NewsCubs' finale in Atlanta rained out
Zambrano pushed back to Friday, Dempster to Saturday
By Guy Curtwright / Special to MLB.com
06/04/09 11:17 PM ET
ATLANTA -- The Cubs were rained out for the third time this season on Thursday night, with the finale of their three-game series against the Braves called off after a wait of more than two hours.The game was rescheduled for June 22, a mutual off-day for both teams. Chicago finishes a home series with Cleveland on June 21 and opens a series at Detroit on June 23.
"I would have rather played [on Thursday]," said manager Lou Piniella, whose team will now face a stretch of 23 consecutive games from June 16 through July 8.
Because of the rainout, Carlos Zambrano will start on Friday night at Cincinnati in the opener of a three-game series, and Ryan Dempster will be pushed back to Saturday.
Sean Marshall, who had been scheduled to pitch on Saturday, will go to the bullpen, and Randy Wells will start on Sunday as scheduled.
Zambrano is coming off a six-game suspension by Major League Baseball for an outburst at Wrigley Field last week. He last pitched on May 27.
The Cubs' other two rainouts this season were at home, against St. Louis on April 19 and against Houston on May 15.
It was the second rainout for the Braves this season. The other was on May 17 against Arizona at Turner Field.
Guy Curtwright is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
