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Dempster, Cubs enjoying home cooking

Aug 4, 2008 - 1:23 PM Houston (53-57) at Chi Cubs (67-45)

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Chicago Cubs have made sure that Wrigley Field has not be a "friendly" place for visitors this season.

Ryan Dempster takes the hill on Monday looking to help the Cubs continue their home dominance in the opener of a three-game series with the surging Houston Astros.

Reed Johnson ripped a pinch-hit, two-run homer in the eighth inning and Alfonso Soriano followed with a solo shot as the Cubs posted an 8-5 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday to improve to a major-league best 41-15 in the "friendly confines" of Wrigley Field.

Chicago moved 22 games over .500 for the first time since 1989. The Cubs lead the Milwaukee Brewers (62-50) by five games in the National League Central Division.

Dempster (12-4, 2.90 ERA) has been a big reason the Cubs have been so dominant at home. The converted reliever is 10-1 with a 2.72 ERA in 13 home starts. He allowed one run and five hits in seven innings of 7-2 victory over Milwaukee on Wednesday.

Chicago should be able to provide Dempster with plenty of support. The Cubs are hitting .314 with 10 homers and scored 53 runs in winning seven of their last eight games.

Meanwhile, the Astros do not pose a serious threat to the Cubs in the NL Central, but they have been hot lately.

Houston, which trails Chicago by 13 games, has won six of its last seven games and is coming off a three-game sweep of the New York Mets.

The Astros hand the ball to Brian Moehler (6-4, 4.23), who is coming off his best start of the season. The 36-year-old righthander came one out shy of a complete game, allowing two runs and seven hits in a 6-2 win over Cincinnati on Tuesday.