CHICAGO (AP) – Carlos Zambrano scattered six hits over eight innings, and the Chicago Cubs scored eight runs in the seventh Sunday to beat the Florida Marlins 14-3 and snap a three-game losing streak.

The Cubs retired Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg’s number before the game, then got three hits from MVP candidate Derrek Lee, including two solo homers. It was his eighth two-homer game this season and the 17th of his career.

Jerry Hairston had three hits, a run and four RBIs, and Todd Hollandsworth had two hits, including a two-run double in the seventh.

Carlos Delgado hit a three-run homer for the Marlins, whose three-game win streak ended.

Zambrano (11-5) struck out six and walked two, and helped himself at the plate with a triple and a run. He is 7-1 in his last 12 starts.

Marlins starter Josh Beckett (12-8) allowed six runs – five earned – and seven hits in six-plus innings. Florida started the day a half-game behind Philadelphia in the wild-card standings.

The Cubs broke a 3-all tie with an unearned run in the sixth and chased Beckett in the seventh.

Zambrano led off the seventh with a triple and the next batter, Hairston, drove him in with a single that knocked out Beckett. Antonio Alfonseca retired Todd Walker, but surrendered an RBI single to Lee to make it 6-3.

After allowing an infield single by Jeromy Burnitz and walking Nomar Garciaparra to load the bases, Alfonseca was ejected by home plate umpire Laz Diaz. John Riedling relieved and gave up a two-run double to left by Hollandsworth.

Ronny Cedeno walked to reload the bases and Henry Blanco cleared them with a double to the left-field corner that made it 11-3.

Lee hit solo shots in the first and eighth, giving him 39 homers – second in the National League to Atlanta’s Andruw Jones. Marlins left fielder Jeff Conine took about two steps and watched Lee’s first-inning drive sail over the “Ryne Sandberg Second to none” banner hanging from the chain-link fence behind the bleachers.

Two runs scored on Hairston’s grounder to third, giving the Cubs a 3-0 lead in the fifth. He dove in head first, just ahead of Miguel Cabrera’s throw, allowing Garciaparra and a hustling Hollandsworth, who was on second, to score.

The way Zambrano was pitching, the lead appeared safe. He retired nine of the first 10 batters and did not allow a hit until Conine’s infield single with one out in the fourth. He did not allow a runner past first until Juan Pierre’s double with one out in the sixth.

Conine then singled off Zambrano’s chest, and with two out, Delgado sent a 1-0 pitch out to left for his 26th homer and a 3-3 tie.

Notes: With their wild-card hopes flickering, the Cubs may decide this week to shut down RHP Kerry Wood for the rest of the season. Wood, who needs surgery on his right shoulder, has pitched in relief since returning Aug. 5 from his second stint on the DL. “We’re in the process of making that decision right now,” manager Dusty Baker said. That decision hinges on whether the Cubs believe they still have a shot at the postseason – a longshot given they entered Sunday’s game 81/2 games behind Philadelphia and tied for seventh with Cincinnati. “It’s not about Kerry as much as it is about us (and) where we are, realistically.” … In the pregame ceremony, the Cubs presented a framed replica of Sandberg’s jersey and hung his number on the right-field foul pole. Sandberg threw out the first pitch to Andre Dawson.

AP-ES-08-28-05 1727EDT

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