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Zambrano, Cubs collapse against Reds

Apr 14, 2007 - 4:16 AM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Carlos Zambrano and the Chicago Cubs got off to the strong start they've been looking for, but the game game ended with a familiar result.

Zambrano yielded six runs in the fifth inning, two on a single by rookie Josh Hamilton, as the Cubs fell to the Cincinnati Reds, 6-5.

After opening a 5-0 lead through four innings, Chicago appeared to be in good position to end its three-game losing streak and pick up the first win of the season at Wrigley Field.

However, their ace's fifth inning was a disaster as he allowed seven consecutive batters to reach base. By the end of the frame the Reds had a 6-5 lead that their bullpen held for the remainder of the game.

"I can now start to see some of the ways that this team has lost ballgames, I can now see it," an irritated Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "We have to correct things obviously,"

Juan Castro opened the Reds fifth with a single. Chad Moeller followed with a bloop hit that caused center fielder Alfonso Soriano and shortstop Cesar Izturis to collide. Neither player was injured in the collision, but Zambrano's focus appeared to take a hit of sorts.

"This guy is our ace, you have a 5-0 lead and the eighth and ninth hitters coming up and you feel pretty good about that," Piniella said. "All of a sudden it turns into a six-run inning. What can I do, just pitch (Zambrano) when it is his turn again. That is all I can do."

The Cubs ace walked Brandon Phillips to load the bases and then gave up a two-run single to Hamilton. Adam Dunn followed with an RBI single and Ken Griffey's RBI double cut the lead to 5-4. Zambrano then hit Edwin Encarnacion with a pitch to load the bases again, prompting Piniella to replace his righthander with Will Ohman.

Ohman did not fair much better, walking Scott Hatteberg and Javier Valentin to force across two runs and give the Reds a 6-5 lead.

Michael Wuertz replaced Ohman and prevented further damage by striking out Castro, Moeller and Phillips on just 11 pitches.

Zambrano (1-2) allowed six runs, six hits, four walks while striking out two. This is the second time this season that the Reds have gotten the best of the Cubs ace. On Opening Day, Zambrano allowed five runs over five innings in a 5-1 loss to the Reds.

"There was some weird things that happened in the fifth inning. I had a bad inning I know, I just can't get frustrated by that," Zambrano said. "Sometimes you have to have good luck and I didn't have it today that is all. I lost the game and it was my responsibility, I will keep my head up and go to the next step."

Zambrano actually had a better day with the bat, going 2-for-2 with a solo home run, a double and two runs. Zambrano's 11th career home run ties him with Charlie Root for third all-time among Cubs' pitchers.

Todd Coffey (1-0) tossed a scoreless seventh and eighth inning to get the win. David Weathers pitched the ninth inning for his fourth save of the season, despite allowing singles to Jacque Jones and Michael Barrett.

"That is the first time I have thrown two innings this year," Coffey said. "I didn't even throw two innings all of spring training. You just have to pitch when you have to pitch. Our bullpen was great today."

Ryan Theriot drove in two runs for the Cubs, who have dropped their first three home games for the first time since 1997. Cincinnati starter Aaron Harang allowed five runs, nine hits and two walks while striking out three.