Recap: Houston vs. Chicago Cubs
Sports Network | September 14, 2008
Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Carlos Zambrano threw the first Chicago Cubs no-hitter in 36 years, as the right-hander struck out 10 and walked only one and hit another in Chicago's 5-0 triumph over the red-hot Houston Astros.
The game was played in front of a clearly pro-Chicago crowd at Milwaukee's Miller Park due to the effects Hurricane Ike had on the Gulf Coast area over the weekend.
Regardless of the location, Zambrano (14-5) was on top of his game. He needed just 110 pitches, throwing 73 for strikes in his first start since facing this same Houston club on September 2. He allowed three runs on five hits in five innings in that game, but clearly took advantage of the much-needed rest.
The 27-year-old only allowed two baserunners -- Michael Bourn on a walk in the fourth and Hunter Pence after a hit-by-pitch in the fifth inning.
With two outs and a full count in the ninth inning, Zambrano got Darin Erstad to chase a fastball outside of the strike zone to solidify his place in Cubs lore.
The last Cub to throw a no-hitter was Milt Pappas, who accomplished the feat against San Diego on September 2, 1972.
It was just the fourth time Houston has been no-hit, and first time since Francisco Cordova and Ricardo Rincon combined to throw 10 hitless innings against them on July 12, 1997.
Alfonso Soriano hit a solo home run for Chicago, while Derrek Lee added a two- run double in the victory, the Cubs third straight.
Randy Wolf (10-12) was saddled with the loss, allowing five runs -- four earned -- on six hits in just 2 2/3 innings for Houston, which had won six straight and 14 of its last 16.
