CHICAGO, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- Lou Piniella's managerial career ended on an ugly note Sunday when his Chicago Cubs were pounded 16-5 by the Atlanta Braves.
Piniella, whose 23-year managerial career covered 3,548 games including a 316-293 record in three-plus seasons in Chicago, announced before the game that he was hanging up his spikes immediately instead of waiting until the end of the year.
The Cubs responded with one of their worst outings in a disappointing year, yielding four homers and 13 hits to the Braves, who took the rubber match of a three-game set at Wrigley Field.
Omar Infante and Justin Heyward each socked two homers and drove in four runs, and former Cub Derrek Lee contributed a two-run double in the eighth inning for the victors.
Mike Minor (2-0) notched his second win in his third major league start, striking out 12 Cubs while allowing three runs on seven hits over six innings.
Chicago starter Randy Wells (5-12) was pounded for seven runs (five earned) on seven hits in six innings.
Piniella cited the illness of his 90-year-old mother as a motivating factor in his early retirement.
"I'll go home and be where I'm supposed to be," he told MLB.com after the game. "I'm going to miss it, there's no question about it."
