Dempster: Posts shutout.
(c) Associated Press
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After having lost two close games the past two nights, the division-leading Chicago Cubs took no chances Sunday and came away with a 9-0 shutout to avert a three-game sweep. Ryan Dempster won his first road game in two years but don't let that fool you. He's won 11 games this year and was at the All-Star Game last week. He scattered six hits over eight innings while striking out seven. He was seriously threatened only once, when Houston strung three singles together with nobody out in the fifth but Dempster rebounded with two strikeouts and a foul out to snuff the rally.
By that time, the Cubs had built a 4-0 lead against Brandon Backe but it is hard to blame a pitcher who gets no offensive support. Backe struck out eight and walked nobody. He was stung mostly by the French Connection of Mike Fontenot (3-for-4 with a double and a homer) and Ryan Theriot (three singles).
Carlos Lee had two of Houston's six singles to raise his average to .304 but the bats around him stayed relatively silent.
The Pittsburgh Pirates will make their first visit to Houston, beginning Monday at 7:05 Central. Runelvys Hernandez (0-3) and John Van Benschoten (1-2) may be great plays in Scrabble, but they are not great players on the mound so expect the bats to rule the contest. The Bucs are hoping to snap a five-game losing streak.
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