Just as Carlos Zambrano got to his locker Wednesday night, his cell phone played the stirring tones of the “Hallelujah Chorus.”
He quickly killed it.
Zambrano’s outing–his third straight start that ended short of six full innings–wasn’t exactly an occasion for jubilation, but it wasn’t funereal either.
The 22-year-old Venezuelan right-hander looked sharper than he had in his last two starts, in which he gave up a combined 15 hits and 14 runs in 9 2/3 innings.
But the no-decision continued Zambrano’s late-season lull.
He has one victory, four no-decisions and two losses in his last seven starts–though one loss was a 1-0 complete game.
Zambrano held both the Braves and his much-discussed emotions largely in check through five innings.
He entered the sixth having allowed two runs on seven hits–all singles–with four strikeouts and no walks.
“I made a couple of mistakes, but they didn’t hit the ball real solid,” Zambrano said.
After Javy Lopez’s leadoff single, Zambrano induced a groundout and a foul popout.
But Vinny Castilla singled and pinch-hitter Marcus Giles did likewise, swatting Zambrano’s first pitch–and his 90th of the game–to left, scoring Lopez.
Rafael Furcal then hit a sharp comebacker that struck Zambrano, still following through, above his right knee.
Dusty Baker promptly lifted him.
“He was through anyway,” the manager said.
