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Zambrano looking to continue recent success against woeful Giants

Jul 18, 2007 - 2:17 PM San Francisco (39-52) at Chicago Cubs (48-44) 2:20 pm EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Carlos Zambrano will hope for his sixth win in his last eight starts as the Chicago Cubs host the San Francisco Giants in the third of a four-game series Wednesday.

The Giants snapped a five-game losing streak with Tuesday's 4-2 triumph over the Cubs behind seven strong innings by Barry Zito. The loss halted Chicago's four-game winning streak.

Zambrano (11-7, 3.83 ERA) pitched 6 2/3 scoreless innings, yielding three hits and three walks with seven strikeouts in a 6-0 victory on Friday over the Houston Astros.

He will be opposed by Matt Cain (3-10, 3.53 ERA), who has absorbed five losses over his previous six starts.

The 22-year-old righthander surrendered three runs - two earned - and seven hits over five innings in a 9-1 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday.

Barry Bonds lined out to left field in the Giants' win on Tuesday in a pinch-hit effort. The seven-time MVP is hitless since July 5, going 0-for-19 over that stretch, and remains four home runs away from tying Hank Aaron's all-time mark.