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Zambrano wins major-league leading 14th as Cubs top Reds

Jul 29, 2007 - 8:11 PM CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- Carlos Zambrano had more hits than he allowed on Sunday.

Zambrano, who had three hits at the plate, allowed two hits in 7 1/3 innings to earn his major-league leading 14th victory as the Cubs blanked the Cincinnati Reds, 6-0, on Sunday.

Zambrano (14-7) struck out six and walked three before departing in the eighth inning.

Will Ohman finished the frame and Bob Howry retired the side in the ninth for Chicago, which is a major league-best 33-17 since June 3.

For his part, Zambrano is a major league-best 8-2 during that span.

The 6-5, 255-pound righthander has been the best pitcher in baseball for nearly two months, winning each of his last four starts and seven of his last eight.

The Cubs staked Zambrano to an early lead in the first inning.

Aramis Ramirez doubled to right center to plate Ryan Theriot and advance Derrek Lee to third. Lee came around to score on Mark DeRosa's sacrifice fly to center to give the Cubs a 2-0 lead.

Chicago looked like it doubled its lead in the second inning.

With Zambrano aboard, Alfonso Soriano belted what should have been his third home run in the last two days. Replays showed the ball deflected off a fan's hands and back into play. Zambrano and Soriano were then stranded as Theriot harmlessly flied out to right field.

It mattered little.

Lee chased Reds starter Matt Belisle after blasting a two-run homer in the seventh to give the Cubs a 4-0 lead.

Belisle (5-8), who is now winless in his last 10 starts, allowed four runs on nine hits in 6 1/3 innings. He has not won since defeating the Houston Astros on May 29.

Angel Pagan's two-run single to center in the ninth capped the scoring.