(sidenote: Bobby Scales has been screwing up a lot in the field.The Cubs don't have a glove man in the farm system?)

HOUSTON -- Carlos Zambrano tries to end his season on a high note tonight when he faces Houston in his final start.

Zambrano is seeking his eighth straight win, and the Cubs have a chance to finish in fourth-place in the National League Central with victories tonight and Sunday.

"Great, if we can finish in (fourth), super," manager Mike Quade said. "But let's try to win two ballgames and let the mathematicians and you guys figure 'Did we get 'em or not?'"

The Cubs scored a pair off Astros starter J.A. Happ in the first on Marlon Byrd's RBI groundout and Alfonso Soriano's run-scoring double. They added two more in the second and knocked Happ out in the fourth with Aramis Ramirez's ninth career grand slam, making it 8-0.

Houston ended the Cubs' pitchers' 27-inning scoreless streak in a three-run seventh, aided by an error and botched double play grounder by Bobby Scales, who replaced Ramirez at third. A visibly perturbed Zambrano didn't look at Quade when handing over the ball while stalking off the dugout. He allowed two earned runs on three hits over 6 1/3 innings.

Check back later for more in-game updates.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

But he's a totally different guy now. Please.

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The Big Dumbass blew it. Now Hendry's only going to offer him a 3 year extension.

Big Z demands excellence. Know this.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

With a full no trade clause.