Zambrano also worked around a leadoff single by Braun in the fourth and a leadoff walk by Cameron in the fifth to maintain a 1-0 lead.

“When you see guys like Sheets,” Zambrano said, “you have to be almost perfect. The lineup that they have is a pretty good lineup.”

Chicago, now 24-30 on the road, certainly has a home 90 miles north of Wrigley Field. The Cubs are seven games over .500 since Miller Park opened in 2001 and always have a large contingent of fans. Chicago won the opener with Ted Lilly starting, and will pitch Ryan Dempster and Rich Harden to round out the series.

“Lilly and Zambrano aren’t exactly chopped liver,” Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. “We’ve got Dempster, we’ve got Harden, we’re throwing some darn good pitching out there ourselves. We’re pleased that we won the first two. Let’s not relax now.”

For the second straight night, Chicago struck first.

In the fourth, Ramirez hit the first of his three doubles. Sheets uncorked a wild pitch and DeRosa brought him in with a sacrifice fly moments later.

Zambrano also showed off his fiery emotions in the fifth. After Soto’s leadoff single, Zambrano popped out on an attempted bunt and broke his bat by slamming it over his knee in frustration.

“I wish I was strong enough to do that when I played,” Piniella said. “I had to use a water cooler.”

Notes: Yost said he expects Sabathia to be fine after throwing 124 pitches Monday. It was the first time since 2004 and the fourth time in his career that Sabathia had thrown that many. ... Piniella declined to discuss if his team needs another player before Thursday’s trade deadline. Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said at the start of the series he didn’t anticipate another major move by his club.

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