The big right-hander stole his first base in his last start Saturday against the New York Mets. Zambrano will close the Cubs' three-game series against the Houston Astros on Thursday, facing lefty Andy Pettitte.

Zambrano was the team's lone All-Star representative, but he did not pitch in the game because he was accidentally struck on the right arm by White Sox coach Joey Cora's fungo bat during batting practice. Apparently, there was no lingering effect.

Against the Mets, he did not allow a hit until Jose Valentin tripled to lead off the sixth. For the game, Big Z gave up two runs on three hits and four walks over six innings while striking out seven.

His six straight wins match his career high, which Zambrano now has done three times, most recently Aug. 12-Sept. 18, 2005.

"He's an All-Star pitcher and he's got All-Star stuff," Mets third baseman David Wright said. "He was dominant."

"The guy's a ballplayer, he's not just a pitcher," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. "He's a runner, he's a hitter, he's a fielder. This guy comes to play."

This is the rubber game of the series, although the Astros lead the season series, 8-3.

Pitching matchup
HOU: LHP Andy Pettitte (8-9, 4.99 ERA)
Pettitte is coming off perhaps his best outing of the season, throwing seven scoreless innings on five hits and a season-high 10 strikeouts. The win was the lefty's second in his last six starts. The other win was against the Cubs, in which he pitched six innings with one run on seven hits.

CHC: RHP Carlos Zambrano (9-3, 3.23 ERA)
Zambrano's seven strikeouts in his last start against the Mets gave him 131 for the season, ranking him among the National League leaders.

Player to watch
Derrek Lee is 5-for-15 lifetime against Pettitte, and 2-for-2 this year. He's still trying to come back from his wrist injury. "His strength isn't quite there yet," Baker said. "That was a pretty serious injury he had. You don't really appreciate your hands and wrists until you damage them."

On the Internet
 MLB.TV
 Gameday Audio
•  Gameday
•  Official game notes

On television
• WGN

On radio
• WGN 720 AM

Up next
• Friday: Cubs (RHP Mark Prior, 0-4, 7.71) at Nationals (RHP Livan Hernandez, 6-8, 5.94), 6:05 p.m. CT
• Saturday: Cubs (LHP Sean Marshall, 5-8, 5.00) at Nationals (RHP Tony Armas, 6-5, 4.61), 12:20 p.m. CT
• Sunday: Cubs (RHP Carlos Marmol, 3-3, 3.86) at Nationals (LHP Michael O'Connor, 3-6, 4.59), 12:05 p.m. CT