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Late offensive outburst helps Cubs down Giants

May 14, 2011 - 12:44 AM Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Reed Johnson's bases-loaded triple in the seventh inning highlighted an offensive outburst the Cubs used to rout the Giants, 11-4, in the opener of a three-game series.

Johnson finished 3-for-5 and drove in four runs overall for the Cubs, who had opened their nine-game homestand with series losses to the Reds and Cardinals.

But they are in a good position to win this closing set after totaling 14 hits Friday. Starlin Castro and Darwin Barney set the tone at the top of Chicago's lineup, combining for six hits and five RBI.

Ryan Dempster (2-4) got the win after limiting San Francisco to two runs in six innings, and struck out a season-high 11 batters. He also snapped a six- game home losing streak dating back to August 31 of last season.

Madison Bumgarner (0-6) allowed only three runs in six innings, and took the loss after the Giants bullpen suffered a rare breakdown. San Francisco's relievers had thrown 22 scoreless innings over the last nine games, helping the club go 8-1.

But the bullpen failed to keep the game close Friday.

"The wins and losses [are] something I'm not going to concern myself with," Bumgarner said. "I want to go out there and keep us in the game and give us a chance to win."

The Cubs held a 3-2 edge heading into the bottom of the seventh, when Jeremy Affeldt took the mound for San Francisco. Pinch-hitter Kosuke Fukudome started Chicago's rally with a one-out walk, moved to second on a Castro single, and scored on Barney's double to right.

The ineffective Affeldt then hit Marlon Byrd with a pitch, prompting the Giants to bring in Guillermo Mota. After Jeff Baker singled to plate a run, Mota struck out Alfonso Soriano.

But he couldn't get San Francisco out of the inning without further damage, as Johnson followed with a triple to right field, making it an 8-2 contest.

"I had to tell myself ... it's a big situation, just settle down, do the things you've been doing the whole game to hit the ball," Johnson said.

Cody Ross' two-run homer in the eighth trimmed the Giants' deficit to four, but the Cubs tacked on three more runs in the home half. With Dan Runzler on the mound, Castro smacked an RBI double before scoring on Barney's base hit. Johnson's run-scoring single later in the inning provided the final margin.

The Giants got their first two runs thanks to first baseman Aubrey Huff, who hit an RBI single in the first inning and a run-scoring double in the fifth.

However, Chicago held the lead thanks to a three-run third. Koyie Hill plated a run with a sacrifice bunt, while Castro and Barney had RBI hits.

Game Notes

Dempster gave up six total hits and walked one...Bumgarner allowed five hits, walked two and struck out six...Andres Torres had three hits for San Francisco, including a triple...The Giants went 5-2 against the Cubs last season...The Cubs hadn't won a series-opener since April 18 against San Diego.