6/11/08 vs Braves; W 7-2; (42-24)

First Inning
Ryan Dempster gives up one hit but strikes out two. The Cubs come to the plate and quickly make two outs. Then Derek walks, Aramis singles, and Fukudome goes yard. Two out walks kill you. For Fukudome it is his fifth of the year, fourth at Wrigley. Cubs lead 3-0.

Second Inning
Dempster sets the Braves down 1,2,3, highlighted by his leaping grab of a high hopper to end the inning. DeRosa singles with one out and Dempster bunts him to second. Soriano is at the plate when a ball runs up and in from Jeff Bennett. I know I said I don’t want him in left field in the ninth, but not due to injury, and especially not missing his two other at bats between the second and eighth innings. Fontenot comes in to run for Soriano. Ryan Theriot doubled to score both DeRosa and Fontenot. Cubs lead 5-0.

Third Inning
Again Dempster allows a base hit, but otherwise shuts the Braves down. The Cubs start the third with a Ramirez single, a walk to Fukudome, and a Soto single to load the bases with no one out. Mike Quade almost sent Ramirez, but with no one out didn’t take the chance. Jim Edmonds comes to the plate and singles home two runs. At that point, only two official innings into the game, Jeff Bennett is pulled. He has allowed seven runs and is responsible for two more. Luckily for him, neither scored. Cubs lead 7-0.

Fourth Inning
This inning Dempster hit a batter. I guess he wanted some variety in how he allowed his one base runner each inning. Theriot started the Cubs half with an infield single. Then Derek Lee got absolutely hosed on a third strike call. The ball was nearly at his chin when it crossed the plate. Aramis struck out swinging before Theriot advanced to second on a wild pitch. Kosuke walked on a full count breaking ball bringing up Geovany Soto with two on and two out. On a full count pitch, Geo hit a line drive to left field that was caught by Greg Norton on a very nice diving play. For the first time tonight, the Cubs go down scoreless. Cubs lead 7-0.

Fifth Inning
Ten pitches, one strikeout, inning over. Dempster is now officially in position for the win. Dempster has six strikeouts through five innings while only allowing three runners. Great numbers for my fantasy team so far. The Cubs went 1,2,3 for the first time tonight. Cubs lead 7-0.

Sixth Inning
Domination by Dempster; Two more strikeouts for a total of eight, no runs scored yet tonight, only three base runners on the evening and none have reached second base. The Cubs half of the sixth, Derek Lee singled with two outs ending a streak of six straight outs. Alas, Ramirez grounded out to second base and the Cubs fail to score again. Cubs lead 7-0.

Seventh Inning
With two outs in the inning, the Braves finally got a runner to second base. Jeff Francoeur doubled to left center. Corky Miller followed that with a pinch hit two run homer blowing the shut out. Dempster came back with a strike out to end the inning. Kevin Butler…butthead…former Bears kicker sang the seventh inning stretch. It wasn’t stellar and was mostly emotionless. It didn’t really fire up the Cubs as they went scoreless again. Cubs lead 7-2.

Eighth Inning
Word as of now is that Soriano is going on the DL with a slight fracture in his hand. Injuries can kill an otherwise great season. The rest of the squad needs to play like the beginning of the season when Soriano struggled.

Dempster picked up another strikeout and worked a one, two, three inning. On top of the big victory last night allowing Wood to have the day off and Marmol to only face one batter, Dempster working into the eighth gives us a nice strong bullpen.

DeRosa led off with a single in the eighth (quality fantasy night for me) bringing up Dempster. He will hit for himself and attempt to get the complete game in the ninth. He ended up striking out and Cubs stranded DeRosa. Cubs lead 7-2.

Ninth Inning
Dempster is taking the mound in an effort to get the first complete game for the Cubbies since June 16th of last year. Omar Infante has the first crack at him. He reaches on an error by Aramis, his sixth of the season. After committing four early in the season, his fielding has been much better. Texeira hit into a double play, Fontenot to Theriot to Lee. Not quite the ring that Tinker to Evers to Chance, but we’ll take the two outs. Ruben Gotay comes the plate trying to keep the Braves alive. Dempster struck him out to get the complete game victory.

CUBS WIN 7-2