ST. LOUIS, Sept. 14 (UPI) -- Carlos Zambrano pitched eight innings Friday night to help the Chicago Cubs defeat the slumping St. Louis Cardinals, 5-3.
Zambrano (16-12) allowed just one run -- a homer to Albert Pujols -- on four hits, striking out three and walking two.
The Cubs went ahead for good on Cliff Floyd's homer in the seventh. Daryle Ward had a pinch-hit three-run double in the ninth for Chicago, and Mark DeRosa drove in a run for the Cubs.
The Cubs have won three straight and increased their lead in the NL Central to 1 1/2 games over the Brewers.
Pujols had two hits for St. Louis, which has dropped eight straight and has fallen six games behind the Cubs in the division. Jim Edmonds and Ryan Ludwick also homered for the Cardinals.
St. Louis starter Adam Wainwright (13-11) suffered the loss.
