• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

All-Stars Lincecum, Dempster battle in series finale

Jul 13, 2008 - 2:26 PM San Francisco (39-55) at Chi Cubs (57-37) 2:20 pm EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Ryan Dempster has been unbeatable at home this season. To continue that run, he'll have to solve a team he has never defeated as a starter.

Dempster will attempt to wrap up the Chicago Cubs' best pre-All-Star record in nearly 40 years when they aim to complete a three-game sweep of the San Francisco Giants on Sunday.

Undefeated in 11 starts at Wrigley Field this season, Dempster (10-3, 3.13 ERA) will be searching to become the first Cubs pitcher since Bill Lee in 1936 to start the season 11-0 at home. A victory for the Cubs' righthander would send the team to their best start since beginning the 1969 season with a 61-37 record.

To do so, Dempster will need to overcome his struggles against San Francisco, a team against which he is 0-6 with a 5.09 lifetime ERA as a starter.

Dempster, who is 10-0 with a 2.58 ERA at home this season, posted another home victory in Tuesday's 7-3 win over Cincinnati, yielding one run and two hits with four walks and five strikeouts over seven innings.

He'll be opposed by fellow All-Star Tim Lincecum (10-2, 2.66), who will attempt to bounce back from his first loss since April 29 and first road setback of the season.

The righthander suffered only his second loss of the season in Tuesday's 7-0 loss to the New York Mets after surrendering four runs and nine hits over six frames - only the third time in 18 starts he has allowed at least four earned runs in a game.