NewsBig Z good on short rest, but Cubs fall
Zambrano fills in for injured Dempster, goes six innings
By Andrew Simon / MLB.com
07/08/09 12:40 AM ET
CHICAGO -- Pitching on three days' rest and eight hours' notice did not faze Carlos Zambrano.Zambrano (4-4) stepped in on short rest for the first time since Sept. 18, 2007, because Ryan Dempster missed the start after he went on the disabled list with a fractured toe earlier in the day. The Cubs informed their big right-hander Tuesday morning that he would get the start, and he responded with a six-inning, two-run performance.
"He did a nice job on [three days'] rest, gave us six good innings of baseball, gave us a chance," manager Lou Piniella said.
It wasn't enough against Javier Vazquez (6-7), who led the Atlanta Braves to a 2-1 win with some help from Brian McCann. Vazquez was passed over for the National League All-Star team although he sported a 3.05 ERA entering play. His mark is now 2.95 after his performance against the Cubs, who managed one run, five hits and no walks over seven innings against him.
Koyie Hill drilled a single up the middle to score Micah Hoffpauir with two outs in the second, but Vazquez struck out Zambrano with two aboard to end the inning. After that, the Cubs got only two more hits and advanced no more runners past first against Vazquez, who has given up one earned run or fewer for the fourth time in six outings.
"He did have good stuff and he's been one of the top pitchers in this league so far this season, and he pitched one hell of a ballgame," Hill said.
Ryan Theriot doubled with two outs in the eighth off Mike Gonzalez, and Alfonso Soriano singled with one out in the ninth against Rafael Soriano, but the Cubs could not cash in either runner. They lost for just the third time in their last 12 games at home to fall three games behind first-place St. Louis in the National League Central at the midpoint of the season.
Zambrano knew Dempster was questionable, and prepared himself Monday night for the possibility of pitching Tuesday. In three previous games on three days' rest, he had a 5.51 ERA, but gave up just five hits and three walks while striking out six Tuesday. Yet he had trouble with McCann.
The All-Star catcher said Zambrano "looked the same as always." But McCann, who entered the game 5-for-9 against Zambrano, went 2-for-3 against him Tuesday, driving in Atlanta's only runs with a pair of two-out hits. He singled home Nate McLouth in the first and drove in Martin Prado with the game-winning run in the third with a double.
"He pitched again tonight, mixed his stuff, hit his spots, his ball had a lot of life on it," Hill said of Zambrano. "McCann, that first time up for him, he hit a really good split first pitch, and give him credit, sometimes you have to tip your cap."
The loss continued a streak of bad luck for Zambrano, who is winless since June 5. In six starts since then, he has a 3.12 ERA, and the Cubs have a record of 2-4.
"This team pays me to win games," Zambrano said. "It's good if you get a no-decision and your team wins. I'm cool with that. ... When you pitch six, seven, eight innings, you at least give your team a chance to win ballgames. That's my mentality right now."
Despite Chicago's offensive struggles, there were a couple of welcome signs. The struggling Soriano went 2-for-4 and is 5-for-12 in his last three games. Aramis Ramirez also picked up two hits in his second game back from a dislocated left shoulder.
The Cubs reached the halfway point of the season at 41-40, although they are 4-2 so far on their 10-game homestand.
"I think we're in real good shape," Hill said. "I think we're gelling and the team's coming together. We get a lot of our guys back, with the lineup consistent every day, and I feel good about us."
Andrew Simon is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
