Cubs' Zambrano throws no-hitter

Chicago Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano threw a no-hitter against the Houston Astros on Sunday, a game played in Milwaukee due to the effects of Hurricane Ike.

Zambrano (14-5) struck out Darin Erstad on a pitch outside the strike zone to end the 5-0 game. He fell to his knees and raised his glove skyward before being mobbed by teammates.

The big right-hander struck out 10, walked one and hit a batsman. He was pitching for the first time since Sept. 2 due to shoulder problems.

"I'm a little confused right now," Zambrano said. "I still can't believe it. It's a great feeling, a feeling that you can't describe."

Alfonso Soriano led off the game with a home run, his 28th of the season. Derrek Lee drove in two with a double in a big fourth, with Aramis Ramirez and Geovany Soto also knocking in runs in the same inning.

The games had been scheduled for Houston but were moved last week by Major League Baseball due to Hurricane Ike. The teams will play again in Milwaukee on Monday afternoon.

The third game of the series will take place in Houston on Sept. 29, after the end of the regular season, but only if it is needed to determine the NL playoff picture.

More than 23,000 fans at Miller Park, many from Chicago for the nominal road game, were treated to something historic. It was baseball's first neutral-site no-hitter, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Houston manager Cecil Cooper, a longtime Milwaukee Brewer in his playing days, had expressed displeasure at the relocated site so close to Chicago.

"This is not a home game. This is definitely an advantage for the Cubs and that's saying it as mildly as possible," Cooper said. "It's hard to put into words. You think first about your safety and your family's and the people's safety. Now you have to worry about where and when do you play and all that.

"It's just been a long four days."

Zambrano was perfect for three. He walked Michael Bourn in the fourth, but Miguel Tejada hit into a double play to end the threat. The Cubs pitcher hit Hunter Pence with a pitch an inning later but it wasn't a factor.

Zambrano's biggest moment of frustration may have come in the seventh when he struck out and motioned to break the bat over his leg before thinking better of it.

Lance Berkman battled the Cubs pitcher for several pitches before watching a called third strike to end the seventh.

Geoff Blum flew out to right field to lead off the eighth, with Zambrano notching his ninth strikeout to end the frame.

The last no-hitter in the NL was thrown by Florida's Anabil Sanchez in 2006. There have been four no-hitters in the American League since that date, the most recent in May by Boston's Jon Lester.

The last Cubs pitcher to throw a no-hitter was Milt Pappas in 1972.

Zambrano came into the game with a 6-5 record lifetime at Miller Park.

Chicago (89-58) hold an 7 ½ game lead in the NL Central. Houston dropped to 80-68, two games back of Philadelphia and Milwaukee in the wild card standings.