Dominant Dempster delivers
Everybody seemed happy and on the same page Friday. There were no dugout incidents and no shouting matches.
Cubs starting pitcher Ryan Dempster, who had words with manager Mike Quade in his previous start at Pittsburgh, made things easy on everybody Friday by pitching 8 shutout innings in a 2-1 victory over the Florida Marlins at Wrigley Field.
“It was great; I was still feeling good,” said Dempster, who was upset after being pulled after 5 innings of a 6-3 Cubs victory last week.
Dempster improved Friday to 7-6 with a 4.68 ERA, throwing 117 pitches and getting through the eighth after giving up a pair of two-out hits.
“I thought he would kill me if I (took him out),” Quade joked. “Amazing after the game in Pittsburgh for him to go out and pitch like that. The pitch count and the level of effort needed to get through that eighth, I thought, was enough. It was one of those rare occasions when I believe we were in agreement.”
In the first 2 starts after the all-star break, Matt Garza worked 7 scoreless innings followed by Dempster’s 8.
Join the club:The Cubs went the veteran retread route again Friday, signing right-hander Dave Bush to a minor-league contract. Bush will report to the Cubs#146; Class AAA farm team.
The 31-year-old Bush was 0-1 with a 5.79 ERA in 17 games (3 starts) this year with the Texas Rangers. For his career, Bush is 56-69 with a 4.70 ERA. Since 2004, Bush has pitched for Toronto, Milwaukee and the Rangers.
He joins a list of veteran pitchers the Cubs have signed to minor-league deals since the season started, including Doug Davis, Rodrigo Lopez and Ramon Ortiz. During spring training, the Cubs gave looks to Braden Looper and Todd Wellemeyer.
The Marshall plan: Reliever Sean Marshall got the final out to record the fourth save of his career and his second this season. The first came April 5 against Arizona.
#147;We got a little heads-up from Q and talked about it just in case,#148; Marshall said of closing Friday. #147;It#146;s like every other game. I#146;m in the bullpen, and Woody (Kerry Wood) is in the bullpen to pick each other up.#148;
The quote: Carlos Marmol heard boos both Thursday night during a blown save and Friday as Mike Quade sent him out to start the ninth inning. That doesn#146;t mean he liked it.
#147;I hate it when the fans boo me,#148; he said. #147;I hate it.#148;