Cubs go in the Dumpster in 7-4 loss to L.A.

Maybe breaking even on their just concluded 10-game homestand is all that could have been expected from these Cubs.

After all, this is a team barely over .500 and in the hunt for a playoff spot only because of the weak division in which it plays.

The homestand became ordinary at 5-5 in a matter of minutes Thursday when the Los Angeles Dodgers scored 4 runs in the ninth inning off closer Ryan Dempster to stun the Cubs 7-4 before 39,397 mostly grumbling fans at Wrigley Field.

Dempster gave up singles to Russell Martin and James Loney before pinch hitter Andre Ethier lined an 0-1 pitch to left for a home run.

Martin's single the other way went between first baseman Derrek Lee and the line. Loney's single went off Lee's glove.

"Tough loss, what can I say?" said Cubs manager Lou Piniella. "They placed a couple balls over there by first base and got one up in the wind, and that was it."

With only 23 games left, the Cubs remain in first place in the National League Central but in a tie with the idle Milwaukee Brewers. The St. Louis Cardinals are 1 game behind after they won.

It was the kind of tough loss that could make a team crumble in a pennant race, but the Cubs tried to put on their best face.

"It's deflating, but we've got to blow it off and move on," said Mark DeRosa. "We don't have the opportunity to sit back and really worry about it. We've got to fight it on the plane (to Pittsburgh), then let it go and be ready to play. This team has fought back from adversity and tough losses all year."

The Cubs open a three-game series in Pittsburgh tonight.

"It's very important we go there and win the first game of the series," said Alfonso Soriano, who hit 2 home runs and drove in all 4 runs in the loss.

Soriano homered leading off the first, then put the Cubs ahead 4-2 with a 3-run homer in the seventh. The Dodgers got within a run on Matt Kemp's homer in the eighth off Bob Howry.

Dempster (2-5) had converted 13 straight save opportunities dating to June 11.

"Ryan's been automatic for us," DeRosa said.

"They put balls in the right spots, then hit a home run," Dempster said. "I didn't execute pitches today when I got ahead. I was ahead of everyone. I don't even think I had the potential to walk anyone, but I didn't put guys away and that's what you're supposed to do."

The Cubs had the potential to open up a big lead in the first. Following Soriano's leadoff home run, Lee singled and Daryl Ward walked with one out. But Ward was promptly picked off first base by the catcher, Martin. DeRosa's walk would have loaded the bases.

Piniella wasn't pleased with Ward.

"Ward's not going anywhere, so I just don't understand how you can get (picked off)," Piniella said. "Now they do have a play that's a back-door play, but I think he was made aware of it. There's just no place for him to go."

Ward called getting picked off "one of those breaks," adding, "I don't know if it would have made a difference or not."

Cubs starter Jason Marquis pitched 7 strong innings, leaving with a 4-2 lead.

"It's a tough one, but you're going to have games like these," Marquis said. "You can't go back and change what happened, so obviously you've just got to look ahead."

Dodgers 7, Cubs 4

At the plate: Alfonso Soriano was the Cubs' offense with 2 home runs, giving him 22 for the season, and all 4 runs batted in. Derrek Lee, celebrating his 32nd birthday, had 2 singles and a walk while Mike Fontenot had 2 hits in a rare start.

On the mound: Starter Jason Marquis pitched well enough to win, leaving with a 4-2 lead after 7 innings. He gave up 4 hits and struck out four. Closer Ryan Dempster blew his first save opportunity since June 11 after 13 successful conversions. He was torched for 4 runs and 5 hits in two-thirds of an inning.

-- Tim Sassone