Cubs beat Reds as Dempster moves to 10-0 at home

[July 09, 2008]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Ryan Dempster became the first Cubs pitcher in 31 years to start a season 10-0 at home and Mike Fontenot and Geovany Soto homered Tuesday night to lead Chicago to a 7-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

Before the game, the Cubs acquired right-hander Rich Harden from Oakland in a six-player trade. Harden, expected to pitch this weekend against the Giants at Wrigley Field, joins the staff of the NL Central leaders that already includes Dempster and Carlos Zambrano.

All-Star Dempster (10-3) is the first Cubs' pitcher to win his first 10 decisions at home since Rick Reuschel in 1977. He allowed two hits and a run in seven innings, while throwing 103 pitches on a muggy night at Wrigley Field.

The Cubs capitalized on Cincinnati starter Aaron Harang's wildness. The 6-foot-7 right-hander walked a career-high seven and gave up six runs and five hits in 4 1-3 innings. Harang had been scheduled to start last Saturday but was given a few extra days to recover from stiffness in his right forearm.

Fontenot gave Chicago a 4-1 lead in the fourth with his sixth homer of the season, a drive over the wall in center.

Soto, the first rookie catcher to start for the NL in the All-Star game, had a two-run shot, his 16th of the season, to chase Harang (3-11) in the fifth and make it 6-1.

Aramis Ramirez legged out a triple in the second after right fielder Ken Griffey Jr. missed a diving attempt at his sinking liner. Soto's sacrifice fly made it 1-0.

Ryan Theriot's single and two walks loaded the bases for the Cubs with no outs in the third but all Chicago managed was a sacrifice fly from Ramirez.

Cincinnati had a big inning brewing in the fourth when Dempster had trouble throwing strikes. He walked Griffey and Adam Dunn, but when Jeff Keppinger blooped a ball into right field for what appeared to be a single, Dunn hesitated and was forced out on right fielder Kosuke Fukudome's throw to second. Dempster then walked two more to force in a run before Harang struck out.

The Reds also had two on in the second before Paul Bako lined into an inning-ending double play.

Cincinnati, which didn't have a hit from the third to the eighth innings, got three in the ninth when it scored twice off Bob Howry. Pinch-hitter Javier Valentin had an RBI double, the Reds' only extra base hit of the night.

Notes: Cubs LF Alfonso Soriano said he'll wait until after the All-Star break to start playing again. On the DL since June 12 with a broken left hand, Soriano said he does plan to attend the All-Star game in New York, even if he can't play. He started his major league career with the Yankees. ... Reds OF Norris Hopper underwent ligament replacement surgery on his right elbow Tuesday and is expected to be ready for spring training.

[Associated Press; By RICK GANO]

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