CHICAGO, June 11 (UPI) -- Chicago jumped to an early lead on Kosuke Fukudome's three-run homer in the first Wednesday and the Cubs went on to defeat Atlanta 7-2.
The Cubs won their ninth straight home game.
Chicago built a 7-0 lead through three innings and coasted behind the complete-game performance of Ryan Dempster (8-2).
It was Dempster's ninth start at Wrigley Field this season and he has an 8-0 home mark. He gave up just four hits and struck out 11 without a walk. Atlanta's two runs came in the seventh on a homer by Corky Miller.
The loss went to Jeff Bennett (0-4), who was shelled for seven runs in two-plus innings.
Ryan Theriot doubled home two runs in the second and Jim Edmonds singled in two more in the third.
The Cubs, who have lost only eight times in 36 home games this year, maintained a 2 1/2-game lead over St. Louis for the top spot in the National League Central.
