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Quade says he wasn't singling out Castro

Cubs manager Mike Quade and shortstop Starlin Castro seemed to move past Wednesday's tempest over a fallen pop fly.

Before Friday's 4-2 victory over the Houston Astros, Quade reminded reporters that he was not singling out Castro and that he talked with both Castro and second baseman Darwin Barney about the play in the first inning of Wednesday's 9-1 loss to the Phillies.

The goal, he said, is to make sure two talented players perform at their best.

“Was this just Starlin?” an incredulous Quade asked. “Didn't it involve our second baseman? It's funny how it's gravitated in that direction. I'll bet these two have it worked out the next time it happens. And that's the important thing. And that's all that really matters. The premium that goes with defense at those two positions is the main thing.

“They'll work it out, and they'll get better. And they need to.”

Castro lost Michael Martinez's popup in the sun, and it fell to the ground. The Phillies scored twice in the inning.

“Communication was going on,” Quade said. “I went back and looked at it, so I knew that was going on. The minute the ball goes up here at home, you have an understanding what may or may not take place. Just another learning experience for those guys. I really believe they're going to be here together for a long time and don't want to see a mistake like that happen again and don't believe it will.”

Castro said he understood why the manager talked with him and Barney about it after the game.

“He's right,” Castro said. “Everybody makes a mistake. I tried to catch that ball. I didn't see the ball. The ball went up, and I called it, but when the ball came back, I lost it.”

So the lesson learned?

“Don't say ‘I got it,'” Castro said “If you don't have it, don't say, ‘I got it.' Say, ‘I don't see it.'”

Big Z is back:

Starting pitcher Carlos Zambrano didn't have a pure 1-2-3 inning until the fifth against the Astros on Friday, but he managed to work out of trouble of his own making, stranding six runners while allowing 2 runs over the second, third and fourth innings.

The Cubs turned double plays in the first and second. With the bases loaded and nobody out in the third, the Astros' Hunter Pence lined out to left field but was unable to drive in a run. Zambrano finished the inning with a pair of flyouts.

“I got lucky on pitch to Pence,” said Zambrano, who gave up 9 hits and earned his 10th quality start. “He hit it hard but right at (left fielder Alfonso) Soriano. Sometimes it's good to have luck, too.”

Zambrano was on the disabled list for the first 15 days of July because of lower-back soreness.

“I feel 100 percent,” he said. “My sinker was good today. Nothing was bothering me. My back was feeling good, and my arm was good. I'm back. I'm back on track.”

Hot Aramis:

Third baseman Aramis Ramirez hit his 18th homer of the year in the fifth inning. He's batting .378 (37-for-98) with 8 doubles, 13 homers and 27 RBI in his last 26 games since June 24.

The home run was his 231st as a Cub, tying him for sixth on the team's all-time list with Gabby Hartnett.

Chicago Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro gloves a single hit by Florida Marlins' Emilio Bonifacio during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, July 16, 2011, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)