Not enough Zzz's in Cubs loss to Reds
Maybe pitching Carlos Zambrano on three days' rest wasn't such a hot idea after all.
Zambrano didn't perform horribly in Tuesday night's 5-2 Cubs loss to the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field. It's just that he dug himself a small hole early, and the Cubs' offense wasn't able to dig its way out against Reds righty Aaron Harang.
The loss dropped the Cubs (79-73) into a virtual first-place tie with the Milwaukee Brewers (78-72), who now have the edge in the all-important loss column.
"I thought he was fidgety once the game started," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said of Zambrano. "And once he settled in, he threw the ball fine."
Zambrano, who tossed a 5-3 gem Friday in St. Louis, worked 5½ innings of 7-hit, 4-run ball against the Reds. Piniella lifted Zambrano after he gave up a home run to Edwin Encarnacion and a single to Joey Votto with one out in the sixth.
"My first two or three innings, I was rushed," said Zambrano, whose record fell to 16-13. "I wasn't in control of the situation, but I felt good. I was trying not to make a mistake. I like when somebody hits a line-drive home run off me. I don't like when I see those choppers, like bunts or bloopers."
The first inning was a struggle for Zambrano, who threw 28 pitches and gave up 2 runs. Norris Hopper opened with a single and moved up when Zambrano hit Jeff Keppinger.
After Ken Griffey Jr. struck out, Brandon Phillips singled home Hopper, and the Cubs put out Keppinger in rundown. Phillips moved up to second on the play, and the Cubs decided to walk Adam Dunn intentionally after the count on him went to 3-0. Encarnacion's single to right field scored Phillips.
After the Reds made it 3-0 in the second, the Cubs got back into the game with 2 in the fourth after two outs. Aramis Ramirez picked up the first Cubs hit of the night with a single. A Matt Murton single and a walk to Mark DeRosa loaded the bases for Jacque Jones, who pushed a single into right field, scoring 2 runs.
But Harang (16-4), a Cy Young candidate on a losing team, proved too much for the Cubs, who again helped out an opponent by swinging early in counts and making outs.
"They're an aggressive-hitting team," said Harang, who is 8-2 lifetime against the Cubs. "I just wanted to throw strikes and keep the guys off base in front of (Derrek) Lee and Ramirez."
"He throws strikes," Lee said. "He commands both sides of the plate. He has a good, sneaky fastball. The ball gets on you. He doesn't walk anybody. He comes right after you."
Zambrano settled down, working 1-2-3 innings in the fourth and fifth. In the sixth, trainer Mark O'Neal visited Zambrano after his second pitch to Dunn. After Dunn grounded out, Encarnacion launched a 1-0 pitch into the left-center field bleachers. Votto singled, prompting Zambrano's exit.
The Cubs thought Zambrano had cramped up, but he said he just took a "funny" step on the mound.
The majority in the crowd of 40,801 cheered Zambrano. There were a few boos, as some fans remembered Zambrano ripping them after his last Wrigley Field appearance, on Labor Day.
"I said this the other day: These are the greatest fans of baseball, and they have the right to do whatever they want," Zambrano said. "They pay to see a good pitcher. They pay to see a great show. We're still in first place. That's the only thing that matters right now."