Zambrano dominant again, Cubs beat Brewers 4-0
MILWAUKEE - Mike Quade isn't the only one out to prove something.
The Cubs manager has company in pitcher Carlos Zambrano.
The erstwhile ace of the Cubs pitching staff tossed another gem Friday night, coming within one out of a complete-game shutout as the Cubs beat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-0 at Miller Park.
Zambrano improved to 8-6 with a 3.88 ERA for the season. Since rejoining the rotation last month after anger-management therapy, he is 5-0 with a 1.60 ERA.
He might be making a statement that general manager Jim Hendry made a big mistake in being the prime mover in Zambrano going to the bullpen earlier this year.
Zambrano also seems to be looking forward to next year - with the Cubs.
"I want to finish strong, and I want to come back next year and have a good spring training and work hard to be the same or better pitcher than I was or that I am right now," he said. "This off-season will be a key for me, will be big for me because I will work hard from Nov. 1 to the end of next year.
"I feel happy here. I love this team, and I want to stay here the rest of my contract. No more trade talk."
Zambrano, who pitched a no-hitter against Houston in this ballpark two years ago, was good in all facets against the Brewers. His fastball clocked at 93 mph, his slider was exceptional and his sinker was good. He also went 3-for-4 with an RBI at the plate.
"Oh, man, I mean to tell you," said Quade, who is 10-6 as manager as he auditions to keep the job permanently. "His soft game, he brought that with him tonight, too.
"He pounded the strike zone. To me, that was vintage. For all the good starts he's made here recently, he had the whole package tonight."
Zambrano gave up 3 hits while walking three and striking out nine. He retired the first two batters in the ninth before giving up a single to Ryan Braun. Prince Fielder bounced one up the middle. The Cubs had the infield shifted toward right field, and shortstop Starlin Castro bobbled the ball for an error.
Carlos Marmol came on and got Casey McGehee to fly out on the first pitch, earning his 29th save.
The Cubs' offense scored 3 unearned runs, with Zambrano leading the way in hits and Darwin Barney getting 2 hits.
Zambrano appears to be a new man since undergoing anger-management therapy this summer. He said he hopes all is good between him and the Cubs.
"People make a mistake, you know," he said. "Not only players, but people in the front office also make a mistake, and we're here. The more important thing here is a long relation and keep going."
Added Quade: "This is a veteran guy, but why can't you get better all the time? I don't care who you are, and as you get older, you've probably got to find some ways to get better and do things you couldn't do when you were younger. I've enjoyed watching him a lot of years, but this little stretch here as been something special."
<p class="factboxheadblack">Bruce Miles' game tracker</p>
<p class="News">Cubs 4, Brewers 0</p>
<p class="News"><b>Pitch counting:</b> Carlos Zambrano threw 119 pitches, 73 strikes in 82/3 innings. His highest count for one inning was 17 pitches in the fourth. He has won four consecutive starts for the first time since July 13-29, 2007. </p>
<p class="News"><b>Byrd gets there:</b> Center fielder Marlon Byrd singled in the fifth inning. It was his 155th hit of the year, tying his single-season best, set last year with Texas.</p>
<p class="News"><b>Doing the job:</b> Rookie Darwin Barney was 2-for-4 with 2 runs. He's 11-for-32 (. 344) over his last 12 games. </p>
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