Deep Dish Conversation

Cubs outslug Giants

W: Ryan Dempster (10-8)
L: Tim Lincecum (11-6)

After being swept by the Reds at Wrigley, and dropping a close night game with the Giants Monday, the Cubs bounced back Tuesday night with an 8-6 victory over the San Francisco Giants.

Starting in the first inning Chicago’s bats were hot, starting with a Starlin Castro line drive that brought in Tyler Colvin and gave the Cubs a 1-0 lead after just two batters. After a Micah Hoffpauir groundout, Aramis Ramirez singled, allowing Castro to score. Kosuke Fukodome finished off the inning with a 2-run shot (10), giving the Cubs a 4-0 lead off of Giant’s ace Tim Lincecum.

Ryan Dempster got the nod today, and after giving up a run in the first and second inning, settled into the game to throw a strong 6.2IP and giving up 4 runs (three earned) on 8 hits.


As Lou Piniella takes time off to be with his hospitalized mother, long time Cub bench coach Alan Trammel has been named the interim manager. With the Cubs defense giving up three errors, Trammel had a few words to backup his starting pitching stating that “We make too many errors, we make too many mistakes” which lead strong starts to crumbling losses. These mistakes and inconsistent ball play have been appearing on both the offensive and defensive ends, showing that it has been a long season for both the players and Cubs faithful.

Happy for Trammel, who got his first win as manager in five games, noting that Piniella should be set to return to the bench by the beginning of the Cardinals series Friday.

Giant’s ace pitcher Tim Lincecum was unusually roughed up by the Cubs offense, and no one appreciated it more than Dempster, adding that “these guys came out and put a four-spot up against Lincecum and that’s not an easy thing to do” and the run support did not stop there. Giving up four runs in the first was the most Lincecum had ever allowed through his young career. After four innings the young right hander was pulled for his second earliest departure of his inconsistent season.

Dempster was pulled with two-outs in the 7th when San Francisco attempted a comeback off of what should have been the Cubs fourth error of the game when Tyler Colvin dropped a fly ball, allowing two runs to score. Mike Fontenot quickly got those runs back in the 8th when he doubled to drive in Alfonso Soriano and Koyie Hill.

Carlos Marmol, who has been one of few bright spots for the Cubs bullpen, had some trouble in the 9th allowing two runs off of a Buster Posey double that drove in a run, and was followed by a Pablo Sandoval single that brought Posey around the bases to score.

This victory was only the Cubs third win in fifteen games, and Geovany Soto is one player who does not want to get used to losing “Sometimes I just go to my room and get [ticked off].”

Tonight Chicago looks to begin a winning streak when Tom Gorzelanny (6-6) battles Barry Zito (8-6) in the third of a four game series against the Giants.

In the top of the 4th inning Starlin Castro drove in two more runs, giving him three for the afternoon, after singling to center to drive in Tyler Colvin and Ryan Dempster, putting the Cubs up 6-2.