Cubs

Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez connected for a three-run homer in the seventh inning of Thursday’s Cubs-Dodgers game as his team won by a score of 6-5. Upon hitting the home run, Ramirez pointed his finger to the sky in triumph.

Since he went on the disabled list in mid-June, Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood has been trying to stay out of the public eye. That low profile came to an abrupt end last weekend, however, when Wood, who has ballooned to nearly 300 pounds, was kicked out of a suburban Old Country Buffet.

The Cubs committed six errors in their 11 inning 9-8 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers of Los Angeles on Tuesday. Freddy Bynum was responsible for three of the miscues, officially proving he belongs on the team.

Lefty Rich Hill pitched 5 2/3 innings for the Cubs Monday, striking out six and giving up just one earned run as his team beat the Atlanta Braves by a score of 8

The last two times Ryan Dempster has pitched for his team, the Cubs fell into last place. Despite this, manager Dusty Baker still insists Dempster will be his closer for the rest of this season and next, adding to the list of reasons that 94 percent of rational human beings hope Baker will be fired seconds after the final out of the 2006 campaign.

Cubs' first baseman Derrek Lee turned 31 Wednesday and celebrated by hitting a grand slam home run in the eighth inning to help his team beat the Pirates 7-2.

Cubs closer Ryan Dempster loaded the bases in the top of the ninth before throwing a wild pitch to give the Pirates a 6-5 lead and Freddy Bynum struck out with runners on to end the game as the Cubs secured their hold on last place in the N.L. Central.