Zambrano shoulders Cubs' loss

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- It might be nothing, and it might be something, but Carlos Zambrano is flying back to Chicago today to have whatever it is checked out after Wednesday night's 5-4 loss to the Rays.

Zambrano (8-3) lost for just the second time in his last 9 decisions. He allowed 5 runs and 7 hits in 6¿ innings, departing after throwing 100 pitches. The Cubs later said he was lifted because of right shoulder discomfort.

The two-time NL all-star will see a doctor and have an MRI examination today.

"At this point I don't know nothing. We'll see what happens tomorrow," Zambrano said, adding that his shoulder was feeling better. "Hopefully it's nothing bad."

Catcher Geovany Soto motioned for manager Lou Piniella to head out to the mound after Zambrano threw his last pitch.

"He threw a pitch funny. Like weird," Soto said. "I went out there. It was like, 'Are you all right? What's going on?' He said, 'Yeah, I'm fine.' I just had to call somebody because I didn't think it was all right."

Zambrano tried to make a case for staying in the game.

"He was convincing," said Piniella, who appeared to be ready to allow the pitcher to continue before changing his mind. "We did the right thing getting him out, obviously."

B.J. Upton, Eric Hinske, Evan Longoria and Willy Aybar drove in runs off Zambrano during Tampa Bay's 4-run third inning.

With 42 wins, the Rays have matched their club record for victories before the all-star break. They were 42-45 at the break under Piniella in 2004 and wound up winning a franchise-best 70 games.

Kosuke Fukudome, batting leadoff for the first time, drove in the Cubs' first run with an RBI double, then scored on Theriot's single for a 2-1 lead.

Reed Johnson sat out with back stiffness after a first-base collision with Rays first baseman Manny Aybar on Tuesday. The Cubs' Jim Edmonds left Wednesday's game in the fourth inning with left foot soreness.