Piniella said Zambrano was upset after some of his teammates didn’t try to make diving stops, even though the balls was hit hard.

Zambrano has faced disciplinary action for his antics before.

Last season he was barred for six games by Major League Baseball after an outburst during a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. And in 2007, he got into a fight with former teammate Michael Barrett in the dugout. The fight then resumed in the clubhouse. Both players were fined.

CHICAGO – Carlos Zambrano was suspended indefinitely by the Chicago Cubs for his tantrum and dugout altercation with teammate Derrek Lee after the first inning of a 6-0 loss to the White Sox on Friday.

Zambrano was seen screaming as he walked down the dugout steps past Lee after allowing four runs and stormed toward the other end. Lee appeared to yell something, and as Zambrano headed back toward him, Piniella, pitching coach Larry Rothschild and bench coach Alan Trammell stepped between them.

Manager Lou Piniella, who sent Zambrano home, called his behavior embarrassing. Lee declined comment.

Cubs catcher Geovany Soto then grabbed the pitcher from behind and pulled him away. Zambrano appeared to say something to Piniella on his way to the clubhouse after being lifted for Tom Gorzelanny.

Zambrano then struck out Mark Kotsay and retired A.J. Pierzynski on a grounder to first, taking the throw from Lee to end the inning.

Asked if there was any doubt in his mind that Zambrano would pitch again for the Cubs this year, Hendry said he “certainly wouldn’t rule it out” and added “the rules of the game usually don’t allow long,Evisu, long-term suspensions.”

Zambrano is in the middle of a $91.5 million, 5-year contract extension he signed in August 2007,MLB Jerseys, and Hendry said he doesn’t think his behavior could nullify the deal.

General manager Jim Hendry said Zambrano’s behavior was “not acceptable” and sounded as if he has lost patience with the volatile pitcher.

After Paul Konerko singled, Carlos Quentin hit a three-run homer to left-center to extend the lead to 4-0.

That includes a leadoff double by Juan Pierre down the right field line past Lee and another with one out by Alex Rios down the left field line past third baseman Aramis Ramirez to drive in the first run.