Cubs lose 6-1 to Dodgers; Ryan Dempster thanks Chicago with full page ad

The Cubs lost 6-1 to the Los Angeles Dodgers tonight in the first of a three-game series.  Jeff Samardzija started for the Cubs and allowed five runs over eight hits while striking out three batters over 5.1 innings pitched.  This was the most runs Samardzija has given up in his last five starts.

Jeff Samardzija moved into the No. 1 spot in the rotation after Ryan Dempster and Paul Maholm were traded and Garza is still injured, but gave up five runs against the Dodgers (photo from cubs.com)

Cubs manager Dale Sveum said, "You don't fill the best pitcher in baseball over the last month in Paul Maholm, and it's very difficult to fill a spot of a guy who's No. 1 in baseball in earned run average this year [in Dempster].  It's difficult to go forward [without them] as well as losing the best utility outfielder in baseball, the best pinch-hitter [in Reed Johnson].  Those things are very, very difficult to fill."

I have a feeling this is going to be a long couple of months ahead of us.  But rebuilding or building a team takes time, right?

In other Cubs news, former No. 1 Cubs starting pitcher Ryan Dempster took out a full page ad in today's Chicago Tribune to thank Chicago.

Ryan Dempster's full page thank-you ad in the Chicago Tribune on Friday

This just goes to show what a classy guy Demp is and the Dempster Family Foundation is truly amazing.  We will miss you, Ryan!

Tomorrow the Cubs and Dodgers will play game two at 8:10pm CT at Dodger Stadium.  Chris Volstad, who was called up from Triple-A Iowa last week will start for the Cubs and try to earn his first win.  Volstad has a record of 0-7 and an ERA of 7.94 this season with the Cubs.  Let's hope he can get his ERA down as well!