Jake Fox's persistence and patience in drawing a game-winning, bases-loaded walk Friday should come as no surprise. He's a determined guy with big minor league numbers trying to find a permanent job with the Chicago Cubs. Fox fouled off four pitches before working a two-out walk on a close 3-2 pitch from Mark DiFelice, sending the Cubs to a 2-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in 10...

The Cubs returned home Thursday after a 3-7 road trip, but they didn't seem at all panicked.

A 9-5 victory over Milwaukee at Wrigley Field put them just 2 1/2 games behind the Brewers and Cardinals in the NL Central on the first night of an 11-game homestand against the Brewers, Cards and Braves.

"It's not our season, but certainly, 11 important games at home against two of the teams that are directly in front of us, and Atlanta, which has got a good ballclub," manager Lou Piniella said. "These are 11 tough games. We've got a chance to pick up some ground. We'll see."

The Cubs regained the .500 mark, at 38-38, and as poorly as they've played, they can still find themselves in first place before the homestand is over and the All-Star break begins.

Derrek Lee took a curtain call after his second homer, a grand slam that gave him a career-high seven RBIs on a night when the baseball seemed to be coming at a different speed. "Just some nights the game seems like it slows down a little bit and tonight was one of those nights," Lee said after leading the Chicago Cubs to a 9-5 win over the Milwaukee Brewers in the opener of an 11-game...

No doubt the Cubs anticipated needing Randy Wells and Sam Fuld to win games for them as the All-Star break approached in early July. The Iowa Cubs, that is. The Chicago Cubs? Hardly, at least not until injuries repeatedly made them dip into the minors for help. Derrek Lee and Kosuke Fukudome homered to support Wells' seven effective innings and the Cubs won another series from division opponent...

Their bench was thin, their minds admittedly jumbled a few hours after watching three more teammates leave. The Pirates had every reason to expect to lose to the Cubs after management effectively told them they're not ready yet to win. Ross Ohlendorf and Freddy Sanchez made certain it wouldn't happen.

One good week is all that's needed to move near the top of the crowded NL Central. Or, maybe for the Chicago Cubs, one good series in Pittsburgh. Rich Harden repeatedly worked out of trouble to win for the first time in more than six weeks, Ryan Theriot homered and the Cubs maintained their mastery of the Pirates by winning 3-1 on Monday night.

The squeeze was on as Chris Getz made a dash from third and headed for the plate. When Carlos Zambrano threw outside and wild, Getz got a steal of home Sunday and the White Sox were on their way to a whacky 6-0 victory over the Cubs. It's also the play that seemed to unnerve Zambrano. The emotional Cubs ace hit DeWayne Wise with the very next pitch and a short time later was out of the game.

Gordon Beckham saw A.J. Pierzynski and Jim Thome sprinting after him, and just like that, his euphoria gave way to nerves. Soon, the mob engulfed him, delivering jabs to the ribs and a couple other shots -- none was as big as the blow he delivered. Beckham singled in the winning run with two outs in the ninth, and Scott Podsednik homered while tying a career high with four hits to lift the Chicago...

Lou Piniella lost his patience after Milton Bradley lost his cool. The Chicago Cubs still won, and they can thank Geovany Soto, of all people, for that. At the center of controversy the previous day, Soto delivered the tie-breaking three-run homer to help the Cubs beat the White Sox 5-4 on Friday at U.S.