Zambrano solid, but Vazquez vanquishes Cubs
Tip Your Cap Night wasn't on your official Cubs pocket schedule.
But the Braves' Javier Vazquez made it a late addition. The former White Sox right-hander silenced the Cubs on Tuesday night, holding them to just 1 extra-base hit in Atlanta's 2-1 victory at Wrigley Field.
Speaking of late additions, Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano found out he was pitching at 11 Tuesday morning, about 41/2 hours before the Cubs announced that scheduled starter Ryan Dempster was going on the disabled list with a broken right big toe.
Zambrano pitched well enough on three days rest, despite losing and falling to 4-4. He didn't have a 1-2-3 inning among the 6 he pitched, but he gave up only 5 hits and both Atlanta runs.
"I went home (Monday) with the mentality that I could pitch today," Zambrano said. "I saw Dempster's toe, and it didn't look good. I went home ready in case something happened. They called me this morning and told me, and I said, 'Yeah, I feel good. I'm ready to go.' "
Zambrano gave up a run-scoring single in the first inning to Brian McCann and an RBI double in the third to McCann, who entered the game 5-for-9 against Zambrano.
The Cubs got their only run in the second, when catcher Koyie Hill singled with two outs against Vazquez (6-7, 2.95 ERA).
"He really did have good stuff," Hill said of Vazquez. "He's been one of the top pitchers in this league so far this season, and he pitched a (heck) of a ballgame. That was a good game. Z gives up 2 runs on 5 hits and loses. Just a good game."
Cubs manager Lou Piniella watched his team fall to 41-40 to mark the halfway point of what's been a disappointing season. During a 1 minute, 14 second postgame session with the media, Piniella praised Vazquez but at the same time threw his hands up concerning his own team's batting.
"Just keep swinging," he said. "Keep swinging. See what happens."
Piniella let out a sigh with that comment. One bright spot was that third baseman Aramis Ramirez had a pair of singles, getting his first hits since May 7. He had been on the DL for two months with a dislocated left shoulder.
However, left fielder Alfonso Soriano has gone a full month with out a home run. He had 2 singles in 4 at-bats but struck out with runners on first and second and nobody out in the second and grounded into a forceout in the seventh.
So are the Cubs halfway home or halfway to nowhere?
"We're in good shape," Hill said. "We're in real good shape. I think we're jelling, and the team's coming together. We got a lot of our guys back with the lineup consistent every day. I feel good about us."
Bruce Miles' game tracker
Braves 2, Cubs 1
Wasted quality: Carlos Zambrano (4-4) turned in his 11th quality start, but took the loss. The Cubs had won their previous five games when getting a quality start.
It's a start: Left fielder Alfonso Soriano hasn't homered since June 7, but he has hit safely in his last three games, going 5-for-12.
For Micah counter: Micah Hoffpauir got a rare start in right field. His second-inning single snapped an 0-for-13 skid.
<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=305376">Strange, but true: Dempster on DL after breaking toe<span class="date"> [7/7/09]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=305375">Hart back in a hurry<span class="date"> [7/7/09]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>