CINCINNATI, OH — It did not take Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Carlos Zambrano long to apologize for his latest clubhouse rant.
Prior to Monday night's game against the Cincinnati Reds, Zambrano said that he apologized to Cubs' closer Carlos Marmol for questioning the way he pitched to St. Louis Cardinals' shortstop Ryan Theriot in the 9th inning of Sunday afternoon's loss. Theriot hit a game-tying double off Marmol's slider to send the game to extra innings, and Zambrano claimed in the clubhouse after the game that he should have thrown a fastball. The Cardinals went on to win in the 10th inning on a walk-off home run by Albert Pujols.
"We should know that Ryan Theriot is not a good fastball hitter," Zambrano said Sunday after quickly turning toward Marmol's locker. "We should know that as a team. We should play better here. We stink. That's all I've got to say."
Zambrano said Monday that he was sorry for his words and that they came out of frustration.
"I went back to the hotel last night, thinking about what I had done," Zambrano said. "What I had said was out of frustration, so I apologized to him.
"I didn't mean to hurt him. But when I apologized, he was very nice to me. I learned from this experience. He was very pleasant to me and very professional. I told him I really appreciated that."
Marmol said on Monday that he was ready to move on from Zambrano's comments.
"We talked today. He apologized to me. It's all in the past," Marmol said.
Cubs manager Mike Quade said that he did not plan to fine or punish Zambrano in any other way.
