Cubs 5, Mets 3

Hero: The renaissance of Carlos Zambrano (7-6) continued. Zambrano allowed two runs (both earned) on four hits in seven superb innings while striking out eight and walking just two. Big Z - who passed Kerry Wood for third place on the Cubs all-time career strikeouts list - topped out at 93 MPH, exhibited sharp breaking stuff, and had better control than in other of his recent outings. Since rejoining the starting rotation on Aug. 9, Zambrano is 4-0 with a 1.98 ERA. A parting of the ways between the Cubs and Big Z this offseason once seemed inevitable, but if he continues to pitch like this, who knows?

Goat: A poor fundamental play by shortstop Starlin Castro cost the Cubs a run. With Carlos Beltran on first and Luis Castillo on third and two outs in the top of the fourth, the Mets executed a double steal. Geovany Soto's throw to second arrived ahead of Beltran, but Castro received the throw in front of the base. Beltran, employing a backdoor slide, eluded Castro's tag while Castillo scored New York's first run.

Key Plays: Carlos Marmol allowed the tying run to reach base in the ninth when he gave up a single to Ike Davis, but the right-hander struck out the other three hitters he faced in the inning to record his 27th save. Marmol has 118 strikeouts in 65 1/3 innings for a phenomenal strikeouts-per-nine-innings-pitched ratio of 16.3.

Comments: The Cubs are 8-3 under interim manager Mike Quade.

Castro went 2-for-4 and raised his average to .321. He ranks third in the National league batting race behind Carlos Gonzalez and Joey Votto.

After five straight scoreless outings, Andrew Cashner allowed a run for the second straight day. After retiring the first two hitters in the eighth and the Cubs leading 5-2, Cashner walked Castillo and gave up an RBI double to Beltran. There's no denying Cashner throws heat, but he needs to develop a secondary pitch in order to be consistently effective at the big league level.

Next: The Cubs (59-77) will try for a three-game series sweep Sunday (WGN, 1:20 p.m.) behind Ryan Dempster (12-9, 3.71 ERA), who will make his second attempt at becoming the fourth Canadian-born pitcher to post 100 career wins. The others are Fergie Jenkins (284), Kirk McCaskill (106), and Reggie Cleveland (105).

Left-hander Jonathon Niese (8-7.3.70), who will start for the Mets (66-70), was hammered in August for 25 runs, including 15 in his last two starts. For the month, he was 1-3 with a 4.43 ERA in seven starts. He allowed just 19 runs in June and July combined, going 6-2 with a 2.58 ERA in 10 starts over those two months.