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Associated Press
CHICAGO -- No one knew Carlos Zambrano was hurting.
The Chicago Cubs starting pitcher left after five innings on a hot and muggy Tuesday night, more than two hours before Geoff Blum won it for the Houston Astros with a two-run homer in the 11th inning.
Zambrano's short outing was almost forgotten after the Astros' wild 9-7 win.
So it was a bit of a surprise when Cubs manager Lou Piniella revealed that Zambrano left because of arm problems. Zambrano will have his right arm examined Wednesday.
Any absence could affect the Cubs, who are trying to hold on to first place in the NL Central, not to mention the best record in the league. With starter Rich Harden being skipped for precautionary reasons this week, this is news the Cubs didn't need to hear.
"He told our pitching coach he wasn't feeling good," Piniella said. "It has to be in his arm. I just don't know. We'll let you know tomorrow when we find out."
Blum's two-run homer off Kerry Wood sent the Astros to their seventh straight victory, one shy of their season high.
"That's what we've been doing lately," Astros manager Cecil Cooper said. "Getting it from everywhere and everybody. Just contributions up and down the lineup."
The first-place Cubs, who have lost four straight, all at home, remained 4½ games ahead of Milwaukee in the NL Central.
"We're in a stretch right now where things aren't going our way," Piniella said. "We've just got to battle through it. What can you do?"
Zambrano was coming off a poor August and was pushed back two days with arm fatigue. He didn't overpower the Astros, rarely hitting 90 mph, and gave up three runs, five hits and three walks in five innings. He was pulled after 86 pitches.
Zambrano was unavailable for comment, and his teammates were almost speechless about a possible injury.
"I had no idea," catcher Geovany Soto said. "I still don't know what's going on. To be honest with you, I think he was a little better than his last couple outings."
CHICAGO -- No one knew Carlos Zambrano was hurting.
The Chicago Cubs starting pitcher left after five innings on a hot and muggy Tuesday night, more than two hours before Geoff Blum won it for the Houston Astros with a two-run homer in the 11th inning.
Zambrano's short outing was almost forgotten after the Astros' wild 9-7 win.
So it was a bit of a surprise when Cubs manager Lou Piniella revealed that Zambrano left because of arm problems. Zambrano will have his right arm examined Wednesday.
Any absence could affect the Cubs, who are trying to hold on to first place in the NL Central, not to mention the best record in the league. With starter Rich Harden being skipped for precautionary reasons this week, this is news the Cubs didn't need to hear.
"He told our pitching coach he wasn't feeling good," Piniella said. "It has to be in his arm. I just don't know. We'll let you know tomorrow when we find out."
Blum's two-run homer off Kerry Wood sent the Astros to their seventh straight victory, one shy of their season high.
"That's what we've been doing lately," Astros manager Cecil Cooper said. "Getting it from everywhere and everybody. Just contributions up and down the lineup."
The first-place Cubs, who have lost four straight, all at home, remained 4½ games ahead of Milwaukee in the NL Central.
"We're in a stretch right now where things aren't going our way," Piniella said. "We've just got to battle through it. What can you do?"
Zambrano was coming off a poor August and was pushed back two days with arm fatigue. He didn't overpower the Astros, rarely hitting 90 mph, and gave up three runs, five hits and three walks in five innings. He was pulled after 86 pitches.
Zambrano was unavailable for comment, and his teammates were almost speechless about a possible injury.
"I had no idea," catcher Geovany Soto said. "I still don't know what's going on. To be honest with you, I think he was a little better than his last couple outings."
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