| Almost overnight, the Houston Astros have to | | | | dismal May the Cubs have had. |
| being feeling great about their chances of getting | | | | A brutal stretch where they went 6-24 has the |
| back to the World Series. | | | | boo-birds out, but the Cubs turn to Carlos |
| Roger Clemens was back in the fold Wednesday, | | | | Zambrano (3-2, 5.52 ERA) tonight as they go for |
| ending his post-retirement drama by signing with | | | | a three-gamesweep of the Cincinnati Reds. |
| the Astros for another year. The 43-year-old, | | | | The Reds are struggling, having lost five of six. |
| who won his seventh Cy Young Award in 2004 | | | | Zambrano (3-2, 5.52 ERA) has won three of his |
| (18-4, 2.98 ERA), was 13-8 with a 1.87 ERA last | | | | past four starts. On Friday, he allowed two runs |
| year, winning the major league ERA title for the | | | | and two hits and struck out eight in 6 2/3 innings |
| first time since 1990. | | | | but did not get a decision against Atlanta. |
| It also helped that the Astros rallied to beat NL | | | | Zambrano lost to the Reds on April 13, |
| Central-leading St. Louis Tuesday night, getting into | | | | surrendering five runs in six innings, but he is |
| their bullpen and rallying for a 6-3 win.The Astros | | | | pitching better lately and seems ready to turn his |
| are within shouting distance right now, and the | | | | season around. This is the good spot for the Cubs |
| return of Clemens will do a lot to re-energize this | | | | tonight game line: Cubs -165). They need another |
| team. | | | | win before starting a 10-game road trip through |
| Rallying against the strong St. Louis bullpen was | | | | St. Louis, Houston and Cincinnati. |
| also huge. Nothing is more of a confidence | | | | PIRATES ROCKING, BREWERS REELING: The |
| booster than coming back to steal a win on the | | | | Pittsburgh Pirates have won four of five and |
| road, especially when every game against the | | | | scored in double figures three times during this |
| division really counts as two. The St. Louis bullpen | | | | hot streak. They play much better at home |
| has been great in May. Closer Jason Isringhausen | | | | (14-12, as opposed to 4-18 on the road). |
| saved 10 in a row, and the bullpen hadn't lost a | | | | Outfielder Jason Bay has been on fire,hitting .500 |
| game since May 2. | | | | last week (13-for-26) with seven homers, 15 RBIs |
| A game like that gives the Astros a boost and | | | | and 11 runs. Their 23 homers in the past 12 |
| also puts a bit of doubt in the mind of the | | | | games are the most in the majors& nbsp;during |
| Cardinals. They aren't feeling as comfortable these | | | | that span. |
| days, withinjuries starting to mount. Center fielder | | | | Milwaukee starters Ben Sheets, Tomo Ohka and |
| Jim Edmonds hasn't started in four days because | | | | Rick Helling are all out, which explains why the |
| of a possible sports hernia, and ace Chris | | | | Brewers can't get anyone out lately. |
| Carpenter is nursing a sore shoulder. He has | | | | "You can use any excuse you want to be a |
| missed two starts and is eligible to come off the | | | | failure," Milwaukee manager Ned Yost said. "We |
| 15-day disabled list on Sunday. He may start | | | | can sit back and say, 'Oh, woe is us. We don't |
| Monday or Tuesday,but the Cardinals are taking a | | | | have Ben or we don't have Tomo or we don't |
| wait-and-see approach. | | | | have Rick Helling.' |
| "Get him back and keep him back,'' Manager Tony | | | | "Someone else needs to pick up the slack, and |
| La Russa said. ""That's the goal.'' | | | | let's go. You can look at it any way you want to |
| CUBS FEELING BETTER: Kerry Wood has his first | | | | look at it, but those are the guys we've got and |
| win, and Mark Prior made a rehab start. That' has | | | | those are the guys we need to get the job done |
| optimism on the rise again in Chicago, despite the | | | | with. And they will," he said. |