Zambrano’s Bid Falls Short

Carlos Zambrano took a no-hit bid into the seventh inning and struck out nine to lead the Chicago Cubs over the Milwaukee Brewers, 8-3, Monday at Chicago.

“I thought this time I got it. The other three times, I didn’t have that confidence. Today, I had the confidence,” Zambrano said.

Zambrano (12-7) last flirted with a no-hitter Aug. 22, 2003, when he took his bid into the eighth inning at Arizona before Shea Hillenbrand broke it up with two out.

The Cubs moved less than a percentage point ahead of San Francisco in the National League wild-card standings.

Geoff Jenkins broke up the no-hit bid with a one-out bloop double to left field.

A two-run double by pinch-hitter Ben Grieve chased Zambrano and cut the Cub lead to 6-3.

For the second time this season, the city gave the Cubs game-day approval to play at Wrigley Field after the stadium passed another round of inspections of repair work done on its crumbling upper deck.

San Diego 9, New York 4 -- Phil Nevin homered, doubled and drove in five runs at New York, where the Padres roughed up newly promoted Aaron Heilman (0-1).

Houston 8, Philadelphia 4 -- Roger Clemens (14-8) earned the 323rd victory of his career -- he trails Hall of Famers Nolan Ryan and Don Sutton by one victory for 12th place -- to lead the Astros at Houston.

Carlos Beltran hit a three-run homer in the seventh inning to become the 45th player in major league history with 30 home runs and 30 steals in a season.

Arizona 5, Pittsburgh 4 -- Alex Cintron’s run-scoring single with one out in the top of the ninth inning lifted the Diamondbacks.