Wrigley Farewell? If So, Dempster Goes Out On Top

Maybe Ryan Dempster doesn’t want to leave?  Pitching in front of a packed house at Wrigley Field for maybe the last time, Dempster shut down the Diamondbacks en route to a 4-1 victory.  For the fifth start in a row Dempster did not allow a run and earned the victory, according to Elias, Dempster is only the 5th pitcher in the last 100 years to accomplish that feat.  Dempster also tied Kenny Holtzman’s club record for scoreless innings in a season with 33 straight, Holtzman tossed 33 scoreless innings in a row during the 1969 season.  Dempster was on a pitch count again this afternoon so he was lifted after six innings, he allowed no runs on four hits while walking three and striking out five.  The bottom of the Cubs order did most of the damage today as both Luis Valbuena and Geovany Soto had two hits, Valbuena added an RBI.  Reed Johnson had a solid day at the top of the order going 2-for-4 with his 8th double of the season.  Carlos Marmol came on to get the save and made it as difficult as you could imagine.  Marmol put the first two guys on in the ninth before getting a game saving catch from Reed Johnson as he crashed into the bricks in right.  Anthony Rizzo started a slick 3-6-1 double play to end the game giving the Cubs a series victory.   Don’t look now, but the Cubs are playing baseball worthy of a contender as they have won 11 of their last 15 games, an impressive run, sure it is probably too late but this is must watch TV.  Full box score and highlights after the jump.