Chicago Tribune: Wood now throwing strikes from the start (RR)

With an all-right-handed lineup against lefty Tom Gorzelanny on Friday, the Cubs were overloaded with left-handers on the bench. So who was the first pinch-hitter used?

Pitcher Carlos Zambrano, who is a switch-hitter. Zambrano grounded out, but he is 8-for-13 this season (3-for-6 as a righty).

“I don’t list him (on the lineup card) but in the back of my mind I know I have another hitter,” manager Lou Piniella said.

Would Piniella go so far as to use Zambrano as designated hitter in interleague play? “No, we have people who can do that,” Piniella said. “I wouldn’t consider that, but he’ll volunteer. When he doesn’t pitch, he would volunteer to go hit in Iowa.

“I’m sure with this Hall of Fame game coming he will want to get in the home-run-hitting contest. Anything to do with the bat, Zambrano is ready to charge forward.”