Game Forty-Six – Cubs 3 Dodgers 0
WP – Ryan Dempster (3-4) LP – Clayton Kershaw (4-3) Save – Carlos Marmol (10)
The Cubs started the homestand out with a good win against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Lou Piniella’s crew posted their third victory in a row, fourth straight at Wrigley … the Cubs have won seven of their last nine.
The Cubs cashed one in on Tuesday night behind Ryan Dempster.
Ryan Dempster earned his first win since April 23 (Milwaukee Brewers) with a tremendous eight-inning effort. Dempster allowed just three hits with a walk and struck out seven. Dempster retired the last 13 batters he faced and did not allow an extra base hit. Dempster threw 104 pitches, 64 for strikes.
Carlos Marmol had one of his best outings of the season. Marmol retired Russell Martin, Matt Kemp and Manny Ramirez on 11 pitches, eight for strikes. Senor Nasty struck out Matt Kemp and Manny Ramirez to end the game.
The Dodgers’ offense managed only four base runners all night against Ryan Dempster and Carlos Marmol.
Derrek Lee was the Cubs’ offense against Clayton Kershaw. Lee finished the game a perfect 3-for-3 with a walk and drove in all three of the Cubs’ runs. Lee notched the Cubs’ first hit in the fourth, a double. Then drove in Ryan Theriot with a single in the sixth. Lee gave the Cubs a little breathing room in the eighth.
Derrek Lee hit his sixth longball of the year, the 299th of his career, in the eighth. His two-run shot gave the Cubs a 3-0 lead.
Tuesday’s victory was just the second time this season the Cubs won a game without scoring four runs. The win inched the Cubs closer to the .500 mark with a 22-24 record … Ryan Dempster struggled a little with his command early in the game. The Dodgers worked four three-ball counts in the first 3 1/3 innings. After Dempster retired Clayton Kershaw to start the third he found a rhythm and put together one of his best outings of the season.
The Dodgers lineup managed a single (Russell Martin) and a walk (Manny Ramirez) in the first … then a pair of singles in the fourth (Manny Ramirez and Casey Blake) that was it. Dempster faced 28 batters … four over the minimum.
The Cubs took advantage of two errors by Rafael Furcal … and the only run charged to Clayton Kershaw was of the unearned variety.
Ryan Theriot reached on Furcal’s first error in the sixth. After Starlin Castro flied out to right center, Theriot stole second with Derrek Lee at the plate. Lee then ripped Kershaw’s next pitch into left center. Theriot scored … 1-0 Cubs.
Starlin Castro kept his streak alive and reached on Rafael Furcal’s second error to start the eighth. Derrek Lee launched a 1-0 pitch from Ramon Troncoso into the bleachers in right. Lee’s sixth homer gave the Cubs a 3-0 lead.
Tuesday night was the best performance by the Chicago Cubs in 2010. Yes the Dodgers helped them but they took advantage against one of the best young pitchers in the game … and did not shoot themselves in the foot.
On a side note … the Cubs are 7-0 when Starlin Castro hits second in the Cubs’ lineup.
Tom Gorzelanny is scheduled to face Chad Billingsley Wednesday night.