Zambrano pitches in at the plate

PITTSBURGH -- There was no stopping Carlos Zambrano on Friday night.

There wasn't even any containing him.

Zambrano did it all, including pounding out 4 singles in the Cubs' 12-3 victory over the Pirates.

The Cubs, who improved to 29-19, owe a big debt of gratitude to the Pirates, against whom they are 9-1 this season.

The man of the night for the Cubs was Zambrano, who upped his record to 7-1 with a 7-inning, 6-hit performance.

And all that talk about his shoulder hurting? Forget about it.

"There's nothing wrong with my shoulder, obviously," Zambrano said, referring to a report to the contrary a few days earlier. "I was able to hit 94-95 (mph), which is good, and to locate my fastball."

Of course, Zambrano is a threat at the plate, as well. His 4 hits were the most by a Cubs pitcher since Lew Burdette had 4 on June 22, 1964, at San Francisco.

"Somebody told me that," said Zambrano, who is batting .343 (12-for-35). "It's good, a good feeling, and hopefully we'll continue to do a good job, and the starting pitchers will continue to help out themselves and do some damage at the plate, also."

The Cubs scored in seven in the first of the first eight innings, chasing lefty Zach Duke after four.

They blew the game open in the fifth, when Reed Johnson hit a 3-run homer. Johnson also doubled twice. The Cubs also got a 3-hit game from Aramis Ramirez.

The only area of concern was left fielder Alfonso Soriano, who did not look good running the bases. He has spent time on the disabled list this year with a right-calf strain. Soriano had two days off this week but said the problem is more in his head than in his leg.

"I think I was caring too much about my leg because I had two days off," said Soriano, who had 2 hits and a run scored. "I didn't do anything yesterday and had a good day off. I came back today, and my leg is like … nothing in my leg, but I'm more like a little scared because I didn't do anything in two days.

"I lost a little bit of my confidence. My leg is good. I think tomorrow I'll be better because I played today, and my leg is fine."

Soriano was lucky not to get doubled off second base in the first inning when Pirates right fielder Xavier Nady couldn't quite make the play on Derrek Lee's single. As it was, Soriano came out after five innings in the blowout.

"You know, I talked to him, and it doesn't bother him, but it's a confidence thing," manager Lou Piniella said. "He doesn't trust it. It doesn't bother him. I told him, 'Look, we won't play you at all if it's bothering you.' He said it doesn't hurt.

"I said, 'What's wrong?' He said it's confidence. So I've got to check with his confidence before the ballgame tomorrow."

Back to the main topic, Piniella was wowed by Zambrano.

"I tell you, he threw the ball very well, to start with," the manager said. "Very impressive with the bat. Four hits. You don't really see starting pitchers get 5 at-bats in a game. He got 4 hits. It goes to show you, when he concentrates, what he's capable of doing."

Cubs 12, Pirates 3

At the plate: Pitcher Carlos Zambrano led a season-high 19-hit attack with 4 hits. Reed Johnson hit a 3-run homer and a pair of doubles and drove in 4. Ronny Cedeno singled and doubled.

On the mound: Zambrano raised his record to 7-1 by going 7 innings and giving up 6 hits and 2 runs. It was his ninth quality start out of 11 this year. Jose Ascanio and Kerry Wood finished for Zambrano, who threw 109 pitches, 75 strikes.

-- Bruce Miles