"Psychological lifts evaporate about the first of August," Yost replied. "And we're not even there yet, so …"
A couple of hours later the Cubs battered Sheets in the sixth inning of a 7-1 victory, taking a 2-0 lead in the four-game showdown between the NL Central leaders.
Whether Yost is channeling Dr. Sigmund Freud remains to be seen, but beating the Brewers' pair of aces on back-to-back nights at Miller Park was definitely a pick-me-up for a Cubs team that has struggled to win on the road all season.
"He was good, man," Brewers center fielder
"I don't think too many pitches were over the plate, but the ball was cutting, sinking, diving … He was just throwing it everywhere, moving it around. Making up pitches. I think he had fun out there."
With the win, the Cubs increased their lead over Milwaukee to three games while remaining four games ahead of third-place St. Louis.
"We're pleased that we won the first two," Cubs manager
The Cubs already have made a statement in the series. They are buoyed by the fact that their starters lead the league in pitching, and the staff as a whole leads the league in pitching since the All-Star break.
"I think [the two wins are] huge," said
The Cubs led 1-0 in the sixth when
After finishing June on the disabled list, Zambrano ended July with a 4-1 record, allowing two or fewer runs in four of his five starts. He scattered five hits Tuesday, tying a season high with nine strikeouts while walking only two.
Zambrano was lifted after eight innings and 118 pitches, and the Brewers avoided the shutout by scoring off
"We want to get this guy late-inning closing ... uh, pitching experience on the road," Piniella said. "It's part of the education of pitching in the bullpen."
The only time Zambrano became unglued was after popping up a bunt in the fifth inning. He promptly broke a bat over his knee, tempting fate but avoiding an injury.
Piniella wasn't as upset as he was when Zambrano did it in May at
"I just don't want to see a nice big bone bruise on his thigh for no reason," Piniella said. "I wish I was strong enough to do that when I played. I had to use a water cooler."
psullivan@tribune.com