Fukudome, Lee homer to lead Cubs past Rockies, 6-5

Posted August 07, 2009 11:00 pm

Mike McGraw

Look at it this way: If the Cubs do manage to reach the postseason, at least their pitching staff will be well-rested.

Before Saturday's 6-5 victory at Colorado, Carlos Zambrano was placed on the 15-day disabled list for the second time this season.

Zambrano has a sore back that kept him from making Friday's scheduled start against the Rockies. He lasted just 3 innings because of the bad back in his previous start at Florida.

"Hopefully what he has is not serious and he'll be all right in a couple of weeks," Cubs manager Lou Piniella told reporters before the game. "Seems like we get a player off the DL, we reciprocate and put one back on."

Left-handed starter Ted Lilly already was on the disabled list with left-shoulder inflammation. He is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment next week and could return to the Cubs in about 10 days. Catcher Geovany Soto came off the DL on Friday.

Zambrano's trip to the DL was retroactive to Aug. 2. Pitcher Jeff Stevens was recalled from Iowa to fill the roster spot, while Piniella tabbed Jeff Samardzija to start in Zambrano's place on Wednesday against Philadelphia.

Third baseman Aramis Ramirez left the game in the fifth inning with a sore left shoulder. After the game, he said he wouldn't play today, but Monday was a possibility. Ramirez dislocated the shoulder May 8 and returned from the disabled list July 6.

"It's pretty sore every time I swing," he said.

Ryan Dempster (6-5), meanwhile, made his third start Saturday since coming off the DL with a broken toe. He gave up 9 hits in 6 innings but just 2 earned runs.

Dempster recorded his first win away from Wrigley Field since April 12. He also ended his personal history of getting pounded at Coors Field. Heading into this game, Dempster was 0-2 with a 15.23 ERA during 11 appearances in Denver.

"I'm not going to lie, it hasn't been a lot fun pitching here for me," Dempster said. "(This) was awesome."

Jason Marquis (12-8), who was traded by the Cubs over the winter, took the loss for Colorado.

Piniella adjusted the batting order, moving shortstop Ryan Theriot to the leadoff spot and center fielder Kosuke Fukudome to fifth. Milton Bradley batter second for the second straight game.

The changes worked well Saturday. Theriot went 3-for-5 with an RBI. Bradley was 2-for-4 with a double and drove in Theriot with the go-ahead run in the sixth. Fukudome had a double, a home run and 2 RBI.

"I can put out any lineup, the guys have to perform," Piniella said. "But we'll stay this way for a while and see where it goes."

After the Cubs took a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth, they gave up 3 unearned runs and 4 overall in the bottom of the inning, thanks to an error by Ramirez and a couple of mental mistakes.

Derrick Lee homered in the fifth to make it 4-3, then the Cubs took the lead with a couple of clutch hits in the sixth. After Aaron Miles tripled to center field, Theriot drove him in with a two-out bloop single to right.

Theriot stole second and barely scored on Bradley's single off the right-field wall. Bradley was thrown out trying for a double and, fortunately for the Cubs, Theriot saw what was going on and raced to home plate. He scored a split-second before Bradley recorded the third out of the inning.

Fukudome's home run in the top of the seventh made it 6-4. Dempster gave up a homer to Clint Barmes leading off the bottom of the seventh before Angel Guzman, Carlos Marmol and Kevin Gregg finished the victory.

Mike McGraw's game tracker Cubs 6, Rockies 5 Hurt locker room: While the Cubs pounded out 6 extra-base hits in a 6-5 victory at Colorado on Saturday, pitcher Carlos Zambrano went on the 15-day disabled list with a sore back, and Aramis Ramirez left the game in the fifth inning because of shoulder pain. Ex-Cub takes loss: Even though the Cubs gave up 3 unearned runs in the fourth inning, Ryan Dempster won a duel against former-Cub-turned-Rockies-all-star Jason Marquis. Dempster allowed 9 hits but just 2 earned runs in 6 innings. Closer delivers: Kevin Gregg took the mound in the ninth for his first save opportunity since blowing back-to-back ninth-inning leads last weekend in Florida. Gregg recorded 2 flyouts and a strikeout to earn his 22nd save of the season.

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