Power switch turned 'on'
In theory, the 2007 Cubs were a team built for power.
In theory.
In reality, they've been anything but the power-hitting team many thought would blast their way to a National League Central title.
Instead they came into Saturday's game against Houston tied for 14th in the NL in home runs with a paltry 106.
In lieu of the longball, this year's team has relied on solid starting pitching, a solid bullpen and a plethora of singles and doubles hitters to take them to the promised land.
They got all that again Saturday but also received quite a surprise as well -- a pair of homers from the middle of the lineup -- to power past the Houston Astros 4-3 in front of another sellout on a chamber of commerce afternoon at Wrigley Field.
Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez each homered, marking the first time the pair have done it in the same game since Aug. 14.
After a lethargic effort the previous day, it proved just the tonic for the Cubs, who remained in first place by 1½ games over Milwaukee.
"We got some good hitting from the big boys in the middle of the lineup," said Cubs manager Lou Piniella. "We've been in a (power) drought and still holding on to first place.
"Maybe September will be the month where we start hitting the ball out of the park. Hopefully they'll stay hot."
Lee, who hit a solo homer in the eighth, and Ramirez, whose 2-run shot in the sixth gave the Cubs their first lead, would like nothing more than to provide the power down the stretch.
"We all have to do our parts so Aramis and I can get hot in the last month -- that would be good," said Lee, whose solo shot was his 16th of the season.
"We don't have to hit homers for us to win," Ramirez said. "The way the wind has been blowing here lately (blowing in 35 games, out in 15 and a crosswind in 19), it's hard to get it out.
"We just have to go out there and score runs. You don't score runs by hitting home runs, you just have to bring men in from scoring position and you have to get on base first. And none of that matters if you don't get the pitching."
The Cubs (69-65) sure got the pitching. They got it from starter Jason Marquis, who went 6¿ innings and then handed it off to a bullpen that did the job -- with a slight scare in the ninth inning when Carlos Lee homered off Ryan Dempster.
The win was the 11th of the season for Marquis and his first in September since he was with St. Louis in 2005.
"I felt good throwing the ball out there," Marquis said. "The guys did a good job of picking me up defensively."
That would include Ramirez, who started a 5-3 double play in the third, and second baseman Mark DeRosa, whose perfectly timed leap on Mark Loretta's line drive kept the potential tying run off the bases in the ninth.
"Everyone believes in everyone else," Marquis said. "It's exciting."
Cubs 4, Astros 3
On the mound: Jason Marquis improved to 11-8 by going a strong 62/3 innings and allowing just 2 earned runs. The win was his first in September since 2005 against Cincinnati. Carlos Marmol extended his scoreless innings streak to 11. Bob Howry tossed a 1-2-3 eighth, and Ryan Dempster pitched the ninth to record his 24th save.
At the plate: The big boppers came through Saturday. Derrek Lee had a solo homer (16), and Aramis Ramirez (19) added a 2-run shot in the sixth. For Ramirez, it was his 139th as a Cub, moving him to 12th place on the franchise's all-time homers list past Leon Durham (138).
-- Mike Spellman