What happened: Tampa got to Carlos Zambrano for five runs early, and the Cubs could not quite make up the difference against Andy Sonnanstine and the Rays' bullpen. Zambrano left the game in the 7th with tightness in his shoulder and is scheduled for an MRI today.
The game turned in: the Cubs' half of the 5th. Trailing 5-2, they loaded the bases with no outs and the 2-3-4 hitters coming up. But, they only managed one run on Ryan Theriot's fielder's choice. Derrek Lee struck out swinging and Aramis Ramirez hit a lazy fly to right on the first pitch. Geovany Soto made it a one-run game, leading off the ninth with a blast to left off Troy Percival, but the tying run never got past first base.
Concern: Zambrano. He hasn't quite been the same since that 130-pitch outing against the Dodgers at Wrigley. Now he could be headed to the DL. If that is the case, will it be another "Pitchcount-Gate" that wrecks a promising Cubs season. This Cubs team is veteran and deep, but I'm not sure it can survive losing an ace like Z without trading for an adequate replacement.
Names of potentially available starters that are flying around include C.C. Sabathia, Rich Harden and Ben Sheets. Any of those would be great in blue pinstripes, but there are injury concerns on two (Harden, Sheets) and the other has not performed up to his standards this year.
Up next: Cubs-Rays tonight at 6. The Cubs try to avoid the sweep with Sean Gallagher going to the mound versus James Shields, who throws a wicked right hand.
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