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Zambrano comes back strong as Cubs nip Cardinals

Sat 5th, July 2008

St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - Carlos Zambrano was impressive in his first game back from the disabled list, and he shut down St. Louis as the Cubs beat the Cardinals, 2-1, in the opener of a three-game set.

Zambrano (9-3) pitched for the first time since losing to the Tampa Bay Rays on June 18. The big right-hander left that start with shoulder discomfort and was placed on the DL four days later. He gave up just four hits in six shutout frames. Kerry Wood earned his 22nd save of the year with a scoreless ninth.

Kosuke Fukudome and Geovany Soto both hit solo home runs for the Cubs, who have won three of their last five games overall.

Albert Pujols became the fifth fastest player in major league history to hit 300 home runs with a solo shot in the eighth inning for the Cardinals, who have lost two in a row and three of four. Yadier Molina extended his hit streak to 11 games with a single in the second inning. Braden Looper (9-6) took the loss as he was touched for two runs on six hits in seven innings.

Bob Howry came in to pitch the eighth and retired the first two batters. However, Pujols golfed a 2-2 fastball off the foul pole in left field, his 18th homer on the year and the 300th of his career, to make it a 2-1 ballgame.

Wood came in for the bottom of the ninth and caught Troy Glaus looking at the third strike on the payoff pitch for the first out. Chris Duncan popped up for the second out, but Molina hit a bloop single to shallow left field. Ryan Ludwick grounded out to second base to make it official.

Fukudome gave the Cubs an early 1-0 lead as he parlayed a nine-pitch at-bat into a solo home in the first inning.

Soto connected on a two-out home run in the fourth inning, giving the Cubs a 2-0 lead.

Game Notes

Cardinals infielder Aaron Miles' hit streak was snapped at 15 games as he went 0-for-4...Jim Edmonds had his first appearance in St. Louis since the Cardinals dealt him to San Diego this past winter. He received a standing ovation in his first at-bat...St. Louis took two of three from the Cubs earlier in the season, but Chicago has won nine of its last 13 at Busch.