Chicago, IL (Best E Casino) - Derrek Lee headlined a home run parade with two
long-balls -- a three-run shot and a grand slam -- for a career-high seven
RBI, leading the Chicago Cubs to a 9-5 win over the Milwaukee Brewers in the
beginning of a crucial four-game series between the NL Central foes.
It was Lee's 20th career multi-homer game, as the Cubs won for the third time
in four games. Jake Fox and Geovany Soto each hit a solo shot in a game that
featured six total homers -- all in the first six innings.
Ryan Dempster (5-5) was the beneficiary of the run support, moving to 10-3
lifetime against Milwaukee after allowing three runs on eight hits and two
walks with nine strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.
Mike Cameron and Prince Fielder each hit a home run for the Brewers, who have
lost two in a row after winning four of their previous five. Seth McClung
(3-2), in his second start of the year, was hammered for seven runs on seven
hits with two walks and a strikeout in only 3 1/3 innings.
The Cubs got off to a quick start in the first. Sam Fuld drew a walk to lead
off, Ryan Theriot followed with a single, and Lee scored everybody with a
three-run homer to left for an early cushion.
Two batters later, Fox hit his fourth home run of the season for a 4-0 edge.
Cameron, though, answered for Milwaukee, blasting a two-run shot in the second
to cut the Brewers' deficit in half.
To keep the home run parade going, Soto drilled his eighth of the year to lead
off the fourth and give the Cubs a 5-2 lead.
Chicago blew the game wide open in the same frame thanks to more hot hitting
from Lee. Following Soto's homer, Mike Fontenot and Fuld both singled, and
Theriot walked, setting up Lee's grand slam to center for a commanding 9-2
advantage.
Fielder added to the home run tally with a leadoff shot in the sixth, pulling
the Brewers to within 9-3. Ryan Braun produced the first non-homer run of the
game with an RBI single in the seventh, although it still left Milwaukee down
by five.
In the top of the eighth, with one out and Aaron Heilman pitching for Chicago,
Cameron doubled, Corey Hart was hit by a pitch, and Jason Kendall grounded an
RBI single through the left side of the infield for a 9-5 game.
Heilman limited the damage by retiring the next two hitters, and Carlos Marmol
finished off the Brewers in the ninth.
Game Notes
Thursday marked the beginning of an 11-game homestand for the Cubs. They will
also face Atlanta and St. Louis while at Wrigley Field...Chicago leads the
season series, 4-3...Cameron finished 3-for-4, while Fielder was 2-for-4 for
Milwaukee...Fuld and Theriot both had a pair of hits for Chicago...Since May
30, a span of 29 games, Lee is hitting .339 with nine homers and 29 RBI. He
has 14 home runs total this season.
