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Rookie Pie helps Zambrano get back on track

Jun 6, 2007 - 10:20 PM MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- Rookie outfielder Felix Pie provided Carlos Zambrano more offensive support than the beleaguered righthander needed.

Pie smacked a three-run homer in the second inning and Zambrano shut down the Milwaukee Brewers from there as the Chicago Cubs posted a 6-2 victory in the finale of a three-game series on Wednesday.

Zambrano lasted just five innings and allowed a season-high 13 hits in his last start on Friday against Atlanta, an 8-5 loss. That contest ended with his involvement in a brawl in the dugout and later in the clubhouse with catcher Michael Barrett.

"I don't want to talk about that," Zambrano said. "I'm still a friend of Michael Barrett. He still calls me brother and I still call him brother. We forget, and forgive each other, and we're back on track. I still love him.

"I was embarrassed the next day when I came to work because I punched one of my teammates. It was a bad feeling the next day. The next day, he came to me and apologized and I apologized to him, and we both cried. It's like when you have a little brother, you fight, but the next day you get along with him."

Against the Brewers, Zambrano (6-5) went 6 2/3 innings, striking out nine. He also allowed two runs on five hits and three walks.

"Today was the takeoff of Carlos Zambrano," Zambrano said. "I said to myself yesterday that tomorrow is the opening night for you. Forget about anything else. Start from tomorrow. I'm 1-0 with 6 2/3 innings. From now on, I'll try to think like that."

The Brewers touched Zambrano for both runs in the sixth inning when Prince Fielder hit his 21st homer to center field with rookie Ryan Braun aboard.

"I think we're fine, we just have to keep playing hard," Fielder said. "We're in first place. As long as we're there, I think we're all right. We just have to keep doing what we're doing."

Pie gave his starter a 4-0 cushion in the second inning with his second home run of the season - a three-run shot - to centerfield off Brewers starter Jeff Suppan (7-6), plating Koyie Hill and Zambrano. The rookie center fielder finished with three hits for the first three-hit game of his major league career.

"I didn't try to hit a home run," Pie said. "I tried to put the ball in play. He threw me a cutter and I was ready for it. I'm swinging the bat good. I don't have any pressure. I can play my game."

The Cubs got on the board in the first inning with an unearned run. Pie doubled to start things, and later scored when shortstop J.J. Hardy misplayed a ground ball off the bat of Aramis Ramirez.

"The ball came up on him," Yost said. "There were balls coming up on their shortstop, their second baseman. The infield just played rough today. It was one of those days, but a lot of it wasn't his fault."

It was a tough day in the field for the usually sure-handed Hardy, who also booted another grounder by Ramirez in the second inning.

"I let them down today, making three errors, and I could have had four," said Hardy, who was officially charged with two errors. "I think (Suppan) could have gotten through a couple more innings if he didn't have to make those extra pitches. It was just one of those days."

Ramirez left the game after the play with a strained left knee, limping noticeably after legging out the play. Cubs bench coach Alan Trammell said Ramirez will return to Chicago and visit with team doctors before joining the club in Atlanta.

Zambrano helped his cause in the third inning, driving in Ryan Theriot with a single to make it 5-0. He finished with two hits for the 12th multi-hit game of his career.

"That's my lucky part," Zambrano said. "I just try to hit the ball and do my job. Anything that I can do - running, hitting, pitching, fielding - I will try to do the best that I can to win a ball game."

Pie gave the Cubs some insurance in the ninth when he singled, stole second for his first major league theft, and scored on an error by Fielder at first base to close out the scoring.

"The stars of the game were Carlos Zambrano and Felix Pie," Trammell said. "Felix had a nice series. He's been a nice addition."

Suppan departed after five innings, taking his first loss at Miller Park since April 4 to snap a string of four consecutive home wins. The righthander allowed five runs - four earned - and seven hits, walking a pair and fanning just one batter.

"A lot of my misses were down the middle, and they are a very good hitting team," Suppan said. "It was a tough day all the way around."

Jose Capellan pitched two scoreless innings in relief of Suppan.

Cubs relievers Carlos Marmol, Bobby Howry and Ryan Dempster followed Zambrano on the mound to finish off the game.

Trammell managed the team in the absence of Lou Piniella, who was serving the final game of a four-game suspension.