(Courtesy of The Sports Xchange) Carlos Zambrano still has yet to win a game in 2006.

But he appeared to be back on the right track when he threw seven shutout innings against San Diego on Friday night. Unfortunately for Zambrano, Padres pitcher Chan Ho Park matched him scoreless inning for scoreless inning, and he left the game with the score tied 0-0.

Zambrano, who was hoping to win the Cy Young Award this season, hasn't had a lot of run support his first six starts. The Cubs have scored just nine runs while he has been in those games.

Cubs manager Dusty Baker felt that Zambrano's participation in the World Baseball Classis in March may have led to a "dead arm," but Zambrano denies it.

REPLAY: The Cubs' hitting woes continue.

Instead of getting shut out for the regular nine innings of work, the Cubs couldn't score for 11 innings on Friday night against San Diego at Petco Park and dropped a 1-0 decision, wasting a brilliant effort by Carlos Zambrano (seven innings of shutout ball). The Cubs have gone 25 straight innings without a run and have lost four straight to drop to 14-14.

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NOTES, QUOTES

--2B Jerry Hairston Jr. continued to frustrate manager Dusty Baker when he failed to execute a bunt with a runner on first in the 10th inning against San Diego on Friday night. Hairston has proven to be a versatile player on defense but has made some maddening fundamental lapses at the plate and on the base path.

--LHP Sean Marshall, who faces San Diego on Saturday, is now the Cubs' hottest pitcher after Greg Maddux struggled in Arizona on Wednesday. Marshall allowed one run on six hits in his last two starts covering 14 1-3 innings.

--IF-OF Freddie Bynum picked up his second straight start on Friday night against San Diego. Bynum played second base on Thursday against Arizona and stole two bases. On Friday, he played in left field, where he made an error in the fourth inning and another in the ninth but neither led to runs.

--SS Ronny Cedeno was given a start off on Friday night by manager Dusty Baker to give him a short rest.

--LF Matt Murton was given a start off by manager Dusty Baker on Friday against San Diego to give him a breather.

BY THE NUMBERS: 7 -- Straight games heading into Saturday's (May 6) game the team went homerless. The last time the Cubs had a drought like this was April 25-May 3, 1999 when they went eight straight games without one.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's cool. It's always nice to have a good month -- it really is. I'm very honored to still be pitching let alone win an honor like that. It's a good start. But I have to win (tonight). Give yourself a quick pat on the back and get ready for your next game." -- Greg Maddux, 40, on winning the National League Pitcher of the Month award for April.

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