SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Victor Zambrano allowed five runs on seven hits over 5 2/3 innings Tuesday in a major-league rehab with the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs.
The 31-year old Toronto Blue Jays right-hander is recovering from a strained right forearm. He breezed through the first five innings, tossing a two-hit shutout, then failed to get out of the sixth.
Zambrano gave up four consecutive hits to open the sixth, two doubles and two singles. With two outs and three runs home, Norfolk Tides Jon Knott hit a two-run homer off of Zambranos 93rd pitch, 54 of which were strikes.
"I was working my pitches down in the zone, getting ahead in the count," Zambrano said of the first five innings. "Maybe in the sixth I tried to do a little bit more than I did the first five innings, and the ball was up a bit. I'm coming down here to work, get some strength in my arm and get some innings."
Zambrano had four strike outs, walked one and hit a batter.
It was the third start for Zambrano on his current rehab assignment.
