No slowing DeRosa

Mark DeRosa wasn't in a celebratory mood Friday after the Cubs fell 13-5 to the Washington Nationals at Wrigley Field.

Nevertheless, DeRosa passed another milestone in what's turning out to be a nother good season for him. His 2-run homer in the fourth inning extended his career-best total for a single season to 16. He also established a career best for RBI in a season with his 74th and 75th.

His previous best for RBI was 74, set in 2006 as a member of the Texas Rangers.

"I just try and help the team," DeRosa said. "I'm not too concerned about it. Just go out and try and be productive, try and get some hits and drive in some runs so the big guys don't always have to feel like they have to carry us. The bottom of the order is capable of putting the ball in play and doing some damage as well.

"It means the guys in front of me are having great years. They're constantly on base. I've been saying that. I've been batting eighth and found myself coming up many, many times with the bases loaded, batting seventh and coming up with second and third with less than two out. I went through that rough stretch in July where I felt I didn't help the team at all."

In July, DeRosa batted .195. He has 5 homers and 20 RBI in August. His 75 RBI are second on the team to Aramis Ramirez's 84. DeRosa's on-base percentage is .379.

"I feel good at the plate," he said. "It's one of those things. When you're going good, you don't want to talk about it. Just forget about it and play."

D-Lee doings: Derrek Lee's homer was his 18th of the season but his first since July 27. He had 2 homers in July and 2 in June.

"I don't know," said manager Lou Piniella. "You can talk to the hitting coach about his swing or talk to Derrek. He hasn't hit the ball for power, but he's been getting his basehits. I don't have an explanation for it."

Piniella usually isn't at a loss for words when it comes to hitting, so he apparently wanted nothing to do with this topic.

Lee didn't seem concerned.

"I haven't hit a home run in awhile, especially in the second half," he said. "We're winning baseball games, so I try to keep my concerns on that. We're playing so good that who really cares about your stats?"

This and that: Lou Piniella said he wasn't sure if right fielder Kosuke Fukudome would start today against lefty Odalis Perez. Fukudome sat against left-hander John Lannan on Friday before grounding out as a pinch hitter... The Cubs drew 3 walks, marking the 30th straight game they have walked at least once... When Alfonso Soriano stole home as part of a double steal, it marked the Cubs' first steal of home since Angel Pagan did it on July 29, 2006 at St. Louis, also as part of a double steal... The Cubs blew a 4-run lead, marking the biggest come-from-behind victory by an opponent this year.