Zambrano No-Hits Stros

September 14, 2008

Let’s set the stage; the Cubs were playing as the away team, in Milwaukee’s Miller Park, in the home dugout, against the Houston Astros playing as the home team in the away dugout, with at least 20,000 of the 23,400 fans rooting for the Cubs. All this while the Brewers were in Philadelphia losing a double header against the Phillies. With the stage set all Zambrano did was…no-hit the Astros.

Since Zambrano’s early exit in his last start the questions started swirling as to the extend of his shoulder problems. How bad was it? When would he return? How effective would he be? These questions were answered in a way only Big Z could answer them; with the first Cubs no-hitter since Milt Pappas did it in 1972.

Zambrano started out a little shaky and I have to admit I though he might be rusty and over throwing. Big Z went 3-0 to Houston’s first batter Erstad. Then after finding the strike zone with his fourth pitch for a called strike, he got Erstad to ground out for the first out of the game. Zambrano would walk one and hit another batter but with two outs in the ninth the no-hitter would hinge on retiring Darin Erstad again. The first two pitches were out of the zone but Big Z would ultimately get the count to 3-2 before striking Erstad out on a low and outside pitch. Big Z would get all the help he needed from an offense that has struggled lately.

The timely hitting was started with Soriano going yard in the first inning. Then in the third the Cubs would get back to back singles by Cedeno and Zambrano. The next two batters would be retired before Lee would drive in both runs with a double. Ramirez singled to left, scoring Lee and after a bad throwing error Ramirez would go to second. Soto doubled in Ramirez and the scoring for the game would end.

The Cubs have now won three in a row and have been progressively getting better with each win. Let’s hope they keep that trend going and continue to work out the kinks that have put them in their most recent dry spell. The Cubs stay in Milwaukee to play one more against the Astros and then head to Chicago to host Milwaukee. Go Cubs! Cubs Century Is Here!

Written by gdantona Posted in Dailies Tagged with Cubs, Cubs vs Astros, Zambrano