Cubs turn tables on Dodgers with 2-1 victory

Maybe it's going to be this way.

Instead of waiting for the dam to burst, the Cubs are going to have to quench their thirst for runs drop by drop.

After falling 2-1 to the Dodgers in Thursday night's series opener, the Cubs waited and waited for something to happen Friday.

Finally, in the seventh inning, it did. Backup catcher Koyie Hill led off with a home run against Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley, and Kosuke Fukudome later drove home Jake Fox with the eventual game-winner as the Cubs turned the tables with a 2-1 victory of their own at Wrigley Field.

Here's how it has been going for the Cubs:

• The victory was their first this year when they scored fewer than 4 runs. They were 0-19 in such games and hadn't won while scoring fewer than 4 since last Sept. 11 against the Cardinals.

• After going 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position Thursday, it was more of the same Friday, with the Cubs going 1-for-9 and stranding eight runners.

"Look, when we hit with men in scoring position, we hit," said manager Lou Piniella, whose team improved to 24-23. "What am I going to do about it? Relax and swing the bat."

Hill was the man of the minute, and he said that's what the Cubs are trying to do.

The Dodgers had just taken a 1-0 lead against Cubs starting pitcher Ted Lilly (6-4) in the top of the seventh on a homer into the left-field basket by Matt Kemp.

Hill came up and hit the first pitch he saw from Billingsley over the wall in right-center against a pretty good wind. Although he doesn't play often, Hill sees a lot of what's going on with this club.

"I don't think it's 'pressing,' that's not the word I would use," he said. "We're just trying to find our stride. There are so many injuries and so many different lineups that we've had to use a lot of different guys. So I think consistency is something we're looking for."

Fox hit a one-out single before singles by Alfonso Soriano and Bobby Scales loaded the bases. Fukudome lofted a fly to center that was deep enough to score Fox.

The Cubs caught a big break in the eighth when reliever Carlos Marmol walked pinch hitter Rafael Furcal. Juan Pierre came up and squared to bunt. The pitch hit him in the knee, but the umpires, after conferring, ruled Pierre had offered at the pitch, making it a strike and a dead ball. He then bounced into a double play on a bang-bang play at first.

Pierre had asked the umpires about the play.

"They came back and said I bunted it, so I guess in hindsight, I should have kept my mouth shut," Pierre said.

Kevin Gregg worked out of a two-on situation in the ninth to record his sixth straight save (eighth overall) and preserve the win for Lilly.

"I feel there's an advantage with the crowd," said Lilly, who is 4-1 with a 1.29 ERA at Wrigley and 11-4 in his last 15 decisions at home. "Whether you're a hitter or a pitcher, it's kind of nice playing here, especially when you get some difficult situations, and you've got 40,000 people pulling for you. I think it's definitely an advantage for the home club."

Bruce Miles' game tracker

Bully for Ted: Cubs starting pitcher Ted Lilly continues to lead the Cubs in wins (6) and quality starts (7). He worked 7 innings, giving up 4 hits and 1 run as he improved to 6-4 with an ERA of 3.50.

Fox trotting: Jake Fox hit a pinch single and scored the game's winning run in the seventh inning. Fox is 3-for-4 with a double since his call-up from Class AAA Iowa.

Double their pleasure: The Cubs turned 3 double plays, with shortstop Andres Blanco being involved in all 3. Blanco was subbing for Ryan Theriot, who was ill.

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