(Sports Network) - The red-hot Chicago Cubs will try to run their win streak to nine games this evening in San Diego, where the current owners of baseball's best record continue a three-game series with the Padres at Petco Park.

After going perfect on a seven-game homestand this past week, the Cubs took their successful act to the road on Monday and came through with a 7-6 triumph over the Padres.

Carlos Zambrano labored through five innings on the mound, but the standout pitcher helped Chicago greatly at the plate by collecting three hits and an RBI. Zambrano (8-1) walked four batters and threw 96 pitches during his five- inning stint, but held San Diego to three runs to win his seventh consecutive decision.

Jim Edmonds doubled twice and finished with two RBI while Ryan Theriot went 3- for-5 for the Cubs, who survived a three-run rally attempt by the Padres in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Adrian Gonzalez pulled San Diego within 7-6 on a three-run homer off Carlos Marmol with one out in the ninth. That blast brought Kerry Wood into the game, and the Cubs closer retired the final two batters to notch his 15th save of the year.

Gonzalez ended 3-for-4 with four RBI and two runs scored in the loss, the Padres' second straight following a three-game win streak.

Cha Seung Baek (1-1) took the loss for San Diego after surrendering four runs on nine hits over 4 1/3 frames.

The Cubs will attempt to maintain their roll tonight behind the inconsistent Jason Marquis. The veteran right-hander has recorded no decisions in back-to- back starts against Colorado and Pittsburgh, pitching 5 1/3 innings and allowing three runs on seven hits in both outings.

Marquis' last victory came against the Pirates on May 18, when the sinker specialist held the Bucos to three runs -- two earned -- and four hits through six innings.

The 29-year-old was dealt a loss by the Padres at Wrigley Field back on May 13, with Marquis giving up four runs and nine hits in 5 2/3 innings. He is 3-3 with a 3.86 earned run average over eight lifetime games (7 starts) against San Diego.

Wil Ledezma hopes to build off an encouraging last start when he toes the rubber tonight for the Padres. The left-hander yielded just one run and two hits while racking up a season-best seven strikeouts over five innings Thursday against Washington, although he wound up without a decision in a 5-2 San Diego win.

Ledezma has shuffled between the bullpen and the rotation this year and is 0-2 with a 4.25 ERA in 12 appearances, four of those starts. As a starter, Ledezma is 0-2 with a 5.63 ERA.

The native Venezuelan pitched in relief against the Cubs last month and was touched for three runs and five hits in just 1 2/3 innings.

Chicago won three of four games from the Padres at Wrigley Field in May, but San Diego is 13-7 against the Cubs since the start of the 2006 campaign.