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Zambrano wins eighth straight to lead Cubs past Mets

Posted on: Wednesday, 26 July 2006, 00:48 CDT

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Carlos Zambrano picked up his eighth straight win and belted a fourth home run of the season to lead the Chicago Cubs to an 8-6 victory over the New York Mets at Shea Stadium on Tuesday.

Zambrano (11-3) labored through seven innings, allowing five runs on eight hits but his solo home run restored a two-run advantage for the Cubs, enough to secure the win.

"I was really pumped up early on and was trying to be too perfect," Zambrano told MLB.com. "I made adjustments after the second inning and tried to help set up my team for the win."

Cubs closer Ryan Dempster struggled to close out the contest, giving way to Bob Howry, who came on to get the final out and his third save of the season.

Chicago got the contest off to an explosive start with Phil Nevin and Aramis Ramirez smacking back-to-back first inning homers off New York starter Tom Glavine.

However, the Mets came charging right back with a solo home run from Carlos Beltran in the bottom of the inning and a three run blast from Endy Chavez in the second to jump 4-2 in front.

That lead would be the last time the 47,686 fans at Shea Stadium could celebrate as the Cubs brought across four runs in the third.

Juan Pierre opened the inning with a walk, then scored on a Ramirez sacrifice fly before Henry Blanco delivered the key blow, stroking a three-run double to left center to put Chicago ahead to stay 6-4.

"That was very important, to take advantage of the mistake by Glavine and put as many runs on the board as we could there," said Ramirez, who has homered seven times in his last six games and has 23 for the season.

After the Mets scored a run in the fifth to trim the deficit to 6-5, Zambrano restored the two-run cushion in the top of the seventh.

Glavine (11-4) was tagged with the loss, the All-Star pitcher giving up a season high eight runs -- five earned -- on seven hits, while striking out two and walking a pair.

In Atlanta, rookie Anibal Sanchez tossed seven masterful innings and Cody Ross belted a pair of solo home runs as the Florida Marlins edged the Braves 2-1.

Sanchez (4-0) was brilliant, yielding just one run on seven hits, striking out three without a walk to claim his third straight win.

The Marlins sensation stretched his franchise record of scoreless innings to 23 before Marcus Giles singled home Ryan Langerhans in the sixth.

"I didn't pay any attention to that (scoreless streak)," Sanchez said. "I'm glad and I'm proud and I'm working all the time, trying to win for my team."

A pair of solo home runs from Ross in the second and fourth innings was all the support Sanchez needed as the Marlins extended their win streak to four games.

In Houston, Aaron Harang out-pitched Roger Clemens, tossing eight shutout innings as Cincinnati Reds blanked the Astros 2-0.

Harang (11-6) scattered four hits, struck out six with a single walk as the Reds registered their eighth win in 11 contests since the All-Star break.

Clemens (2-4), once again, suffered from a lack of support.

The future Hall of Famer turned in another strong outing, giving up two runs on seven hits over seven innings but the Astros bats remained silent.

(Writing by Steve Keating in Toronto)

Source: REUTERS

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