Koyie Hill looks at his role the same way a trainer looks at his heavyweight boxer. The key to the job, the backup catcher said, is to make the pitcher feel “like they’re the most important person in the whole world.”
It’s not all that difficult a task when Carlos Zambrano is on the mound, as he was for five shutout innings in the Cubs’ 12-1 romp over the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday on a sweltering day at Wrigley Field.
Hill drove in a career-high five runs to help Zambrano earn his National League-best 12th victory, rewarding Cubs management for keeping the faith in him while he served as a backup to Michael Barrett, Rob Bowen and now Jason Kendall.
Zambrano (12-7) pitched five scoreless innings before being removed in the sweltering heat with a headache, with the Cubs leading 9-0. He’s 7-2 in his last nine starts and has a 1.68 ERA with Hill catching him, in stark contrast to the 7.52 ERA he had with Barrett behind the plate.
“The guy came from Triple-A, and he knows what to do behind the plate,” Zambrano said. “It’s good to have him catching me. I think the next time I will try Jason. I know he’s a good catcher, and I don’t have problems with catchers.”
Zambrano paused for the laughs to die down, then flashed a big grin.
CUBS HITS
Derrek Lee dropped the appeal of his five-game suspension Wednesday and began serving it immediately. Lee, who was suspended for fighting with San Diego’s Chris Young on June 16, thought it was a good time to get it over with after hurting his left ankle Tuesday night when he fouled a ball off it. He will return next Tuesday in St. Louis.
>>Barry Bonds didn’t start for the third straight game Wednesday. Bonds is expected to get a chance to add to his 751 homers come Thursday against lefty Ted Lilly.
