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Zambrano takes hill in first start after no-hitter

Sep 19, 2008 - 10:22 AM St. Louis (79-73) at Chi Cubs (92-59), 2:20 p.m. EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Following the first Chicago Cubs no-hitter in over 36 years, righthander Carlos Zambrano will see what he can do for an encore on Friday.

The 27-year-old will face the St. Louis Cardinals.

Zambrano (14-5, 3.41 ERA) struck out 10 batters on Sunday against the Houston Astros as he tossed the first Cubs' no-hitter since Milt Pappas shut out the Padres on September 2, 1972. He walked one and also hit a batter.

The Cubs' 5-0 victory, which took place at Miller Park in Milwaukee due to the evacuation of Houston, was the first recorded no-hitter in major league history to take place at a neutral site.

Chicago is also closing in on a National League Central crown after taking two out of three from the Milwaukee Brewers. The Cubs' magic number to clinch the division is two.

The arch-rival Cardinals, who snapped a seven-game losing streak with Thursday's 5-4 victory over the Cincinnati Reds, would like nothing more than to play spoiler.

Adam Wainwright (9-3, 3.20) will try and bounce back from his shortest start of the season.

The righthander lasted four innings and allowed six runs against Pittsburgh on Saturday. Wainwright, who spent over two months on the disabled list earlier this season, did not factor in the decision against Pittsburgh and has yet to lose since June 2.