Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster still shooting for 200 innings

Don’t look now, but the Cubs might not have a starting pitcher work 200 innings this season.

Ryan Dempster took a step in that direction Friday, gutting out 6⅓ innings in a 3-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Dempster fell to 10-11 with a 4.75 ERA.

Dempster is at 170⅔ innings for the season, and he could get 5 more starts.

Since going back to being a starting pitcher in 2008, Dempster has worked at least 200 innings in each of the three seasons from 2008-10.

“It always means something,” he said. “It means you’re giving your team a chance to win more often than not. I’m more focused on just trying to go out there every fifth day. I’m just going to try and go out there and pitch as many innings as I can and, more importantly, win as many games as I can.”

Dempster threw a season-high 121 pitches Friday. He started the seventh having thrown 113. After getting a strikeout, Dempster gave up a triple to Alex Presly. Kerry Wood replaced Dempster and later gave up a single to Jose Tabata to score Presly.

“I thought the first couple innings he was a little out of sync,” said manager Mike Quade. “I thought he had quite a few pitches, but then he settled down and pitched real well. I thought he deserved an opportunity to try and get three guys in the seventh. I wanted to give him that.”

Cashner gets closer:Right-hander Andrew Cashner could be back with the Cubs next Tuesday or Wednesday. Cashner pitched a perfect eighth inning Thursday night for Class AAA Iowa as his rehab from a rotator-cuff injury nears its end. Cashner retired all three batters he faced, striking out one. #147;He threw extremely well last night,#148; said Mike Quade. #147;Topped out at 99 (mph). Good to see. Wants to pitch in my bullpen today. What new? He#146;ll take the day off, I believe pitch tomorrow and then maybe we give him a couple (days off) and see about Tuesday or Wednesday. We#146;re still going very slow with him, but this has been extremely productive. He#146;s healthy, and he#146;s throwing very well.#148;Beating the odds:Mike Quade acknowledged that 28-year-old call-up Bryan LaHair is facing long odds, but he wouldn#146;t count LaHair out. #147;Never say never,#148; Quade said. #147;That#146;s the way I look at it. History may work against him in that regard. But to heck with history. Let#146;s see how he does. He wasn#146;t hanging around Triple-A to hope that was going to be his lifetime work. The fact that he#146;s hung around this long and continues to play well is a tribute to him, for sure. Never say never. I#146;ll bet you give me 20 minutes, and I#146;ll go up and find a handful of guys who got here late and found a way to contribute.#148;