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Dempster powers Cubs to 14th straight home win

Jun 23, 2008 - 4:59 AM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- For the Chicago Cubs, there is no place like home. Apparently, the same axiom holds true for Ryan Dempster.

Dempster tossed eight-plus solid innings to remain unbeaten at home while Aramis Ramirez homered for the fourth time this weekend, sending the Cubs to a 7-1 win and a three-game series sweep against the crosstown rival White Sox on Sunday.

Backed by Eric Patterson's first career home run and Ramirez's solo shot, Dempster (9-2) moved to 9-0 in 10 starts at Wrigley Field this season.

"He's been unbelievable all year long for us," Cubs second baseman Mark DeRosa said. "For him to be undefeated at home is remarkable. I've said it before and I'll say it again, if we have a first-half MVP, it's Ryan Dempster."

The righthander, who allowed one run and 10 hits with a walk and four strikeouts, yielded a pair of singles to open the ninth before leaving to a standing ovation, helping the Cubs improve to a major league-best 32-8 at home.

The Cubs, who sent the White Sox to their 10th consecutive road loss, increased their home winning streak to 14 games - the longest run in team history since June 4-July 10, 1936.

"It's a comforting feeling (being at home)," Dempster said. "For whatever reason, guys enjoy pitching well here. Guys hit well here. Guys field well here. It's a little bit of everything."

Unfortunately for the White Sox, they actually helped provide all the offensive support Dempster required in this outing.

With two runners on in the first, Derrek Lee sent a sinking liner into shallow center to plate a run. However, shortstop Orlando Cabrera was unable to catch center fielder Dewayne Wise's soft throw back into the infield, allowing a second run to score for the Cubs.

The contest remained tight until the fifth when Patterson turned on a changeup from White Sox starter Javier Vazquez (7-6) and lofted a fly ball into the first row of seats in right for a two-run homer.

Two batters later, Ramirez continued his amazing power display with a solo shot to left center, pushing the lead to 5-0.

"We caught them when some of their guys were hotter than doughnut grease," White Sox first baseman Nick Swisher said. "We just need to move on and hope to pick ourselves up in Los Angeles."

After Joe Crede plated the White Sox's lone run in the top of the seventh with a run-scoring grounder up the middle, Ramirez answered with an RBI double in the bottom of the frame. Lee added an RBI double in the eighth to account for the final run of the contest.

In addition to his four home runs, Ramirez hit .462 (6-for-13) with eight RBI for the series.

"You just hit the ball good, you see the ball good and you don't chase bad pitches," Ramirez said. "And when you get your pitch, you don't miss it. ... I had a real tough series against Tampa (Bay). I came home here and had a great series against the White Sox. I can't explain it."

"Sometimes when a hitter is hot like he (Ramirez) is, it's better not to pitch to him at all," Vazquez said. "He hit everything we threw at him all weekend long."

Vazquez surrendered five runs - four earned - and five hits with five walks and four strikeouts over six innings to take the loss.