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Zambrano, Cubs look to keep rolling against Nationals

May 4, 2007 - 12:51 PM Washington (9-19) at Chicago Cubs (12-14) 2:20 pm EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Chicago Cubs attempt to keep their recent run of success alive when they host the Washington Nationals in the opener of a three-game series on Friday.

After a disappointing 7-13 start, the Cubs have won five of their last six.

Staff ace Carlos Zambrano (2-2, 5.77 ERA) will take the mound for Chicago. Plagued by control problems and inconsistency in his first five starts of the season, the 6-5 righthander had his best outing of the season last Saturday against the rival St. Louis Cardinals.

In an 8-1 win, Zambrano allowed one run and seven hits in seven innings. After allowing 19 walks in five starts, he did not allow a single free pass against the Cardinals.

Should Zambrano falter, the Cubs bullpen has proven that it can pick up the slack. Cubs relievers have stranded their last 26 inherited runners, dating to April 13. Chicago's bullpen has stranded 36 of 40 inherited runners this season.

Washington starter Jason Bergmann (0-2, 2.79) has been effective this season but is having trouble earning his first win for a club that is batting .229 with 84 runs, a league worst shared by the Cardinals.

The 25-year-old righthander has pitched six or more innings in each of his last four starts, allowing just five earned runs in 25 1/3 innings during that span. This is his first start against the Cubs.

Washington has the worst record in the majors and has lost eight-of-11.

Though he only has one home run, Chicago's Derrek Lee is making an early case for Comeback Player of Year. After missing most of last season with a broken wrist, Lee has reached base safely in his first 26 games this season and leads the majors with a .415 batting average.

Lee is the first Cubs' player to reach safely in 26 consecutive games since Sammy Sosa reached in 27 straight games during the 2001 season.

After going without a home run in his first 18 games as a Cub, Alfonso Soriano has gone deep in each of the team's last two games.