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DeRosa powers Cubs in rout

Jul 1, 2008 - 7:06 AM By Ryan Leong PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- Mark DeRosa had a career night to get the Chicago Cubs back on the winning track.

DeRosa hit two home runs and drove in six runs and Ted Lilly pitched eight-plus stellar innings to end the Cubs' season-worst four-game losing streak with a 9-2 rout of the San Francisco Giants on Monday night.

"We've had our share of adversity, missing some guys and then dropping four in a row and getting beat three times by our so called enemies over there on the south side," DeRosa said. "So it was nice just to get back on the winning side."

Lilly had his best outing of the season and had a shutout going into the ninth when he finally ran out of gas, allowing a pair of singles to lead off the frame.

"It's nice, I'm pitching for a very good ball club," Lilly said. "I know that in just about every start, if not every start, we've scored quite a few runs when I'm pitching. So they're giving me opportunities and I want to make it worth it. I know we're about halfway through the season right now so I feel there's quite a bit to do out there."

Barry Zito had another sub-par outing, allowing five runs over five innings. Zito (3-12), who is in his second season of a seven-year, $126 million contract, is on pace to become the first-20 game loser since Mike Maroth went 9-21 for the Detroit Tigers in 2003.

"It's real frustrating, there's no excuse," Zito said. "I thought I had good (stuff) tonight so that's encouraging. It's night and day, my stuff even since I signed the contract last year. Today was a bad one and its going to be a tough sleep tonight, but more than anything I got that feeling back for what I can do and it's only a matter of time."

The Giants have the worst home record in the majors at 14-25 and have dropped 15 of their last 18 games at AT&T Park.

"I don't think we need to talk about it and we are done talking about any struggles here at home," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "We'll be fine here we just got to start executing a little better and obviously get these bats going. But it's nothing to do with being here at home."

With a five run lead, the Cubs put the game out of reach when reliever Billy Sadler walked the bases loaded and then gave up a grand slam to DeRosa to ensure the victory, their league-leading 50th of the season.

"It felt good to contribute and hitting the grand slam put the game away, made it 9-0 at that point." DeRosa said. "Teddy pitched a great game, and we needed this win, no doubt."

Chicago added two runs in the third as Zito allowed a single to Geovany Soto and walked DeRosa. With two outs, Matt Murton doubled to the gap in right center to bring both runners home.

After a leadoff double to right by Soto in the fifth, DeRosa crushed Zito's fastball into the left-center field bleachers to give the Cubs a 5-0 lead. DeRosa now has 10 home runs on the campaign.

The Giants could do nothing against Lilly until the ninth when Randy Winn legged out an infield single and pinch hitter John Bowker belted a base hit to center. Lilly was removed in favor of closer Kerry Wood, who gave up a two-run double to Rich Aurilia.

"Why not, he was in mid 90's pitch count wise," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said of Lilly's shutout bid. "I told (pitching coach) Larry (Rothschild) we're not going to let him go if he gets in a little trouble, we'll get him real quick. Woody needed the work, he had pitched only once in the last eight days and it showed a little bit out there but he'll be sharp for the next time out too."