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Zambrano gets a 'no-no' against the Brewers

By CHARLES F. GARDNER / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

MILWAUKEE -- Carlos Zambrano loves the mound at Miller Park, the home clubhouse and nearly everything about the Milwaukee Brewers' stadium.

The Chicago Cubs right-hander made himself at home on a memorable Sunday night as he pitched the franchise's first no-hitter in 36 years in the Cubs' 5-0 victory over the Houston Astros.

Zambrano allowed only a walk and a hit batsman as he baffled the Astros, striking out 10 while throwing his first career no-hit game.

The only reason Zambrano and his teammates were playing in Milwaukee was because Hurricane Ike slammed into Texas on Saturday and forced the Astros to be a reluctant home team in front of a crowd of 23,441, most dressed in Cubbie blue.

"I was watching the scoreboard every inning," Zambrano said. "In the ninth inning when I came out, the crowd was all crazy. Thank God it was 8, 9 and the leadoff hitter, and I was able to dominate the last few guys."

Zambrano allowed only a one-out walk to Michael Bourn in the fourth inning, who was immediately erased on a double-play grounder, and a two-out hit batsman in the fifth, when he plunked Hunter Pence with a 1-2 pitch.

The 27-year-old Venezuelan faced just one batter over the minimum as he pitched the first Cubs no-hitter since Milt Pappas accomplished the feat in an 8-0 victory over the San Diego Padres on Sept. 2, 1972, at Wrigley Field.

Astros catcher Humberto Quintero opened the ninth with a ground-out to shortstop Ryan Theriot, and pinch hitter Jose Castillo followed with a bounce-out to Theriot on a 2-1 pitch.

With flashbulbs popping around the ballpark, Zambrano struck out Darin Erstad on a split-finger pitch on a full count, and the pitcher went to his knees just off the mound. Soon he was swarmed by his teammates, a sea of blue swallowing the all-star pitcher.

"I'm a little confused right now," Zambrano said in his post-game conference with reporters. "I still can't believe it. It's a great feeling, a feeling you can't describe."

The right-hander's best previous low-hit games were a pair of two-hitters, in May 2004 against Colorado and June 2007 against San Diego.

Zambrano's right arm had been a major concern for the Cubs after he asked to leave a game against Houston on Sept. 2 because of shoulder discomfort. He pitched five innings in that game and allowed three runs, five hits and three walks.

Zambrano skipped a start to rest the arm.

But on this night he hit 98 mph with his fastball in the first inning and was consistently in the mid-90s or higher, while finishing with 110 pitches.