Although the Cubs' offense has quieted down the past few days, something else has returned: quality starting pitching.
Carlos Zambrano turned in the team's fourth straight quality start in Thursday's 3-2 victory over the Reds. Before that, the Cubs had gone five straight games without a quality start (defined by pitching at least six innings and allowing no more than three earned runs). During the earlier stretch, however, the Cubs were piling up a total of 36 runs and were able to hit their way through some non-quality starts.
The Cubs have won three of their last four games, but they scored only nine runs total in the three games against the Reds.
"I'd like to see us starting swinging the bats better," manager Lou Piniella said. "It's been a little bit of a struggle."
The good starting pitching has enabled the Cubs to set up their bullpen with favorable matchups. Thursday, Zambrano went seven innings, with Carlos Marmol and Kerry Wood finishing.
"I like the idea of pitching Marmol in the eighth and finishing up with Woody," Piniella said.
CUBS 3, REDS 2: Carlos Zambrano improved to 13-5 by pitching seven innings and giving up six hits and one run. He also hit his fourth homer of the year, a solo shot in the third inning. Mark DeRosa homered in the second, as the Cubs put up single runs in each of the first three innings. Carlos Marmol earned his 24th hold despite giving up a run in the eighth. Kerry Wood picked up his 26th save.
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