CINCINNATI, June 5 (UPI) -- Carlos Zambrano allowed two hits in 6 2/3 innings Friday and hit a fifth-inning homer that gave the Chicago Cubs a 2-1 victory over Cincinnati.
Zambrano's big show came in his first outing since he was suspended six games for a tirade aimed at an umpire during a May 27 setback to Pittsburgh. Friday's win was his 100th in the major leagues.
He improved to 4-2 by throwing shutout ball while walking five and striking out seven. Carlos Marmol gave up the only Cincinnati run in the eighth and Kevin Gregg worked out of a ninth-inning jam to collect his 10th save.
Gregg gave up a two-out single to Ryan Hanigan and then threw a wild pitch past Jerry Hairston on what would have been strike three, allowing Hairston to reach first and pinch-runner Wilkin Castillo to go to third.
Chris Dickerson then popped out to end the game.
Micah Owings (3-7) took the loss, giving up both runs on five hits in six innings. Owings issued a bases-loaded walk in the first for one run and gave up Zambrano's homer in the fifth.
It was the 18th home run in Zambrano's nine-year career and his second this season.
