Sunday, September 14, 2008

Carlos Zambrano Tosses No-Hitter

What a strange concoction of collisions. The Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros were supposed to play three games in Houston this weekend but were unable to do so because of Hurricane Ike.

Yet the Cubs and Astros played a game today - in Milwaukee (the Brewers were playing in Philadelphia.) The Astros were ostensibly the home team but with Chicago only 90 minutes south of Milwaukee, Miller Park was fill of Cubs fans. It was well worth the trip.

Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano tossed a no-hitter against the Astros. He struck out 10 batters including Darin Erstad to end the game en route to a 5-0 Cubs victory. Zambrano only allowed two baserunners in the game - a walk to Michael Bourn in the 4th and he also hit Hunter Pence with a pitch in the 5th. Although it is Zambrano's 14th victory, it is only his second win since July 27th. Zambrano's shoulder has been tender, had already been on the disabled list this season and had missed his last two starts. He had not pitched in nearly two weeks. Well, his arm is tired no more.

Zambrano's no-no marks the first time a Cubs pitcher has thrown a no-hitter in more than 36 years. Milt Pappas was the last Cubs pitcher to toss a no-hitter when he did so against the San Diego Padres on September 2, 1972.

It is the second no-hitter of the 2008 season. Boston Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester tossed one against the Kansas City Royals on May 19th.

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