The Cardinals jumped on Carlos Zambrano early and kept pounding out the hits as the Cardinals thumped the Cubs 12-6 in game one of this series.  Adam Kennedy’s grand slam in first started the onslaught.

Zambrano had no control early in the game after Skip Schumaker doubled, he walked Ryan Ludwick, then gave up an RBI single to Albert Pujols.  He then walked Felipe Lopez to load the bases, but got Troy Glaus to pop up to center field.  Then Kennedy cleared the bases with a grand slam that just made it into the basket to make it 5-0.

The second inning was much better for Zambrano.  After a lead-off double by Jason LaRue, Zambrano walked Ludwick again with one out.  With two outs, Zambrano gave up another run on a wild pitch and a single and that was it was Big Z.

He went just an inning and two thirds and was charged with 8 runs as his ERA jumped to 3.77.  Adam Wainwright had some control issues too, walking three batters and threw over 100 pitches and left after five innings.

The Cardinals opened up an 11-0 lead before the Cubs chipped away in the late innings off the bullpen.   Adam Kennedy, a day after it was reported in the St. Louis Dispatch that he wanted to be traded went 4 for 5 with five RBIs.