Nothing to laugh about, but win leaves Piniella smiling

Posted August 15, 2010 11:00 pm

By Bruce Miles

ST. LOUIS - Lou Piniella enjoyed a laugh Sunday even if his Cubs couldn't enjoy a laugher.

His team went into the bottom of the ninth inning leading the St. Louis Cardinals 9-2, but before the day was done Piniella had to sweat out a 5-run rally before closer Carlos Marmol shut the game down by retiring Steven Hill on a groundout as Hill represented the potential game-winning run for St. Louis.

The 9-7 final wasn't so funny, but the end result had Piniella smiling.

"It's in the win column is all I know," said the Cubs manager, whose team won its first series after losing five straight and improved to 50-68.

"I didn't want to use Marmol today. He pitched an inning and two-thirds yesterday. (Sean) Marshall, all we needed was a couple hitters from him. So we used him to get out of an inning (the seventh).

"We had a nice, comfortable lead going into the ninth, and I felt pretty good."

No doubt Piniella made a few mental notes about this one. He did not use hard-throwing reliever Andrew Cashner all series. He opted for Marcos Mateo to finish the eighth, and the rookie got two quick outs.

However, Mateo gave up a homer, 2 singles and a walk before Piniella turned to James Russell, who struck out one and walked one before Marmol had to face the final four batters of the inning, as the Cardinals sent 10 men to the plate.

"I guess it's a learning experience for these kids," Piniella said.

When asked if it was a learning experience for him, he replied: "I think I've learned enough. I don't want to get too smart in my old age. But, look, it's a good series for us. We won two ballgames."

The Cubs made quick work of Cardinals starting pitcher Kyle Lohse, who came off the disabled list after 84 days with a forearm injury.

Derrek Lee homered in the first and third innings for the Cubs, with his second homer putting the Cubs ahead 2-1.

The Cubs broke it open with a 6-run fourth, with catcher Koyie Hill getting a 2-run double and pitcher Ryan Dempster adding an RBI single.

Lee left the game in the fifth amid some confusion. The Cubs said his back had stiffened, but Lee said that wasn't the case.

"I didn't hurt my back," he said. "We got a good lead, so he (Piniella) got me off the field."

Whatever the case, Lee homered in all three games of this series.

"We won a series; it's been awhile since we did that, so it was nice to come out and play good, especially against a good team like St. Louis," he said.

Dempster worked 62/3 innings on a day that wasn't quite as hot and humid as Friday and Saturday. He picked up his team-leading 11th win, throwing 119 pitches.

"Not like yesterday, but it was still hot and muggy out there," he said. "Plus, I got to get involved in the whole game, so it's kind of cool."

The Cubs are way out of the playoff race, but Dempster tried to look at the bright side.

"We had a good road trip," he said. "We went 1-3 in San Francisco and had a chance to win every single game there. We came here and won two of three against really tough team.

"We've just got to keep on playing like this and playing some really good baseball and go out there and end the season as strong as we can."

Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee watches his home run during the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday in St. Louis. Lee hit a second homer in the third inning. Associated Press

Bruce Miles' game tracker

Dempster doings: Cubs starting pitcher Ryan Dempster improved to 11-8 with a 3.62 ERA. The Cubs have won four games in August, and Dempster has 3 victories. The quality start was the first for the Cubs since Dempster's on Aug. 10.

That guy's good: The Cardinals' Albert Pujols homered in the first inning. It was his 30th of the year and the 396th of his career. Pujols extended his major-league record with his 10th consecutive season with at least 30 homers to start a career.

Byrd is the word: The Cubs' Marlon Byrd had 2 hits in the fourth inning, becoming the first Cub to do that since Mike Fontenot on Aug. 26, 2008, at Pittsburgh.

Cubs scouting report

Cubs vs. San Diego Padres at Wrigley Field

TV: Channel 9 Monday and Thursday; Comcast SportsNet Tuesday and Wednesday

Radio: WGN 720-AM

Pitching matchups: The Cubs' Tom Gorzelanny (6-6) vs. Kevin Correia (9-7) Monday at 7:05 p.m.; Randy Wells (5-10) vs. Jon Garland (11-8) Tuesday at 7:05 p.m.; Casey Coleman (0-0) vs. Clayton Richard (10-5) Wednesday at 1:20 p.m.; Carlos Zambrano (4-6) vs. Mat Latos (12-5) Thursday at 1:20 p.m.

At a glance: This is the first meeting of the season between the two clubs. They play in San Diego in the final week of the season. The Padres hold the top spot in the NL West. They're doing it on the strength of their pitching. They entered Sunday first in the NL in ERA, at 3.22. They were the best in allowing both runs and hits. Closer Heath Bell led in saves, with 35. The top offensive player is Adrian Gonzalez, who was among the league leaders in walks and OBP. Former Cardinal Ryan Ludwick is 7-for-14 with 2 homers vs. Zambrano. Coleman will be making his first major-league start for the Cubs.

Next: Atlanta Braves at Wrigley Field, Friday-Sunday

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