Energized Cubs survive tough weekend

"Energy" was the word of the day in the Cubs' clubhouse Sunday after their 8-6 victory over the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field.

The Cubs say they have it now.

Whether the energy is the kind in those five-hour concoctions you buy at the gas station or the long-lasting endurance needed over a baseball season remains to be seen.

Remember, the Cubs have been through more than one false start this year.

And what they're talking about building on is something very modest: a moral victory in Saturday night's 3-2 loss and Sunday's narrow escape after they led 8-3 heading into the bottom of the ninth inning.

All of this, of course, occurred after Friday's blowup by pitcher Carlos Zambrano followed by Saturday's clear-the-air team meeting.

"It's just not because of what happened Friday," said left fielder Alfonso Soriano, who walked twice and homered Sunday. "I think the meeting that we had yesterday made everybody (have) more energy and more concentration. I think the meeting we had yesterday woke up a lot of people on this team because I think everybody felt a little down.

"But that meeting gave everybody like more motivation and more belief in ourselves in here inside the clubhouse."

The Cubs needed something after falling to 10 games under .500 Saturday for the first time in Lou Piniella's tenure as manager. They're still in a world of hurt: 8½ games behind Dusty Baker's Cincinnati Reds and in fourth place in the National League Central.

While the Cubs will deal with welcoming or not welcoming Zambrano back when he comes off his team-issued suspension, there's the little matter of the schedule needing to be played every day.

"I think losing brings out kind of the worst in everybody," said pitcher Ryan Dempster, who started and won Sunday. "I know that it's a tough healing process, and as a team we'll unite throughout this and we'll continue to play better baseball and go out and win some games.

"We'll handle that when he comes here. Right now, we're just worried about trying to go out and win a ballgame, and we'll cross those bridges when they come."

As far as energy, Dempster said he noticed it.

"I think I noticed the guys in here all rallied around each other and just to be there for each other in what's been a tough go of it so far and what's been a tough weekend," he said. "I believe that through the toughest times a true team unites."

Piniella called the meeting for Saturday, and he did as much listening as he did talking. He noticed his team played a batter brand of baseball that night, and he said it was good to leave on an uptick Sunday.

"It really is," he said. "We played two good ballgames the last two days. We had some energy. We did some good things.

"We've had some energy, yeah. We've had some nice energy. The guys on the bench are into the ballgame. And we played two much better ballgames. Let's hope that's the start of good play for the Cubs."