Cubs, Dempster master the master

Whenever Greg Maddux takes the mound, you're usually assured of a quick, well-pitched ballgame.

That's exactly what took place Thursday at Wrigley Field, only Maddux got out-Madduxed by the Cubs' Ryan Dempster.

In a tight, 2-hour, 20-minute game, Dempster fell two outs short of a complete game as the Cubs shut out Maddux and the Padres 4-0 to take three of four in this series.

Dempster spent plenty of time in the ninth inning the last three years as the Cubs' closer. He became the first Cub to go as far as 8½ innings this year.

More Coverage Links Warm welcome for former enemy

"Unfamiliar territory, being out there when I started a game," said Dempster, who raised his record to 5-1 and lowered his ERA from 2.76 to 2.35. He struck out a career-best 12 and also had an RBI single in the fifth inning.

Maybe this starter thing will work out after all.

"It's gone well," he said. "The nicest part is it's gone so well for us as a team. That it makes it so much more enjoyable. You see the locker room, guys are having fun, having a good time. The music's playing a lot after games, and that's what you want to hear.

"I had visions in my mind of how I thought it would go. Did I think it would go this smoothly? I honestly don't know. Maybe, yeah. I worked pretty hard to be prepared for this year. I'm just glad that, game-plan wise, I've been consistent."

Dempster was absolutely Maddux-like in the first three innings, throwing 9, 7 and 8 pitches and retiring nine of 10 Padres. From the end of the first inning and until he walked Jody Gerut in the sixth, Dempster mowed down 15 in a row.

"Dempster's been pitching very well," said manager Lou Piniella, whose first-place team is 25-16. "He's got a good breaking ball, a nice, live fastball, and he's got that split-finger."

The Cubs chased Maddux (whose career record now stands at 350-218) in a 4-run fifth, when they put together 5 hits, the coup de grace being Derrek Lee's 2-run double that chased Maddux to a standing ovation from the 40,627 fans.

Lee, a teammate of Maddux with the Cubs from 2004 through part of '06, said it wasn't necessarily "special" facing him.

"I don't know about special; I don't really like it," Lee said. "It's a challenge. You know he's competing, and he's going to make you hit his pitch."

Dempster went out for the ninth after having thrown 103 pitches. Brian Giles doubled before Adrian Gonzalez struck out, prompting a visit to the mound by Piniella. Kevin Kouzmanoff singled, and Piniella removed Dempster, who got a standing ovation like the one Maddux received.

"His was louder," Dempster said. "Rightfully so. He deserves it."

Maddux tipped his cap Dempster's way.

"Demp threw great," he said. "I got outpitched. It would have been nice to see him finish it."

Wood took care of that, striking out Khalil Greene and Josh Bard.

As far as another Dempster vs. Maddux matchup, Dempster hopes Thursday's wasn't the last between these onetime Cubs teammates.

"I hope it's not, because I enjoy seeing him pitch," Dempster said. "It was fun today to go out and battle against him and compete against him and compete against their team.

"I hope he doesn't retire. I hope he keeps playing. Obviously, he's played a lot of years and done a lot of special things in this game. I always enjoyed being his teammate and being on the other side and playing against him, too."

Cubs 4, Padres 0

At the plate: Derrek Lee hit a 2-run double in the Cubs' 4-run fifth inning. Pitcher Ryan Dempster had an RBI single, and Ryan Theriot had a sacrifice fly in the inning. Kosuke Fukudome (.426 OBP) was 1-for-2 with a pair of walks, 1 intentional. Aramis Ramirez had 3 hits, and Alfonso Soriano extended his hitting streak to six games by going 2-for-5.

On the mound: Dempster established a career high with 12 strikeouts. He worked 8.1 innings, giving up 6 hits and walking just one. It was his seventh "quality start" of the year. He has a tidy WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) of 1.03. Kerry Wood earned his eighth save in 11 chances.

-- Bruce Miles

Scouting report

Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field

TV: Channel 9 today and Sunday; Comcast SportsNet Saturday

Radio: WGN 720-AM

Pitching matchups: The Cubs' Sean Gallagher (0-0) vs. Tom Gorzelanny (3-3) today at 1:20 p.m.; Carlos Zambrano (6-1) vs. Zach Duke (2-2) Saturday at 12:05 p.m.; Jason Marquis (1-3) vs. Phil Dumatrait (1-1) Sunday at 1:20 p.m.

At a glance: The Cubs are 6-0 against the Pirates this season, having swept a series at home and one in Pittsburgh. The Pirates are throwing three lefties at the Cubs this weekend. Jason Bay is hitting .353 (12-for-34) with 5 homers against Zambrano. Bay has 4 homers vs. Marquis. Xavier Nady entered Thursday eighth in the NL in batting average and second in RBI. The Pirates were last in ERA Thursday, at 4.88.

Next: Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park, Monday-Wednesday

-- Bruce Miles