Carlos Zambrano Finally Wins an Opening Day Start

Tuesday was the fifth time in his career that Carlos Zambrano received the honor of being handed the ball on Opening Day for the Cubs, but in his first four tries he was never able to come away with a victory.

That all changed on Tuesday night in Houston as Zambrano pitched six solid innings and out-dueled Roy Oswalt to help lead the Cubs to a 4-2 victory.

Zambrano would scatter five hits through six plus innings, striking out six Astros and walking three. Still, in spite of some control problems with his pitches, Zambrano looked a lot more in control of his emotions on Monday night as he kept himself from getting too fired up and just pitched.

Cubs 4, Astros 2: Recap | Box Score | Full Scoreboard

As far as the offense goes, Alfonso Soriano got the Cubs' season off to a nice start when he took the second pitch of the season from Oswalt and placed it into the left-field bleachers to give the Cubs a 1-0 lead. Aramis Ramirez would lead off the second inning with a homer of his own, and the Cubs would add a third run on a Ryan Theriot sac fly that brought home Mike Fontenot in the fourth.

The Astros would get on the board in the seventh after Milton Bradley dropped a fly ball and Michael Bourn hit an infield single to bring in Miguel Tejada, but they were only able to plate one more in the ninth inning on a sacrifice fly from Hunter Pence to make it 4-2.

After that, new Cubs closer Kevin Gregg shut the door on the Astros to finish it.

Miguel Tejada had a nice day for Houston, going 3-for-4 with two runs, but he didn't get much help from his teammates. As for Oswalt, he would go seven innings and allow seven hits and three runs while only striking out two. Not a bad performance by any means, but without much support from his offense and a stronger outing from Zambrano, it just wasn't enough to get the Astros a win.

Scenes From Opening Day

Vice President Joe Biden hugs Baltimore Orioles catcher Chad Moeller (16) after throwing out the first pitch at the Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees opening day baseball game at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Monday, April 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)

Gail Burton, AP

St. Louis Cardinals' Skip Schumaker, left, jogs across the field as he is introduced along with the rest of his team before the start of an Opening Day baseball game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates Monday, April 6, 2009, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Jeff Roberson, AP

Former President George W. Bush throws out the season opening first pitch with Nolan Ryan looking on before the baseball game between the Cleveland Indians and Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Monday, April 6, 2009.

Tony Gutierrez, AP

New York Yankees starting pitcher CC Sabathia, center, standing with teammates Derek Jeter, left, and Robinson Cano, right, tosses the ball before being pulled from the game during the fifth inning of the opening day baseball against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Monday, April 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)

Gail Burton, AP

Chicago Cubs' Alfonso Soriano breaks his bat on his way to grounding out in the second inning in the season opener baseball game against the Houston Astros Monday, April 6, 2009 in Houston. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)

Pat Sullivan, AP

The grounds crew runs across the infield to spread a tarp as it starts to rain at Fenway Park during a practice after opening day was postponed due to the weather in Boston, Monday April 6, 2009. The Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays are rescheduled for Tuesday afternoon.

Charles Krupa, AP

A general view of the pregame festivities before the Philadelphia Phillies game against the Atlanta Braves on April 5, 2009 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Today's game is the opening of the 2009 major league baseball season.

Ezra Shaw, Getty Images

Cameron Dallas, 10, front, and her dad Jay Dallas, of Mansfield, bundle up to stay warm before Opening Day as the Cleveland Indians play the Texas Rangers at the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Texas, Monday, April 6, 2009.

Max Faulkner, Fort Worth Star-Telegram / MCT

Arizona Diamondbacks' Stephen Drew, right, slides safely under the tag of Colorado Rockies catcher Chris Iannetta during the third inning of an MLB baseball game Monday, April 6, 2009 in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Matt York, AP

Cleveland Indians catcher Kelly Shoppach, left, looks back after grabbing the throw to see Texas Rangers' Marlon Byrd (22) sliding safely home in the second inning of a baseball game in Arlington, Texas, Monday, April 6, 2009. Byrd and Hank Blalock scored on an RBI single by Jarrod Saltalamacchia. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Tony Gutierrez, AP