• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Zambrano goes in makeup game vs. Astros

Jun 11, 2007 - 1:26 PM Houston (26-36) at Chicago Cubs (27-34) 8:05 pm EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) - Carlos Zambrano's last outing was one of his best this season. He will try to duplicate that performance on Monday when the Chicago Cubs host the Houston Astros in a makeup of a snowed out game from April 11.

The burly righthander allowed two runs and five hits in 6 2/3 innings last Wednesday in a win against at Milwaukee. Zambrano (6-5, 5.38 ERA), who had a very public fight in the dugout and later in the clubhouse with catcher Michael Barrett during his start on June 1, seemed like a different pitcher against the Brewers, when Koyie Hill served as catcher.

Zambrano will be asked to support a bullpen that has tossed 13 2/3 innings over the last two games due to the ineffectiveness of Saturday's starter Jason Marquis and Ted Lilly getting ejected after retiring just two batters in Sunday's game at Atlanta.

Lilly hit Atlanta shortstop Edgar Rentaria near the head with a pitch in the opening inning, in apparent retaliation for Alfonso Soriano getting plunked by Tim Hudson on Saturday.

The Astros are coming off a weekend series on the south side of Chicago, where they took two of three from the White Sox.

Woody Williams (2-8, 5.79) will get the start for the visitors, hoping to improve on a 3-8 lifetime record against the Cubs. Williams took a no-decision against the Cubs on April 9, when he allowed two runs and six hits in six frames.

Williams was ejected from his last start for hitting Colorado's Matt Holliday with a pitch. He surrendered six runs and 10 hits in six-plus innings, earning a loss.