Zambrano Lead Cubs to 12-3 Win Over Slumping Reds

Derrek Lee homered, Carlos Zambrano pitched seven solid innings while helping himself with three hits and the Chicago Cubs jumped to an early lead Wednesday night in beating the Cincinnati Reds 12-3. The Cubs scored four runs in the first and six in the third to give Zambrano an early cushion on another blustery night at Wrigley Field.

Zambrano (2-1) allowed eight hits and two runs. Chicago, meanwhile, hit Josh Fogg (1-2) hard and sent the Reds and ex-Cubs manager Dusty Baker to their fifth straight loss. After Cincinnati's Adam Dunn hit a long homer in the eighth off reliever Kevin Hart, fans not only threw one ball back—as is a tradition—they littered the field with 15 baseballs, momentarily halting play. (More baseball stories.)