Ryan Dempster (7-2) struggled with his command and lasted just five innings, but managed to get the win against the Rockies Saturday. He walked four, hit a batter with a pitch and was charged with three runs and three hits. He struck out seven hitters.

Ryan Dempster sweated through a T-shirt an inning and five jerseys on a muggy afternoon. He was a picture of cool on the mound, though. Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez homered to back Dempster, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-1 Monday. Lee hit a two-run drive in the first inning off Chad Billingsley (4-6) for his 250th home run, and Ramirez added a solo homer against Scott Proctor in the eighth. That was enough for Dempster, who's making a case for an All-Star selection after being converted back to a starter. "Nothing's easy about it," he said. "It's been hard work."Dempster (6-2) allowed one run and seven hits in seven innings before Bob Howry and Kerry Wood finished. He walked three and struck out three.

Cubs' Dempster improves to 6-2

Cubs SP Ryan Dempster suffered his second loss of the season Tuesday against the Astros, but he didn't pitch all that poorly. He allowed six hits and four runs with five strikeouts in six innings, walking two. He gave up all four of his runs on a Hunter Pence grand slam.

Cubs SP Ryan Dempster (5-1) struck out a career-high 12 and hit an RBI single during a four-run fifth inning, leading the Chicago Cubs over the sorry San Diego Padres 4-0 on Thursday. Dempster went 8 1/3 shutout innings, allowing six hits and one walk, while lowering his ERA to 2.35.

Dempster strikes out career-high 12 in win

Cubs SP Ryan Dempster limited the Diamondbacks to only two runs on three hits Saturday, but didn't pick up the win in a 7-2 defeat of Arizona. Dempster left after striking out seven and walking three in six innings, with the score 2-1 in favor of the D-Backs.

Dempster pitches well in Cubs win

Dempster allows five unearned, takes loss

The Reds ended a five-game losing streak with a 5-3 win Monday against the Cubs by taking advantage of a pair of errors that set up five unearned runs off Ryan Dempster (4-1), who lost for the first time since switching from closer to starter. Mike Fontenot's fielding error -- the second baseman rushed trying to start a potential inning-ending double play -- set up three unearned runs in the first. Third baseman Mark DeRosa then let Edwin Encarnacion's grounder get past him with two outs in the third, and Adam Dunn followed with his fifth homer -- a 463-foot drive -- for a 5-1 lead. Dempster allowed just four hits and one walk while striking out seven in six strong innings.

Cubs SP Ryan Dempster allowed three runs and four hits in six innings Wednesday against the Brewers and got more than enough run support in a 19-5 win. Dempster's only big mistakes were to Ryan J. Braun, who had a RBI single in the third and two-RBI double in the fifth. Dempster survived five walks and struck out one.

Dempster picks up fourth win against Brewers