• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Dempster returns to form at home as Cubs down Cardinals

Aug 11, 2008 - 4:49 AM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- At certain points Sunday, it appeared Ryan Dempster might still suffering from his post-All-Star blues at Wrigley Field. But in the end, he was resilient enough to help the Chicago Cubs remain one of the baseball's best home teams.

Dempster returned to his winning ways at home with 6 2/3 strong innings, leading the Cubs to a 6-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.

After starting off the season 10-0 at Wrigley Field - where Chicago is a National League-best 45-17 - Dempster (13-5) went 0-2 over his last three home starts.

But on Sunday, he regained the touch that allowed him to get off to such a quick start at home, yielding two runs and six hits with three walks and six strikeouts.

"Thirteen wins?" Cubs manager Lou Piniella joked. "He really pitched well. I think the delay that they had when (St. Louis starter Chris) Carpenter came out with the injury bothered him a little bit. But he gave us 6 2/3 innings of good baseball."

In regards to Carpenter, Piniella was referring to the delay that occurred when the Cardinals' righthander motioned for St. Louis' training staff to join him at the mound. After a brief discussion, Carpenter left the game and lefthander Ron Villone was allowed as much time as he needed to warm up.

Three starts removed from a long rehab following "Tommy John" surgery, the 2005 National League Cy Young Award winner was diagnosed with a strained right triceps and was listed as day-to-day.

"When I threw the first pitch to Jimmy (Edmonds), I felt something in my tricep," Carpenter said. "When I tried to throw the next pitch, I felt it again, so I had to make the call (to come out). I think it is a slight tricep strain. When I came in, I was able to do all my rotator cuff exercises."

With two outs in the first, Dempster walked Albert Pujols and surrendered an infield single to Ryan Ludwick. But the righthander escaped damage during his 20-pitch frame by striking out Troy Glaus to end the threat.

"Having pitched in the bullpen has made me a better pitcher," Dempster said. "When I walk batters now as compared to before when I was a reliever, I don't worry as much about it now.

"My concentration is on the next hitter. I can completely focus on that portion of the job without getting distracted from my previous mistake."

Dempster worked in and out of trouble in the fourth and fifth inning before permitting his first run of the contest on a run-scoring double by rookie Joe Mather in the seventh, which signaled the end of his evening.

"I was able to work my way out of some jams with the help of the defense," Dempster said. "I also have to give some props to the Cubs fans; they are the ultimate 10th man on the field for us."

Rookie Jeff Samardzija came on in relief of Dempster and allowed another RBI double to the next batter, Albert Pujols, but limited the damage by striking out Ryan Ludwick to end the inning.

Kerry Wood and Carlos Marmol pitched the eighth and ninth, respectively, in a non-save situation to close out the victory for the Cubs (71-47) and push the Cardinals (65-55) seven games behind them in the division.

"The atmosphere was awesome, it almost felt like a playoff atmosphere," Edmonds said. "When you have those fans cheering you on against one of your top rivals, you can feel the energy in the crowd."

With the Cubs holding a slim 1-0 lead in the sixth, Chicago finally broke through against Carpenter (0-1). Derrek Lee singled home Alfonso Soriano to start a five-run frame.

After Carpenter yielded to Villone, Edmonds drove home a run two batters later with a fielder's choice groundout and Mark DeRosa's single scored another run.

Ronny Cedeno capped the huge inning with a two-out, two-run double to right-center.

Carpenter allowed four runs - two earned - and six hits over 5 1/3 frames.