Game 48 Recap-
Carlos Zambrano was the story and not just with his arm, as he had 4 hits and 2 rbis while pitching 7 innings, leading the Cubs to another victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates, 12-3. With his arm, he went 7 innings, allowing 6 hits and 2 runs with 1 walk and 6 strike outs. He is now 7-1 with a 2.47 era and a strong NL MVP candidate.
Before Pirates LH Zach Duke could sneeze, the Cubs had jumped all over him with runs in the 1st 6 innings. 2 scored in the 1st via a 1b Derek Lee rbi single and a throwing error. Zambrano singled in another run in the 2nd,3-0. RF Mark DeRosa doubled home 3b Aramis Ramirez to make it 4-0 in the 3rd, 1b D Lee plated run #5with a ground out in the 4th. Duke hit the showers with a tough line- over 4 innings, he allowed 10 hits, 5 runs(4 earned) and 1 strike out. Cubs CF Reed Johnson(3 hits, 4 rbi) greeted new Pirates pitcher, LH Sean Burnett with a 3 run homer in the 5th.
Pirates CF Nate McLouth tripled home 2 runs in the 5th to keep the locals happy. The Cubs scored a single run in the 6th on DeRosa sacrifice fly. The game slowed a bit and setted down at 9-2 Chicago. In garbage time, three more Cubs scored in the 8th(DeRosa, Johnson and Zambrano rbi) and the Pirates crosses the plate in the 8th via a 1b Adam Laroche sacrifice fly.
Cubs closer RH Kerry Wood needed some work and pitched a clean ninth to sew up the win.
Star of the Game-
Zambrano— would have been a top candidate without throwing a pitch!
Pirates Notes-
Cubs have won 9-1 vs the Pirates and are 4-0 at PNC Park plus 12-1 in their last 13….SS Chris Gomez had 2 hits and run…C Ryan Doumit is hoping to be back in 2 weeks from his fractured thumb, saying” I will be back sooner than anyone thinks.”
Next Game-
Saturday-7:05 PNC Park, Pittsburgh
Pirates LH Phil Dumatrait(1-2,4.39) vs Cubs RH Jason Marquis(2-3,4.96)
