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Zambrano dominates as Cubs win third straight

Jul 10, 2008 - 4:32 AM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- All-Star Carlos Zambrano allowed just one hit over eight outstanding innings and Aramis Ramirez belted the go-ahead home run leading off the sixth inning as the Chicago Cubs defeated the Cincinnati Reds, 5-1, on Wednesday.

Kosuke Fukudome, Derrek Lee and Ramirez each drove in a run in the seventh for the Cubs, who have won three consecutive games and four of their last five.

Making his second start since returning from the disabled list, Zambrano (10-3) surrendered a solo home run to Adam Dunn in the second but did not yield another hit.

"It was a bad pitch," Zambrano said of his lone mistake. "It was supposed to be down and it stayed up over the middle and Dunn is a good hitter."

The Venezuelan righthander did not walk anyone and struck out five over his 103-pitch outing. He retired the final 20 batters.

"It was one of those games where I felt good and then you just have to go execute what you are feeling and your game plan," Zambrano said. "Then let your teammates do the rest."

"Carlos had good movement on his fastball and used his split finger very effectively," Cubs manager Lou Pinella said. "It was good pitching."

Zambrano was replaced by Carlos Marmol, who gave up an infield single to rookie Jay Bruce with two outs in the ninth to end a streak of 22 hitters retired by Chicago pitching.

"I was thinking about that," Zambrano said of the possibility of a complete game. "It's been a long time since I pitched a complete game and I wanted to do that but not in this situation. It's too soon since coming off the DL, I will have chances in the second half of the season to do that."

After Marmol walked the next two batters to load the bases, closer Kerry Wood retired Brandon Phillips to collect his 23rd save in 28 chances.

The Cubs quickly erased a 1-0 deficit as Geovany Soto scored when Reds shortstop Jeff Keppinger could not handle Mark DeRosa's grounder in the second.

Ramirez snapped the 1-1 tie in the sixth, sending a first-pitch offering from Cincinnati rookie starter Johnny Cueto (7-9) over the left-center field wall for his 16th home run.

"You don't want to fall behind a pitcher like (Cueto), he has to many weapons," Ramirez said of his blast. "So when he gives you a pitch to hit, you can't miss it."

The Cubs exploded for three more runs in the seventh. Fukudome started the rally with an RBI double that eluded left fielder Dunn. Lee followed with a run-scoring single and Ramirez made it 5-1 with an RBI double to center.

Cueto, who had won his previous two starts, gave up five runs and eight hits with two walks and six strikeouts.

"Johnny threw a good game tonight, he made only one mistake and that was to Aramis Ramirez on a pitch he left over the plate," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "Other than that he threw the ball great."

"I know Zambrano is a very good pitcher, so I mentally prepared myself before the game to pitch the best I could," Cueto said through an interpreter. "I felt strong all night, my velocity was up to 94 or 95."