Cubs Put Bats on Display, Win 15-3

Lou Piniella applauds his team's efforts as the Cubs won 15-3.

Put all thoughts behind.

Put the 47-61 record behind.

Put the 13.5 games back in the National League Central behind.

Put the seven game skid behind.

For one night, the Cubs razzled and dazzled the crowd of 38,401 at Wrigley Field and tapped the Brewers 15-3 in the most impressive victory of a season full of disappointments than triumphs.

Tyler Colvin led off the scoring with two outs in the third with a solo shot to the right field bleachers. Colvin, who hit 16 Home Runs in 2006-2007 with two minor league ballclub’s, hit his career-high 17^th. 

Aramis Ramirez is greeted with handshakes after his

pinch-hit Home Run Wednesday, his first since July 20th

After the Brewers put up a three-spot in the fifth, the North Siders stormed back putting up six runs just an inning later. Cubs manager Lou Piniella would say “that was a big inning for us.” With Starlin Castro and Marlon Byrd on board, Geovany Soto continued his hot hitting from July where he hit .315 to score Castro and move Byrd to third. Newcomer Blake DeWitt added an RBI of his own and Jeff Baker capped off Brewers starter Manny Parra’s outing to score Soto and give the Cubs the upper hand 4-3. Aramis Ramirez followed with a pinch-hit 3-run homer to center, his first since July 20^th when he slugged a trio of homers in one game.

With two on in the bottom of the eighth, Soto’s hot bat did not let up as he belted his fifteenth long ball to increase the Cubs’ advantage 10-3 off of former teammate LaTroy Hawkins. Hawkins then proceeded to plunk Alfonso Soriano and home plate umpire Tom Hallion sent him to the showers early. Brewers skipper Ken Macha would be next to get ejected for arguing.

Carlos Zambrano’s made an appearance in relief throwing a scoreless seventh. He is scheduled to start Monday in San Francisco.

After a commanding 12-3 lead, DeWitt, whose lone Home Run on the year came June 4^th, knocked one into the right field bleachers and made it 15-3.

The offense was astounding and completely overshadowed the pitching of Ryan Dempster. The 33-year old righty went six strong innings with three unearned runs on three hits while fanning five. Dempster received his 9^th win of the season, his first since July 15^th against Philadelphia.

At the postgame press conference Piniella said, “It’s good to win a ballgame…It’s been a while.”

Yes, it certainly does.