Dempster's pitching leads Cubs past Cards, 6-2

It didn't have the drama of the Massacre in Milwaukee, but the Cubs were more than satisfied to take two of three games from St. Louis Cardinals.

With Sunday's 6-2 win at Wrigley Field behind Ryan Dempster, the first-place Cubs moved 7 games ahead of St. Louis in the NL Central while maintaining their 4-game lead on the Brewers.

That's 6 wins in seven games for the Cubs in the last two weeks against the teams closest to them in the standings.

"The swing games that can decide a lot we found a way to really play well and found a way to win," Mark DeRosa said.

Dempster improved to 13-5 with his 11th victory in 15 starts at Wrigley Field. Not too shabby for the converted closer who began the year one of the Cubs' biggest question marks.

"We had a good idea that he would pitch well in the rotation and gave him the opportunity and he's running with it," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said.

"I think just experience has made me a better pitcher," Dempster said. "I don't panic in big situations. Closing here at Wrigley for a few years is a unique experience, something like I never experienced before, and I think it helps me get through tough situations."

Winning the series from the Cardinals capped a 6-3 homestand.

"We won three series here at home and that was the important thing," Piniella said. "That's really what we're attempting to do, win series and go from there."

More great defense helped Dempster on a cool night with the wind blowing in.

Jim Edmonds bailed Dempster out of a jam in the fourth inning when he robbed Chris Carpenter of a hit with a diving catch in short center field with runners at second and third.

"Didn't think he had a chance to catch it," Dempster said.

A critical error by Cardinals second baseman Adam Kennedy led to a 5-run sixth for the Cubs that broke the game open.

A leadoff double by Alfonso Soriano and Derrek Lee's one-out single made it 2-0. After walking Ramirez, Carpenter had to leave the game with a 1-1 count on Edmonds with a right triceps strain.

Reliever Ron Villone got Edmonds to hit a sharp double-play groundball to second, which would have ended the inning, but it went through Kennedy's legs with Lee scoring. DeRosa followed with a run-scoring single and Ronny Cedeno with a 2-run double.

The inning could have been even bigger, but Edmonds and Cedeno were thrown out on plays at third base.

It was a long half-inning with the Carpenter injury delay and the run scoring, and it took a toll on Dempster, who exited himself in the seventh after allowing his only 2 runs.

"It was a good win for us and a good homestand," Dempster said.

Kerry Wood pitched a perfect eighth inning in his second appearance since coming off the disabled list with blister on his right index finger. Back tightness kept Wood from pitching Friday, but he pronounced himself fit to throw Saturday after getting treatment.

"Woody came back and threw the ball well," Piniella said. "He threw strikes and got three quick outs."

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