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Cubs down Braves; Uggla extends streak to 33

Aug 14, 2011 - 7:36 AM Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Starlin Castro went 4-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored, as the Cubs beat the Braves 8-4 on a night that saw Atlanta second baseman Dan Uggla extend his hitting streak to 33 games.

Uggla kept the streak going with a single in the first inning. He ended 2- for-3 with a solo home run and two runs scored.

Uggla went 3-for-3 in the opener of this series on Friday to move ahead of Rico Carty (1970) for the longest hitting streak in Atlanta history. Tommy Holmes has the longest hitting streak in Braves annals with a 37-game stretch in 1945 when the franchise was located in Boston.

Carlos Pena also drove in two runs for the Cubs, who bounced back from a 10-4 loss on Friday. Darwin Barney went 4-for-5 with an RBI and run scored.

Chicago starter Randy Wells (4-4) gave up two runs on eight hits over five- plus innings to pick up the win.

"To be able to go against a great lineup like that, I pretty much had to battle every pitch, every inning," Wells said. "It's nice to be able to sneak away with a win."

Prior to Saturday's game, the Cubs placed pitcher Carlos Zambrano on the disqualified list without pay, casting further uncertainty on the enigmatic starter's future with the team.

The move was made one day after Zambrano was ejected from his start after throwing at Chipper Jones twice. Zambrano then cleaned out his locker and said he was retiring.

Derek Lowe (7-11) allowed five runs on 10 hits over six innings to suffer the loss for the Braves, who saw a five-game winning streak come to an end.

"That's the scary thing of this game," Lowe said. "I really, looking back at it, wouldn't have changed many pitches. I can say that David (Ross) did a great job and for the most part we executed, and 10 hits later, another loss."

The Cubs got on the board quickly. Castro and Barney led off the first inning with back-to-back singles to put men on the corners. Aramis Ramirez followed with a sacrifice fly to make it 1-0.

Uggla tied the game in the fourth with a solo homer to center. He has homered 15 times during his hitting streak.

Chicago added two runs in the fifth to go back in front. With two outs, Barney and Ramirez singled. Pena knocked in both runners with a double to left-center field.

The Cubs tacked on two more runs during their next at-bat. Tyler Colvin tripled to center with one out. Geovany Soto then hit a grounder to third baseman Chipper Jones, whose throw home was off the mark. Colvin crossed the plate on the play. Soto moved to second on Wells' sacrifice bunt and scored on Castro's base hit to center for a 5-1 lead.

The Braves got a run back in the home sixth. Uggla was hit by a pitch and Jones singled to start the inning. Alex Gonzalez followed with an RBI single that deflected off second baseman Barney. Jeff Samardzija took over for Wells and got out of the frame without any further damage.

Chicago broke the game open with a three-run eighth. Alfonso Soriano led off with an infield single. Colvin followed with a fly ball to left field that Martin Prado dropped. With men on second and third and one out, pinch-hitter Blake DeWitt hit a grounder to pitcher Cristhian Martinez. Pinch-runner Tony Campana slid under the tag at home to make it a 6-2 game.

Castro followed with an RBI single to left. Anthony Varvaro was called in from the bullpen and he was greeted by Barney's RBI single. Varvaro retired the next two batters to keep it an 8-2 contest.

Jose Constanza's RBI groundout in the home eighth made it a five-run game.

The Braves loaded the bases with one out in the ninth. Carlos Marmol came in from the bullpen and gave up a sac fly to Jones. Gonzalez popped out to end the game.

Game Notes

Wells improved to 3-1 lifetime against the Braves...Lowe fell to 3-2 in his career versus the Cubs...Chicago had homered in 10 straight games...The Cubs, who had zero walks, had drawn at least one walk in all 27 games since the All- Star break...Uggla also has the longest hitting streak in the majors this season, eclipsing the 30-gamer by Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier. He has the longest single-season hitting streak in the majors since 2006 when Phillies second baseman Chase Utley had a 35-gamer. Luis Castillo hit in 35 straight games for the Marlins in 2002. Those are tied for the longest by a second baseman in big league history...Marmol picked up his 27th save of the season.