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Cubs-Phillies Preview

May 20, 2010 - 3:46 AM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

Chicago (18-22) at Philadelphia (24-14), 1:05 p.m. EDT

Ryan Dempster has lasted at least seven innings in six consecutive outings, held opponents to a batting average just north of .200 and racked up strikeouts at a rate unprecedented in his starting career.

All he has to show for those accomplishments is one win.

Dempster's four straight losses haven't included much help from his offense, something he hopes will change Thursday afternoon as he tries to pitch the visiting Chicago Cubs to a season-high fifth straight victory and a two-game sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Dempster (2-4, 3.49 ERA) hasn't been spotless since April 18, but his 3.25 ERA, .206 opponents' average and 8.3 strikeouts per nine innings - his highest rate as a starter - suggest a better fate than a 1-4 record and four consecutive defeats.

In only one of those outings have the Cubs (19-22) scored more than three runs while Dempster's been pitching, an 8-1 win in Milwaukee on April 23. Four seems to be the magic number for the right-hander - he's 25-0 when Chicago provides that many runs to work with when he's in the game since Dempster joined the rotation in 2008.

In Dempster's last six starts, Alfonso Soriano, Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez are hitting a combined .161 (9 for 56).

Dempster's issues Saturday against Pittsburgh were self-inflicted, however. He gave up two hits and two walks in spotting the Pirates three runs in the first, then settled down to post six scoreless innings.

The early damage cost him, though, in a 4-3 loss.

"After (the first), I threw the ball well," Dempster told the Cubs' official website. "I felt good. I felt strong on the last hitter. ... You don't want to throw that many pitches and I did that to myself, but I worked hard during the offseason and now during the season, so my body felt good and my arm felt good."

Dempster, who has never started at Citizens Bank Park, is 0-1 with a 6.92 ERA in two starts against Philadelphia (24-15) since 2008.

Chicago hasn't lost since Dempster's last start, outscoring its opponents 18-8 in tying a season high with four consecutive victories. Tom Gorzelanny was the latest starter to pitch well, tossing 6 2-3 scoreless innings before leaving with a finger injury in a 4-1 victory over the Phillies on Wednesday.

"Good pitching," Cubs manager Lou Piniella replied when asked to give a reason for his team's winning streak. "We've been pitching well. Good pitching is how teams streak."

If Philadelphia plans to avoid tying a season high with a third straight loss, it's going to need its loaded lineup to produce. The Phillies scored 12 runs Monday as Jimmy Rollins returned from the disabled list, but have been held to two runs and 11 hits over the past two games.

They could also use a good outing from Joe Blanton (1-2, 5.49), who's looked shaky in three starts since making his season debut.

Blanton had a 4.97 ERA in two home losses, but got plenty of support Saturday in Milwaukee. The right-hander gave up three homers and five runs over seven innings in a 10-6 win.

"I feel like I've thrown the ball well three times and just don't have much to show for it," Blanton told the Phillies' official website. "The numbers haven't been there for (me) as well as I feel like I've been throwing."

Blanton is 0-0 with a 2.13 ERA in two starts against Chicago, holding the Cubs to a .159 average.