Cubs Actually Having A Dream Year

So far, I'm not getting suckered in completely, but Carlos Zambrano's no hitter, the Cubs first since Milt Pappas's 1972 effort was nice addition to a great season, a good season for him at 14-5 after Sunday's spectacular surprise, now going towards the playoffs the Cubs Magic Number stands at 6, the Sox at 13. Both could still choke it but faith remains.

Here's Carlos after the win....

Zambrano throws no-hitter for Cubs

-- chicagotribune.com: "MILWAUKEE - Immediately after finishing off the game of his life, Carlos Zambrano got down on one knee and thrust his arms toward the sky.

The emotional right-hander threw the Cubs' first no-hitter in 36 years Sunday night, a 5-0 win over Houston at Miller Park in which he returned from an 11-day layoff in his own inimitable style.

'I guess I'm back,' Zambrano said with a wide smile.

Big Z is back, all right, and better than ever.Zambrano became the first Cub to throw a no-hitter since Milt Pappas on Sept. 2, 1972, turning up the volume on his fastball and dominating from start to finish in a remarkable 110-pitch outing. He struck out a season-high 10 and walked one. Only two balls left the infield all night, and there were no close calls or spectacular plays needed to save him.

"Pretty exciting stuff," manager Lou Piniella said. "Just a great game by Carlos. He had that good fastball from the first pitch all the way till the end, mixed in some sliders, split-fingers, and beat a team that's really been hot.

"I'm really proud of him. We were talking before the ballgame about 90 pitches, but I told Alan [Trammell], 'If he's got to come out of the game, you go get him. I'm not.' "

The pro-Cubs crowd of 23,441 that showed up for the first makeup game of the hurricane-affected series between the Cubs and Astros got a chance to see history, and Zambrano never wavered in his performance. more

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