Cubs snap Phillies win streak

Maybe Wednesday's 10-5 victory over the Phillies will put Cubs manager Lou Piniella in a better mood, at least for one day.

For the first two days in Philadelphia, Piniella lamented the Cubs' lack of offense. And for good reason. The Cubs scored a grand total of two runs in those games, both losses.

That led Piniella to lament Tuesday night that he had "seen this movie before" about a lack of offense and that maybe the Cubs would need "two bats" at the trading deadline.

GM Jim Hendry won't get Piniella two bats, but the Cubs went so far as to bench $30 million right fielder Milton Bradley for the first two games of the series. They're patiently waiting for third baseman Aramis Ramirez to fully recover from a dislocated right shoulder, and they're hoping catcher Geovany Soto will be back sooner rather than later as he rehabs a strained oblique muscle in Arizona.

Cubs batters did not hit a home run in the three games against the Phillies, but they did pound out 13 hits Wednesday in the series finale, snapping Philadelphia's 10-game win streak.

Chicago hasn't had a winning record against the Phillies in a season since 2001.

CUBS 10, PHILLIES 5: Ramirez and 2B Jeff Baker each hit two-run doubles as the Cubs salvaged the final game of the series. The Cubs scored four in the fourth and three in the seventh. RHP Carlos Zambrano lasted 6 2/3 innings and improved to 7-4.

NOTES, QUOTES

--Ramirez notched career RBIs 900 and 901 with a two-run double against the Phillies on Wednesday. Ramirez also walked twice and singled once.

--SS Ryan Theriot stole a career-high three bases and had three singles and a walk Wednesday. He extended his hitting streak to five games, during which he's 7-for-19.

--LHP Sean Marshall allowed two inherited runners to score Wednesday. He had entered the day leading the majors in keeping inherited runners from coming home, stranding 24 of 25 (96 percent).

--RHP Ryan Dempster threw a simulated game Wednesday, and he may be able to pitch Sunday against the Reds. Dempster has been on the disabled list since July 7 with a broken right big toe. The Cubs had hoped to have him back by July 30.

--Bradley returned to the lineup Wednesday and contributed two singles and a walk. Both hits came while the switch-hitting Bradley was batting right-handed. He was benched for the first two games of the series as manager Lou Piniella worked with Bradley worked on his left-handed swing. Bradley is batting .343 right-handed but just .200 left-handed.

--RZambrano won his third consecutive decision. It wasn't a quality start, per se, but Zambrano worked 6 2/3 innings, giving up 10 hits and five runs, four earned. Zambrano is 7-4 with a 3.48 ERA. The Cubs needed a starter to go at least six innings after Tuesday's 13-inning game and because the bullpen has been taxed of late.