Support staff producing, turning Cubs around

Red-hot Derrek Lee, who hit his fourth homer in three games, got a huge boost from some teammates who haven't contributed much to the offense lately, and the Cubs needed every bit of it to pull off a third straight come-from-behind victory.

Aaron Miles, one of the players who came up big at the end said the past three games have helped erase the previous stretch that resulted in a 1-5 record.

"When you go through a bad streak it's hard to feel like, 'We're going to win this game,' " Miles said. "Obviously, after games like, you have the feeling that you can win, and it builds a fire even bigger in you."

The majority of the 41,007 at muggy Wrigley Field who stayed around until the end, even after the Indians took a 5-4 lead in the top of the 13th, were rewarded with a 6-5 thriller over the Indians that took 4 hours and 27 minutes.

It was well worth the wait, especially for the day's offensive heroes who haven't enjoyed much time in the limelight recently.

Kosuke Fukudome started the season hot and then chilled off, most recently with an 0-for-23 drought entering Saturday's game. But he reached base on all six of his trips to the plate and opened the 13th inning with his fourth hit of the day and third single. He stole second as Koyie Hill was striking out and continued on to third when catcher Kelly Shoppach's throw sailed into center field.

Slick-fielding second baseman Andres Blanco, who entered the game hitting .220, singled to left to tie it. Blanco, who had a 2-run single in Friday's comeback, was so excited he thought he had won the game and started waving his arms before he reached first base.

"Yeah, it was a mistake, Blanco said with a sheepish grin. "I thought it was my first walk-off. But then I said to myself, 'Hey buddy we need 1 more run.'"

They got it almost immediately, when Miles, who came in hitting.200, dumped a hit-and-run single in short left field, with Blanco racing to third. With Jake Fox at the plate, former Cub Kerry Wood bounced in a wild pitch that scored Blanco for the Cubs' win. On Friday, Wood suffered a blown save, but Saturday was worse, as he blew another save and took the loss.

For Miles it was the kind of contribution he's been waiting to provide. He was just 6-for-38 (.158 average) in his last 15 games, which were sandwiched around a 15-day stint on the disabled list because of a right shoulder strain.

It had been so long since Miles produced, he felt compelled to kiddingly introduce himself to reporters after the game.

"It's huge," he said of his big hit. "I've been wanting it, searching for it, wanting to make these fans scream, and that was just big. It's a great feeling for me to help the team out and contribute. That's the first thing I said when I came in here. I jumped up and said 'I contributed.' So more to come.

"I've been getting enough at-bats to contribute and be productive, but it's been tough for me to come through, and I haven't had the best time. But I work at it, I grind, and I put my nose in there, and good things are going to happen and good things are going to come. I just keep grinding."

Long before the final-inning theatrics, another Cub who has been in the shadows came up huge, when Micah Hoffpauir pounded a 2-run, pinch-hit homer to give the Cubs a 4-3 lead after they had trailed 2-0. Hoffpauir had just 4 at-bats and no hits in the first six games of the homestand.