"There's so many things that it takes to go into a no-hitter for it to take place and so my expectations were just to go out there and try and make good pitches and be aggressive."
With Milwaukee abuzz over the Brewers' decision to fire manager Ned Yost, the Cubs finished off the two-game stand at Miller Park, filled with Cubs fans who made the 90-mile trek from Chicago.
Hard-charging Houston had won 14 of 15 coming into the series, but the Cubs left the Astros 2 1/2 games back of Milwaukee and Philadelphia, which share the NL wild-card lead.
On Sunday, Zambrano pitched the Cubs' first no-hitter since Milt Pappas in 1972, leading Chicago to a 5-0 win. And until the seventh, Lilly appeared headed to a repeat.
"You don't know if you'll ever have that opportunity again, but I'll take tonight the way it was," Lilly said.
Aramis Ramirez's first-inning sacrifice fly and Jim Edmonds's homer off Brian Moehler (11-7) in the fifth built a 2-0 lead, and Derrek Lee and Geovany Soto hit two-run homers in the sixth.
Lilly (15-9) faced the minimum through six innings, giving up only a leadoff walk in the second to Lance Berkman, who was caught leaning off first and thrown out at second.
Reggie Abercrombie's hard grounder leading off the seventh was booted by third baseman Ramirez, who was charged with an error. Loretta followed with a clean single to right.
Yankees 4, White Sox 2 - New York's Mariano Rivera moved into second place on the career saves list, and the White Sox wasted six strong innings by Mark Buehrle. Rivera got three quick outs for his 36th save in 37 chances this season and No. 479 of his career, passing Lee Smith for second place.
Indians 3, Twins 1 - Scott Lewis pitched six shutout innings in his second career start to spark host Cleveland. Lewis (2-0) has yet to allow a run in 14 innings since being called up from the minors Sept. 7.
