Phoenix, AZ (Sports Network) – Ryan Dempster beat Arizona for the first time in nearly 10 years and Aramis Ramirez clubbed a three-run homer, as the Chicago Cubs completed their first three-game sweep at Chase Field with an 8-3 win over the Diamondbacks.
Ramirez, who hit a pair of two-run blasts in a 6-4 win on Tuesday, helped the Cubs to their second series sweep on the road this season. They took three games in Milwaukee April 23-25.
Starlin Castro stroked the go-ahead, two-run single in the fifth inning for the Cubs, who also have won three straight for the first time since May 22-25 and picked up their fourth consecutive win on the road for the first time since July 1-16, 2009 when they won five road games in a row.
Dempster (7-7) was charged with eight hits and three runs over five innings. The right-hander moved to 2-6 lifetime against Arizona with the only previous win coming September 2, 2000, when he pitched for Florida.
Edwin Jackson (6-7), pitching for the second time since his no-hitter June 25 at Tampa Bay, permitted six hits and five runs over five innings. He had his three-start winning streak broken. The righty lost for the first time since May 28 at San Francisco as the Diamondbacks lost their fifth in a row.
Marlon Byrd doubled in a run in the fourth inning and scored on Alfonso Soriano’s single to left field. The Cubs loaded the bases later in the frame and Dempster pushed a bunt to the first-base side. Jackson dove for the ball, but couldn’t make the grab as a third run scored.
Jackson singled in a run and Chris Young had a two-run base hit in the bottom of the inning to tie the game.
Chicago loaded the bases with two outs in the fifth before Castro singled to left field to plate Ryan Theriot and Byrd.
Theriot and Lee singled to start the top of the ninth against Chad Qualls. One out later, Ramirez homered to left field.
The Cubs are 10-2 against National League West competition this season, including 6-1 against the Diamondbacks…Dempster snapped a five-game losing skid to Arizona…Prior to the game, the Cubs recalled pitcher Mitch Atkins from Triple-A Iowa and placed pitcher Brian Schlitter on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to July 3, with a right shoulder impingement.