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Zambrano strong at home again as Cubs down Mets

Apr 22, 2008 - 4:19 AM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- For Carlos Zambrano, Wrigley Field was far from the "friendly confines" last season. In 2008, he is finding home a lot more hospitable.

Zambrano tossed seven strong innings to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 7-1 victory over the New York Mets on Monday.

In 17 starts at Wrigley Field last season, Zambrano (3-1) struggled on his way to a 6-9 record with a 4.96 ERA. With his win on Monday, he remained perfect in three decisions at home, lowering his home ERA to 1.63.

"I'm happy," Zambrano said. "I felt good today, I was in command of myself and my pitches. I made good pitches to get out of some situations; everything was working for me today. I don't have to throw 97, 98 (miles per hour). (I just need to) throw 91 (mph) with movement."

The two-time All-Star allowed only a run-scoring double-play groundout from Jose Reyes among the Mets' five hits. Zambrano also had two walks and four strikeouts before departing for a pinch hitter in the bottom of the seventh.

"He threw (101) pitches, which is absolutely perfect," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "He was aggressive tonight, really aggressive. He came out throwing the ball. He came out throwing strikes. He pitched a really, really good ballgame. Carlos wanted to throw one more inning, but that was enough."

Following a leadoff single by Derrek Lee to open the fourth, Aramis Ramirez took a first-pitch fastball from starter John Maine (1-2) over the fence in left-center field for a two-run blast to break the scoreless tie.

Maine allowed two runs and five hits in six innings with two walks and six strikeouts to take his first loss in his last three starts.

"For the most part, I pitched pretty well," Maine said. "I just threw a fastball down the middle to Ramirez and he hurt me."

It wasn't until the eighth inning, however, that the Cubs broke up the pitchers' duel with a five-run outburst, all off reliever Aaron Heilman.

Holding on to a 2-1 advantage, Lee reached first on a fielding error by Reyes and took second when Ramirez was hit by a pitch from Heilman. Kosuke Fukudome then capped a 10-pitch at-bat with a single to left-center to load the bases.

Following a pop out by Geovany Soto for the second out of the inning, Ronny Cedeno added a two-run single that plated Lee and Ramirez to increase Chicago's cushion to 4-1.

"It's a shame; Aaron worked hard to get out of the inning and almost made it," Mets manager Willie Randolph said. "Then, after the hit by (Ronny) Cedeno, the floodgates opened for them."

Three pitches later, Felix Pie put the game out of reach with a three-run blast.

"Felix hit one into the right-field stands," Piniella said. "It had to be a good feeling for this young man. He has been working hard for a week or 10 days, watching a lot of film, doing a lot of work with our strength coach. He's got to be feeling really good tonight and I'm happy for him."