Cubs beat Arizona 8-3 for first sweep at Chase
The game-time temperature in Phoenix was 106 degrees.
Pretty hot, for sure, but the Cubs' bats have been even hotter against the Diamondbacks the past few days.
After scoring a total of 12 runs in their previous seven games, the Cubs cranked out 15 runs in the first two games of the series and didn't stop in Wednesday's finale, an 8-3 victory.
The Cubs came into the game seeking just their second series sweep of the season and their first sweep at Chase Field, and they got it.
"Let's enjoy it," winning pitcher Ryan Dempster said. "We've had a tough go of things, so we're going to enjoy this and build off it. It gives us positive energy."
A big part of the jump-start is the rejuvenated play of third baseman Aramis Ramirez, who belted a 3-run home run in the ninth inning to seal the series sweep.
"We've been waiting for the bats to come alive," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "We're starting to score a few runs. It should give us some momentum and some confidence. I like a lot of things I saw in this series."
The Cubs jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning thanks to consecutive hits by Derrek Lee, Marlon Byrd, Aramis Ramirez and Alfonso Soriano.
It didn't last long, though, thanks to a 3-run fourth by Arizona.
But in the fifth, Starlin Castro drove in a pair of runs on a single to make it a 5-3 game.
Prior to Wednesday's game the Cubs placed Brian Schlitter on the 15-day disabled list and called up Mitch Atkins from Triple AAA Iowa.
Piniella knew with the bullpen already worn down, it was either going to be up to starter Ryan Dempster had to go deep in this one or else the outcome of Wednesday's finale would rest on the shoulders of his young bullpen.
"We need some innings out of our bullpen," Piniella said before the game. "The young kids are going to have to perform."
That would prove to be the case when Dempster left the game after 5 innings (98 pitches) with the Cubs leading 5-3.
Because Piniella was hoping not to use Sean Marshall and to limit closer Carlos Marmol to 1 inning max, that meant it was time for the young guns to come in after Dempster's day was done.
He was replaced by James Russell, who was followed by Andrew Cashner. The pair combined for 2 scoreless innings. Then - much to Piniella's chagrin - Marshall came in. But the big lefty did the job by tossing a scoreless eighth.
One down note on Wednesday came in the fifth inning when Soriano left the game after being hit by a pitch on the left elbow. Soriano was replaced in left field by Tyler Colvin.
Mike Spellman's game tracker Cubs 8, Diamondbacks 3Running man: With his swipe of third base in the fifth inning, Ryan Theriot notched his 100th career stolen base. Been a long time: Cubs starter Ryan Dempster picked up his first win over the Diamondbacks in 10 years.Been a long time II: Ryan Dempster's RBI bunt in the fourth inning accounted for his first RBI of the season. <p class="factboxheadblack">Cubs scouting report</p><p class="News">Cubs vs. Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium</p><p class="News"><b>TV:</b> Channel 9 Thursday; Comcast SportsNet-Plus (CLTV) Friday; Channel 32 Saturday; ESPN Sunday</p><p class="News"><b>Radio</b>: WGN 720-AM</p><p class="News"><b>Pitching matchups:</b> The Cubs' Randy Wells (4-6) vs. Clayton Kershaw (8-4) Thursday at 9:10 p.m.; Ted Lilly (3-7) vs. Chad Billingsley (6-4) Friday at 9:10 p.m.; Tom Gorzelanny (3-5) vs. John Ely (4-6) Saturday at 3:10 p.m.; Carlos Silva (9-2) vs. Vicente Padilla (3-2) Sunday at 7:05 p.m.</p><p class="News"><b>At a glance:</b> The Cubs won two of three from the Dodgers at Wrigley Field in late May, getting a pair of shutouts. Dodgers slugger Manny Ramirez is on the disabled list with a strained right hamstring. The Dodgers entered Wednesday 3 games behind the Padres in the NL West. The Cubs were 9-2 against the NL West heading into Wednesday night's game at Arizona. The Dodgers entered Wednesday second in runs scored, fourth in OBP and 10th in ERA. The Cubs were 14th in runs, 13th in OBP and sixth in ERA. </p><p class="News"><b>Next:</b> Philadelphia Phillies at Wrigley Field, July 15-18</p>