, who was involved in a fight with his own catcher, Michael Barrett, on June 1, made a great play in the seventh.\nWith one out, Hiram Bocachica hit a slow bouncer to the left of the mound. Zambrano, known for his athleticism at 6-foot-5, 255 pounds, bounded off the mound, grabbed the ball with his bare hand and while falling backwards threw to first for the out.\nPadres manager Bud Black argued on the play, apparently saying Mark DeRosa’s foot was not on the bag.\nGiles reached second leading off the sixth when his hard hopper got by DeRosa for an error. Giles moved to third on an infield out. After Adrian Gonzalez was intentionally walked, the Cubs turned a double play.\nZambrano also pitched out of bases loaded jam in the fifth after an error and two walks, getting a double play grounder.\nThe Cubs threatened in the fifth as Ryan Theriot doubled and stole third but was out trying to score on Zambrano’s fly ball as Padres center fielder Bocachica made a great throw to the plate.\nIn the fourth, Young hit Lee in what appeared to be the upper left arm with the pitch, knocking him to the ground. Lee got up, walked by Young on the way to first, then said something to the 6-foot-10 260-pound right-hander.\nAfter the pitcher apparently responded, Lee threw a punch that didn’t land. Young tried to throw a punch back that missed. Then he and Lee tried to connect at the same time.\nBy that time both benches had emptied, resulting in pushing, shoving and holding in a scrum as Lee and Young were held back. Several players fell to the ground before order was restored.\nLee said the pitch actually hit him in the wrist and caught more bat than him. He said he was angry because he thought Young was throwing at his head.\nThe Padres were not happy Friday after Alfonso Soriano homered off David Wells, stopped at the plate to admire the ball and then started his home run trot with a few steps backward.\nYoung did not allow a hit in his three innings-plus Saturday. After the fight, he went back to the mound for warmup pitches as boos grew loud at Wrigley Field. But minutes later the umpires conferred and then ejected the pitcher, as well.