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 Wood blew his third save in seven chances and wasted a fine performance by Carlos Zambrano, who pitched 6 1-3 innings and helped himself with his 13th career homer
-- tying the team record held by Ferguson Jenkins.
With the Cubs ahead 3-1, Wood hit leadoff batter Craig Counsell in the ninth and pinch-hitter Gabe Kapler doubled over the head off left fielder Alfonso Soriano
-- who just came off the disabled list Thursday after being sidelined with a strained right calf.
Jason Kendall followed with an RBI single up the middle that Chicago shortstop Ryan Theriot knocked down, preventing the tying run from scoring.
Wood walked Rickie Weeks to load the bases before striking out Mike Cameron. But Braun lined a double to right-center to give the Brewers a 4-3 lead. Weeks was cut down at the plate on a relay throw from second baseman Mike Fontenot.
Braun homered in the sixth and went 3-for-5 with three RBIs. Brian Shouse (2-0) got the final out in the eighth and Eric Gagne pitched the ninth for his ninth save in 13 chances.
Zambrano allowed seven hits and a run, struck out three and walked two. Mark DeRosa and Geovany Soto each drove in a run for the Cubs, who got six RBIs from Soto in a 19-5 win over Milwaukee on Wednesday night. Kosuke Fukudome went 4-for-4 and made a great throw to nail Prince Fielder at the plate.
Soriano, in his first game since April 15, went 0-for-4.
Zambrano hit his first homer in the third but Braun went deep in the sixth to tie it. Fielder followed with a high fly to shallow right-center. Center fielder Reed Johnson and right fielder Fukudome both called for it and their gloves collided, leading to the ball dropping to the ground. Johnson was charged with a two-base error.
One out later, Bill Hall singled to right and the 270-pound Fielder charged around third like a bull. Fukudome made a perfect throw from right and Soto held on and kept his feet, despite Fielder's attempt to knock him over and jar the ball loose.
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Brewers starter Yovani Gallardo lasted six innings, surrendering nine hits and three runs with a walk and four strikeouts.
He somehow avoided serious injury in the fifth on a play at first. After Johnson hit a slow roller to Fielder, Gallardo rushed toward first to cover the bag. But as Fielder went to tag a sliding Johnson, Gallardo hurdled the base runner and landed awkwardly on his right leg.
Gallardo was on the ground in pain as a trainer and manager Ned Yost came out, but after several minutes he got up and was able to walk it off. He then returned to the mound to continue his outing.
It was Gallardo's third start of the season after coming off the disabled list. He had surgery on Feb. 19 to repair torn cartilage in his left knee.
Notes: Zambrano hit two homers last season and six in 2006, which tied Jenkins' single-season mark.
[Associated Press; By RICK GANO]
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
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