This lead is kept safe

Strong and long outing from Zambrano, offensive outburst eliminate danger for Cubs

NEW YORK -- That's one way to fix your bullpen problems. Take the bullpen out of the equation.

The Cubs' hitters piled on the runs, and pitcher Carlos Zambrano piled up eight innings in his best start of the season to beat the New York Mets 10-1 on Tuesday at Shea Stadium -- one night after the bullpen foiled another would-be victory with a late meltdown.

''It was a nice time for him to have a nice game for our team,'' said manager Lou Piniella, who watched Zambrano work on mechanics during his between-starts work over the weekend. ''We were looking forward to this to see how he would throw. This was as good an outing as he's had all year.''

Zambrano (4-3), whose nearly completed contract extension remains in Cubs-ownership limbo despite the presence in New York of the team president and his agents, backed up earlier comments that the issue wasn't affecting his pitching.

He looked fluid, in command and worked with the lead all night, thanks to a lineup playing without Derrek Lee that nonetheless scored three in the first two innings off Mets sensation John Maine (5-1) -- then tagged the New York bullpen for six runs in the sixth.

By the time reliever Scott Eyre got the ball in the bottom of the ninth, two grand slams wouldn't have beaten the Cubs' bullpen.

And speaking of grand slams, cleanup hitter Aramis Ramirez, who popped up in the first with two men on base, delivered in the sixth with a two-out grand slam off Scott Schoeneweis -- snapping the Cubs' 0-for-17 skid with the bases loaded.

It was their first hit with the bases loaded since Jacque Jones tripled in St. Louis on April 28.

''We should have blown that open earlier,'' Ramirez said. ''We left a lot of runners on base, including me. We struggle with runners in scoring position -- not only the bases loaded. Good things have to happen for us to start winning games. We haven't been doing it, but maybe this is a start.''

That's the way Zambrano wants to look at it -- for himself and the team. After his 116-pitch effort, in which he allowed six hits and one run on a leadoff homer in the fifth by Shawn Green, he agreed it was his best game so far.

But not the best he'll pitch this season.

''Not yet,'' he said. ''Don't get me wrong, but later on if I throw a nine-inning shutout, that will be my best outing. You never know what will happen this month, next month, the rest of the year.

''I could throw a no-hitter.''

For now, he'll take the 10 runs of support on a night that featured Daryle Ward's long-sought first start of the season. He filled in for the injured Lee at first base and had hits in his first two at-bats, including a two-run double in the first.

''It felt good to get out there and utilize my talents a little bit,'' Ward said. ''I can play the game. I'm going to stay as positive as I can about this situation. I was glad to be able to get in there. We all want D-Lee to come back. If not soon, I can hold it up until he's ready.''

In a possible sign of things to come, leadoff hitter Ryan Theriot walked three times and scored twice. Once Lee returns to the lineup, Theriot is expected to take over Alfonso Soriano's usual leadoff spot full-time, with Soriano moving to No. 2.

''It's a good spot for me to really excel,'' Theriot said. ''My focus is getting the guy behind me up to the plate. I'm just trying to get on for the boppers.''