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Cubs cool off red-hot Phillies

Aug 1, 2007 - 4:56 AM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Chicago Cubs got back on the winning track and handed the Philadelphia Phillies a rare loss Tuesday with a 7-3 victory at Wrigley Field. The Phillies had won nine of their last 10 games and four in a row, including the opener of this four-game series on Monday. It looked like Philadelphia was going to rack up another victory as starter Adam Eaton was cruising along after allowing two runs in the first inning. Trouble struck for Eaton in the sixth, when the Cubs took the lead for good.

"It was very frustrating to give the lead back right there," Eaton said. "I made some terrible pitches." Philadelphia took a 3-2 lead in the top of the sixth. Pat Burrell led off the frame with a home run, his 14th of the season, to left center off Chicago starter Jason Marquis.

"The team gutted this one out," Marquis said. "We are developing a winning attitude on this club." The Cubs started the bottom of the inning with a pair of singles before Jacque Jones doubled down the line in left. Cliff Floyd scored and Mark DeRosa also came home when Burrell bobbled the ball after trying to bare hand it near the wall.

"We just keep getting key hits, guys just keep stepping up." Jones said. Mike Fontenot added an RBI single later in the inning to plate Jones and give the Cubs a 5-3 lead. Chicago, which entered Tuesday just one game behind the Milwaukee Brewers for first place in the National League Central Division, added two more runs in the seventh on a single by Jason Kendall.

"The way I have been going, my approach is see ball, hit ball." Kendall said. "I have been thinking too much at the plate. I have decided to let my instincts take over." Marquis (8-6) allowed three runs and eight hits in six innings to pick up the win. He struck out four and walked three in improving to 3-2 in July.

"Jason pitched a good ballgame," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "With our bullpen, a solid six from a starter is acceptable." Eaton (9-7) yielded five runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings.