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Athletics-Cubs Preview

Jun 15, 2010 - 12:53 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Oakland (32-33) at Chicago (28-35), 8:05 p.m. EDT

Carlos Zambrano could be getting comfortable now that he's back in the Chicago Cubs' starting rotation.

Two days after his teammate flirted with a no-hitter, the last Cub to throw one looks for a second straight victory and tries to send the Oakland Athletics to a fourth consecutive loss Tuesday night at Wrigley Field.

Ted Lilly took a no-hitter into the ninth inning Sunday before Juan Pierre of the rival White Sox singled to open the frame, but the Cubs (28-35) held on for a 1-0 win to snap a three-game losing streak.

Zambrano (2-4, 6.05 ERA), who threw a no-hitter Sept. 14, 2008, looks to provide his team with another solid outing when it faces Oakland (32-33) for the first time since taking two of three from the A's at Wrigley from June 18-20, 2004.

Five days after giving up three runs over 4 1-3 innings in his return from an unsuccessful one-month stint in the bullpen, Zambrano allowed three runs and two hits in five innings of a 9-4 win at Milwaukee on Wednesday - his first victory since April 10.

"He seemed like the old Carlos we all know," catcher Geovany Soto told the Cubs' official website.

The right-hander is 7-6 with a 4.84 ERA in 19 interleague starts, including a 5-3 home win over Oakland on June 20, 2004, when he limited the A's to one run and struck out eight over 6 2-3 innings of a 5-3 win. That remains his only appearance against Oakland.

Chad Tracy's RBI single in the seventh inning drove in the game's only run Sunday and was one of three hits for the Cubs, who have gone 6 for 38 with runners in scoring position while losing four of six.

"If you want to put together something consistently winning wise, you have to score runs," said manager Lou Piniella, whose team ranks near the bottom of the majors with 262 runs scored.

Marlon Byrd has been one of the few Cubs hitting consistently. Batting a team-leading .333, Byrd is 20 for 39 with seven RBIs in his last 10 games. A lifetime .318 hitter versus the A's, Byrd is the only Cub who has faced probable Oakland starter Trevor Cahill (5-2, 2.91), going 4 for 10 with two doubles against the right-hander.

Cahill, who has never faced the Cubs, will try for his fifth straight victory overall. He allowed one run in a season-high eight innings of a 6-1 home win over the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday to improve to 4-0 with a 1.91 ERA in his last five starts.

"There's no doubt that he has a good feel for pitching, and he changed speeds well," Angels manager Mike Scioscia told the Athletics' official website.

Cahill, 3-2 with a 3.30 ERA in interleague play, hopes to help the A's bounce back after they were outscored 17-8 while being swept at San Francisco over the weekend.

Oakland has dropped 10 of 15 since winning seven of its previous eight.

Despite the team's recent struggles, third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff is 24 for 55 with 11 RBIs during a 14-game hitting streak. However, he's a .222 lifetime hitter versus the Cubs and 1 for 8 against Zambrano.