Too much good stuff from 'Z' in Cubs win

Carlos Zambrano isn't a pitching coach and he doesn't he play one on TV, but before he took the mound Friday night in San Francisco, the big righty knew what he had to do to improve on what has been an up and down season.

"I was opening my shoulder too soon and when I open my shoulder too soon, that's when I don't throw effectively," Zambrano told WGN radio. "That's what I've been practicing in the bullpen."

Well, practice made perfect for Big Z Friday as he outdueled reigning Cy Young Tim Lincecum and helped bolster a patchwork lineup with a pair of RBI to deal yet another blow to San Francisco's playoff hopes with a 3-0 victory.

The victory was the fifth in six games for the Cubs (80-73),

Zambrano's 2-hit gem Friday was his first complete game since his no-hitter Sept. 14, 2008, against Houston in Milwaukee.

Not only did Zambrano (9-6) pitch his first complete game of the season against the Giants, he also knocked in a key insurance run with a double off Randy Johnson in the ninth.

The Cubs went up against Lincecum (14-7) minus a couple of big bullets - third baseman Aramis Ramirez (shoulder) and first baseman Derrek Lee, who hurt his neck after receiving what manager Lou Piniella termed "a love tap" from reliever Angel Guzman during a dugout celebration Thursday.

It was a big blow considering Lee came into the day leading the majors with 24 home runs since July 1, and Ramirez came in having knocked in a run every 4.63 at-bats this season, tops among third basemen with at least 250 at-bats.

So Piniella knew the Cubs had their work cut out in this one, telling reporters before the game, "We need Carlos to be on his 'A' game. The other guy can pitch. So can Carlos."

Zambrano sure had his 'A' stuff on Friday, recording 8 strikeouts and throwing just 98 pitches, 67 of them for strikes.

In addition to his RBI double in the ninth, Zambrano used his legs in the seventh to beat out a potential double play and allowing Bobby Scales to score and putting the Cubs up 2-0.

Shortstop Ryan Theriot had 2 hits and an RBI, and Sam Fuld chipped in with a pair of hits, but the big story Friday was Big Z, who allowed only one runner to reach third base all night and retired 17 of the final 18 batters he faced.

The victory improved Zambrano's overall mark against the Giants to 5-1.