With Carlos Zambrano facing Ben Sheets, both the Cubs and Brewers knew they’d have to be close to perfect. Only the Cubs rose to the challenge.
Zambrano outpitched Sheets, while Ryan Braun’s ill-timed dive led to a two-run triple for the Cubs, who went on to a 7-1 win over Milwaukee, ensuring that they’d leave town still in possession of the NL Central lead.
“They outplayed us every facet of the game, starting on the mound,” Sheets said.
Zambrano’s wasn’t the only ace-worthy performance on Tuesday night. Two other pitchers shined, both of whom have come a long way: Arizona’s Doug Davis was perfect for 6 2-3 innings in a 3-0 win over San Diego, and the Dodgers’ Jason Johnson lasted six innings in his first big league start in nearly two years, helping Los Angeles to a 2-0 win over San Francisco.
In the rest of the NL Tuesday night, it was: the New York Mets 4, Florida 1; Philadelphia 2, Washington 1; St. Louis 8, Atlanta 3; Pittsburgh 6, Colorado 4; and Houston 6, Cincinnati 2.
Zambrano (12-4) pitched eight scoreless innings, striking out a season-high nine while allowing five hits and two walks to lift the Cubs to their sixth win in the past eight games in Milwaukee.
Chicago pushed its division lead to three games and left the Brewers, losers of four of their past five, empty after pitching aces CC Sabathia and Sheets.
The Cubs got to Sheets (10-4) with seven straight hits to start the sixth inning, sending 10 batters to the plate to break open a 1-0 game.
Derrek Lee singled and Aramis Ramirez, who had four hits, doubled to the wall to bring up struggling Kosuke Fukudome. He flared a ball to left field that Braun dived at but missed, allowing the ball to roll to the wall.
“The way Zambrano’s throwing, you have got to try and make a play right there,” Braun said. “I felt like I needed to be aggressive. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get to it.”
Mark DeRosa singled through a drawn-in infield to make it 4-0 and Braun couldn’t catch a soft fly ball by Mike Fontenot or make a play on a sharply hit one by Geovany Soto that loaded the bases.
Zambrano then hit a chopper to shortstop, but J.J. Hardy’s throw hit DeRosa in the back, scoring another run. Alfonso Soriano’s sacrifice fly made it 6-0 and chased Sheets. He gave up six runs in 5 1-3 innings.
Zambrano, who followed Sheets to the mound in the All-Star game two weeks ago, is 4-1 in six meetings.
Milwaukee, which has scored one run against Zambrano in the past 21 innings, failed to capitalize on its limited chances against the right-hander, putting just one runner on second against him.
Diamondbacks 3, Padres 0
In San Diego, Davis gave up a single with two outs in the seventh to break up his bid for a perfect game.
The Padres had not come close to reaching base against Davis through 6 2-3 innings before Brian Giles hit a line drive to center field on a 2-2 pitch.
Davis (4-5), who underwent surgery for cancer earlier this season, combined with two relievers on a two-hitter for the NL West-leading Diamondbacks.
The Padres struck out eight times, hit into 10 groundouts and popped up twice against Davis, who left with the bases loaded and two outs in the eighth.
Dodgers 2, Giants 0
In Los Angeles, Johnson pitched six sharp innings in his first major league start in nearly two years and James Loney singled in the go-ahead run for Los Angeles.
Johnson (1-0), who spent most of the season in Triple-A, allowed five hits while walking none and striking out three before being relieved by Chan Ho Park to start the seventh. The right-hander, who has pitched for eight major league teams starting in 1997, was making his first start since Aug. 18, 2006, when he pitched for Boston.
The victory was his first since May 28, 2006, when he was pitching for Cleveland.
Park pitched 1 2-3 hitless innings and Jonathan Broxton got four outs for his fifth save, getting the Dodgers their third shutout in four games.
Mets 4, Marlins 1
In Miami, Carlos Delgado hit a two-run homer and New York’s Oliver Perez pitched six innings for his first victory in a month.
Perez (7-6), who left with a 2-1 lead, earned his first victory since June 29. He allowed five hits and walked three but shut out Florida over his final 5 1-3 innings.
Phillies 2, Nationals 1
In Washington, Brett Myers won for only the second time in 15 outings for Philadelphia and Chase Utley backed him with a two-run homer.
It was Myers’ second start since being demoted to the minors for four appearances to try to revive his confidence and shake a season-long funk. The right-hander threw seven-plus innings and didn’t allow an earned run, improving to 4-9.
Cardinals 8, Braves 3
In Atlanta, Albert Pujols homered to tie the game and scored the go-ahead run on a throwing error before St. Louis broke it open with a five-run ninth.
Pujols tied it at 2, leading off the sixth with his 21st homer. He started the eighth with a double off Rafael Soriano (0-1). After Ryan Ludwick lined out, Pujols took off for third on a surprise stolen base attempt.
Pirates 6, Rockies 4
In Pittsburgh, Luis Rivas had three hits, three RBIs and finished a home run short of the cycle, as Pittsburgh rallied for a second straight game to beat Colorado.
Astros 6, Reds 2
In Houston, Carlos Lee hit his 12th career grand slam and Brian Moehler came within one out of a complete game for Houston.
Moehler (6-4) allowed seven hits and struck out three in 8 2-3 innings, his longest outing of the season.
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