The Chicago Cubs found out that Carlos Zambrano's shoulder and arm are fine. He didn't get that finding in a simulated game. He didn't get that finding going down to Iowa to pitch to the minors. He did it by pitching a no-hitter, 10 strike out gem. The Cubs beat Houston 5-0 before a makeshift crowd of some 23,000 Cubs fans who "rented" The Brewers home park and cheered loudly and long as Zambrano mowed 'em down.
What a way to find out your arm is OK! Zambrano looked like shades of Kerry Wood and he fanned batters who had no clue where the ball was. His heat was on --clocking in the high 90's. If Carlos wants to take another week off and rest his arm, it is fine by me. It's the first no-hitter since Milt Pappas did it in 1972. He pitched in the American League for years, and wasn't really a Cub. Zambrano is. He truly loves to play and hit for this team. He is the ace of the staff and will likely get to start a playoff series, assuming, the Cubs make it, and he is healthy. After all, this is the Cubs, and you have to qualify everything. I have learned to never assume anything. They should make the playoffs, but I would want them to finish strong and have players be healthy than to stagger in to the finish line, a couple of guys hurting. I will say this, if this team is firing on all cylinders, they will go deep this year.
While Cubs' fans were raising the roof in Milwaukee, their "second" home, the Tigers and ChiSox were belting grand slams en route to an 11-7 drubbing of Detroit. Detroit made up a seven run deficit to the White Sox and this did not seem like a good way to end a long weekend of rain and make-shift games. The only thing missing at new Comiskey, was a platoon of National Guardsmen. Jim Thome belted his 539th home run. An amazing amount if you think about it. Octavio Dotel gave up a slam in the top of the 8th and the Tigers came all the way back to tie the game at 7. Sox fans didn't like Dotel's stuff or lack of stuff. And let him know as he walked off the mound.
One thing the White Sox can do, is put men on base, and they promptly loaded the bases. Farnsworth was in pitching for Detroit and as a former Yankee, he was lit up plenty of times. Well, he threw a heater that DeWayne Wise clocked to right and the ball sailed on a straight line over the fence. Grand Salami and four big runs.
The White Sox now lead the Twins by 1 1/2 games and it should be decided when the two teams collide up in the Homer Dome. Or whatever that stadium is called. But the Sox are in a nip and tuck pennant race and every game counts.
