Marquis' Arm, Lee's Bat Lead Cubs

Kendrick pitches into 8th as Phillies win their third straight

(NEWSER) - Ryan Howard homered in his return to the starting lineup and Kyle Kendrick pitched into the eighth inning, helping the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-4 last night. Chase Utley had two hits and scored twice and Geoff Jenkins added two hits and an RBI for the Phillies, who have won three straight and six of seven. More»

Tribune identifies players who can reverse a midseason swoon

(NEWSER) - Despite a National League-best 53-36 record, all is not well in Wrigleyville, Paul Sullivan writes in the Chicago Tribune. The Cubs need these seven guys to step up and insure that Sweet Lou’s “100-year thing” doesn’t become a 101-year thing:

1. Sean Marshall: Lefty pitcher needs to keep up his current quality to help the team, and stay on it.

Soto, DeRosa add big flies as well

(NEWSER) - Alfonso Soriano homered in his first two at-bats, Geovany Soto and Mark DeRosa also homered and the surging Chicago Cubs beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-4 Friday for their seventh win in eight games. Soriano connected on the first pitch from Tom Gorzelanny for his third leadoff homer in four games and launched a three-run shot in the second inning, making it 6-0. More»

Chicago avenges series loss to Arizona in last year's playoffs

(NEWSER) - Pinch-hitter Daryle Ward delivered a two-run double in the eighth inning, and the Chicago Cubs rallied again to beat Arizona 6-4 Sunday after the anticipated showdown between Carlos Zambrano and Randy Johnson got wiped out. Carlos Marmol (1-0) struck out two in a perfect eighth and Kerry Wood pitched the ninth to earn his seventh save and finish off Chicago's three-game sweep. More»

(NEWSER) - Tom Gorzelanny shook off Mark Teixeira's two-run homer in the first inning to shut out Atlanta during the rest of his 7 1-3 innings, Jason Bay homered and the Pittsburgh Pirates extended the Braves' road woes with a 5-2 victory tonight. Gorzelanny (3-3), skipped over for a start because of a lower back problem, allowed just five hits after a difficult first inning. More»