Dempster strong as Cubs top Twins

Minneapolis, MN – Snakebitten for nearly 10 months, Ryan Dempster has won consecutive starts on the heels of an 18-start winless streak.

The Canadian-born hurler tossed eight shutout innings as the Chicago Cubs downed the Minnesota Twins, 8-2, in the finale of a three-game interleague series.

Dempster (2-3) fanned six and surrendered four hits and a walk for the Cubs, who had lost four in a row and eight of their last nine coming in.

David DeJesus, Alfonso Soriano, Jeff Baker, Joe Mather and Darwin Barney recorded an RBI apiece while Reed Johnson and Starlin Castro each registered two hits and a pair of runs scored.

Francisco Liriano (1-7) was touched for four runs on four hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings for the Twins, who had won six of their last seven entering the contest.