Chi Cubs (88-58) at Houston (80-67)

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chc

Big Z set to take on Astros at Miller Park

Carrie Muskat / MLB.com
When "Play ball!" is finally yelled on Sunday night at Miller Park, the focus turns to Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano. The right-hander is slated to make his first start since Sept. 2, when he left after five innings with what turned out to be right rotator cuff tendinitis.
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Cubs probable pitcher

Carlos Zambrano

  • #38 RHP
  • (13-5) 3.58 ERA 117 SO
Cubs: Zambrano has been sidelined because of some discomfort in his right shoulder. An MRI exam revealed tendinitis, and he was shut down. If he can't go, Sean Marshall will get the start. Zambrano last pitched Sept. 2 against the Astros and did not get a decision. The right-hander gave up three runs on five hits and three walks over five innings, his first start since getting an extra day because of a tired arm. Zambrano threw 86 pitches in the outing and the stadium radar gun did show that his fastball had some life to it.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 95-60 3.43 1366.2 612 1159 .228
Season 13-5 3.58 173.1 64 117 .247
September 0-0 5.40 5.0 3 3 .263
Vs. Houston 1-1 4.42 18.1 9 13 .265

Series at a Glance

Standings - 09/14/2008 W L PCT GB Home Away
Chicago Cubs (NL Central) 88 58 .603 - 51-24 37-34
Houston Astros (NL Central) 80 67 .544 8.5 43-29 37-38
Stats - 09/14/2008 AVG R HR RBI SB SO ERA IP H BB SO
CHC .280 779 166 739 84 1061 3.84 1315.0 1211 481 1138
HOU .265 665 159 640 105 945 4.31 1303.1 1317 456 990
hou

Astros gearing up for Cubs at 'home'

Alyson Footer / MLB.com
With hopes that their momentum didn't get swept away by Hurricane Ike, the Astros will travel to Milwaukee to play two "home" games with the Cubs at Miller Park. They'll play Sunday at 7:05 p.m. CT and Monday at 1:05 p.m. CT, with the third game of the series scheduled for Sept. 29, if that game carries playoff implications.
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Astros probable pitcher

Randy Wolf

  • #39 LHP
  • (10-11) 4.45 ERA 146 SO
Astros: In 14 career starts vs. the Cubs, Wolf is 3-6 with a 4.46 ERA, but he did pitch his 12th career complete game and seventh shutout in a 3-0 win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field on Sept. 3. He has allowed just five earned runs over his last three outings, a span of 22 innings. He held the Pirates to three runs on four hits in seven innings in his last start. Houston is 8-1 in Wolf's nine starts since the club acquired him from San Diego.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 88-77 4.28 1451.2 543 1211 .256
Season 10-11 4.45 174.0 67 146 .263
September 2-0 1.69 16.0 3 12 .185
Vs. Chi Cubs 1-1 4.85 13.0 7 10 .292

Cubs hitters vs Randy Wolf

  2008 2003-2007
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI

Astros hitters vs Carlos Zambrano

  2008 2003-2007
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI

Big Z puts up Big Zero (89-58) (80-68)

Cubs 5, Astros 0

Big Z no-hits Astros

Carrie Muskat / MLB.com
Carlos Zambrano's stuff was electrifying vs. the Astros, and the Chicago ace made it count, tossing his first career no-hitter -- and the first by a Cub since '72 -- while fanning 10 in a game played at Miller Park because of Hurricane Ike.

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Series at a Glance

 
Carlos Zambrano tossed the Cubs' first no-hitter since 1972. (Morry Gash/AP)

Astros overwhelmed

Alyson Footer / MLB.com
After enduring a rough trip to play in Milwaukee because of Hurricane Ike, Houston ran into an ace pitcher at his finest, as Carlos Zambrano left the Astros hitless. Despite the defeat, Houston gained a half-game in the NL Wild Card race.
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Cubs 5, Astros 0

Chi CubsABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
Soriano, LF4121002.290
Theriot, SS4000003.307
Lee, 1B4112020.292
Ramirez, A, 3B4111010.279
Soto, C4011000.288
DeRosa, RF-2B3000100.283
Johnson, R, CF3000012.302
  Pie, CF1000000.227
Cedeno, 2B3110000.286
  a-Fukudome, PH-RF1000000.261
Zambrano, C, P3110020.354
Totals34575167 

a-Flied out for Cedeno in the 9th.

BATTING
2B: Lee (37, Wolf), Soto (34, Wolf).
HR: Soriano (28, 1st inning off Wolf, 0 on, 0 out).
TB: Soriano 5; Lee 2; Ramirez, A; Soto 2; Cedeno; Zambrano, C.
RBI: Soriano (71), Lee 2 (84), Ramirez, A (104), Soto (81).
2-out RBI: Lee 2; Ramirez, A; Soto.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Johnson, R.
Team LOB: 3.

FIELDING
DP: (Cedeno-Theriot-Lee).
 
HoustonABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
Erstad, LF4000020.282
Bourn, CF2000110.221
Tejada, SS3000001.286
Berkman, 1B3000010.326
Blum, 3B3000010.233
Pence, RF2000010.272
Newhan, 2B3000021.250
Quintero, H, C3000010.224
Wolf, P0000000.130
  Nieve, P1000000.000
  Borkowski, P0000000.000
  a-Saccomanno, PH1000010.333
  Cassel, P0000000.286
  b-Castillo, PH1000000.246
Totals260001102 

a-Struck out for Borkowski in the 6th. b-Grounded out for Cassel in the 9th.

BATTING
GIDP: Tejada.
Team LOB: 1.

FIELDING
E: Tejada (10, throw).
 
Chi CubsIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Zambrano, C (W, 14-5)9.000011003.41
 
HoustonIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Wolf (L, 10-12)2.26541214.58
Nieve 2.10000307.36
Borkowski 1.00000007.20
Cassel 3.01000105.88

HBP: Pence (by Zambrano, C).
Pitches-strikes: Zambrano, C 110-73, Wolf 60-39, Nieve 36-24, Borkowski 12-8, Cassel 33-22.
Groundouts-flyouts: Zambrano, C 13-4, Wolf 1-5, Nieve 0-4, Borkowski 0-3, Cassel 4-4.
Batters faced: Zambrano, C 28, Wolf 15, Nieve 7, Borkowski 3, Cassel 10.
Inherited runners-scored: Nieve 2-0.
Umpires: HP: Tim Tschida. 1B: Jim Joyce. 2B: Jeff Nelson. 3B: Mike Estabrook.
Weather: 68 degrees, roof closed.
Wind: 1 mph, Varies.
T: 2:17.
Att: 23,441.
September 14, 2008

Box score official statistics approved by Major League Baseball Office of the Commissioner