8/21/08 vs Reds; W 3-2; (78-49)

Chicago won it's seventh consecutive series Thursday with a 3-2 victory over the Reds. Their record is 17-5 during that stretch. They have increased their NL Central lead by 4.5 games and passed the LA Angels for the best record in baseball.

Thursday was Carlos Zambrano's day. He picked up his thirteenth win of the season and his fourth home run of the season. It was easily his best outing in the month of August. He went seven innings and gave up only one run. He picked up his first win in his last four decisions.

The Cubs scored early when Soriano led off the first with walk. Theriot's single advanced him to third. He scored on a double play ground out by Derek Lee.

Mark DeRosa added another run with a solo shot in the second inning. It was his fifteenth of the season, extending his career high. His is 11 of 31 in his last ten games with nine rbi and ten runs scored.

Zambrano's home run in the third ended the scoring for Chicago. Cincinnati chipped away at the lead with solo home runs by Bruce and Votto in the sixth and eighth respectively. Kerry Wood came in to pick up his 26th save pitching a perfect ninth inning with two strikeouts.

The Chicago Cubs have definitely hit a hot streak. They are finding ways to win and haven't lost back to back games since July 26th. Surely they will come back to earth in September. Let's just hope it isn't a crash, just a return to .600 baseball.