Zambrano Throws Cubs’ First No-Hitter in 36 Years

Thanks to Hurricane Ike, the Cubs first no-hitter since 1982 was played in Milwaukee rather than Houston. The Astros arrived just a few hours before the game. Meanwhile, a quick ride up I-94 allowed a lot of Cubs fans to turn the Brewers’ ballpark into Wrigley North. Carlos Zambrano still threw a heck of a game.

Sports Illustrated stated, “Because the Brewers were on the road, MLB decided Saturday night to switch these games to Milwaukee. There were only a few fans in the upper deck, which originally was supposed to be closed, but the two lower decks were filled.” Astros manager Cecil Cooper wasn’t very happy about the decision to play in Milwaukee.

He said, “It was a long travel day and Hurricane Ike. That's what I put it on. That and having two days off. I'm not saying he [Mr. Zambrano] wasn't good.'' He added, “''This is not a home game. This is definitely an advantage for the Cubs and that’s saying it as mildly as possible.”

Mr. Zambrano didn’t allow a base runner until he walked Michael Bourn in the fourth. He allowed only one more base runner when he hit Hunter Pence in the back with two outs in the fifth. Then, he also helped himself out catching Mr. Pence’s pop foul in the eighth. That was the same inning Mark DeRosa grabbed a fly in right that could have ended the no-hitter.

Mr. Zambrano said, “I'm a little confused right now. I still can't believe it. It's a great feeling, a feeling that you can't describe.” With a couple more weeks in the season, Mr. Zambrano will have time to figure it out before he and his team-mates have to decide how playing in the post season feels – not many Cubs players or fans know what that’s like.

© Copyright 2008 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Fedora Linux.

Kensington Review Home