Eaton helps Philly drop White Sox, 3-0

Carlos Zambrano made a
successful return to Chicago.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

PHILADELPHIA — Adam Eaton pitched four-hit ball for seven innings, and Ryan Howard, Pat Burrell and Jimmy Rollins homered to lead the Philadelphia Phillies over the Chicago White Sox 3-0 Monday night.

Eaton (7-4) pitched out of a pair of jams, made a nifty defensive play to help his cause and won for the fourth time in five starts.

Eaton walked three and struck out five. Mike Zagurski tossed a perfect eighth and Antonio Alfonseca worked a one-hit ninth for his fifth save.

Burrell hit his eighth homer of the season in the second off Javier Vazquez, and Howard’s 13th homer in the fourth went deep into the second deck in right.

Rollins made it three solo shots for the Phillies in the sixth when he hit his 11th homer.

That was enough run support for Eaton in his first career start against the White Sox.

Vazquez (3-5) allowed only one other hit and struck out four with one intentional walk in six innings. But the punchless White Sox were shut out for the fifth time this season, tied for most in the AL.

It was Philadelphia’s second shutout of the year.

Cubs 2, Astros 1

CHICAGO — Carlos Zambrano mixed his pitches instead of his punches and hit his second homer of the season.

In his first appearance at Wrigley Field since his June 1 fight with catcher Michael Barrett, Zambrano allowed three hits and an unearned run in eight innings.

He threw 128 pitches and outdueled Woody Williams.

Barrett got the night off. Koyie Hill caught Zambrano for the second consecutive start since the altercation.

Zambrano (7-5) had a two-hit shutout going into the eighth when Mike Lamb led off with a walk and pinch-hitter Luke Scott singled as diving center fielder Felix Pie couldn’t come up with his sinking liner.