Jul. 3--SAN FRANCISCO -- Ryan Dempster was in search of his first road victory of the season Wednesday night at AT & T Park, and he looked like he was on his way with a three-run lead over San Francisco heading into the seventh inning.
But manager Lou Piniella removed Dempster after 91 pitches for Carlos Marmol, who promptly served up a three-run home run to Giants second baseman Ray Durham to cough up the lead.
Mike Fontenot's solo shot off Tyler Walker in the eighth put the Cubs back on top, and they wound up winning 6-5 before 41,345 on a wild night in San Francisco.
Kerry Wood worked the ninth and, after giving up a two-out triple to Jose Castillo, struck out Fred Lewis looking for his his 21st save.
Before the game, Piniella said he wanted to give Marmol some work because he hadn't pitched since Saturday's game against the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field.
"One thing, our short people are very rested," Piniella said. "But that's not very good, because that means you're not winning. When your short people are a little tired, you've been winning. When they're real rested, you have some problems on the 'W' end. [Bob] Howry got some work [Tuesday] night, and [Wood] got some the night before. Let's just win some baseball games. That's all I'm interested in.
"It has been tough lately. It really has. It hasn't been easy."
And it wasn't any easier Wednesday, despite another sterling performance from Dempster.
The Cubs right-hander was going for his first triumph on the road since June 2, 2006, at St. Louis, when he was still pitching in relief.
The last time Dempster won a road game as a starter was April 16, 2005, at Pittsburgh, shortly before he replaced LaTroy Hawkins as the Cubs' closer.
Though he allowed only two runs on five hits over six innings Wednesday, striking out seven, Dempster's winless streak on the road continued.
The Cubs took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on Matt Murton's double-play grounder, and Dempster held the Giants scoreless through the first five.
RhinoTough 
