Canadian Dempster strikes out 12 in Cubs win

On an afternoon where Greg Maddux might have pitched his last game where his career began, it was Canadian Ryan Dempster that wound up front and centre.

Dempster struck out a career-high 12 and added the go-ahead single against Maddux during a four-run fifth inning, helping the Chicago Cubs past the listless San Diego Padres 4-0 at Wrigley Field on Thursday.

The native of Gibsons, B.C., allowed six hits in 8 1/3 innings and walked one, leaving after 115 pitches. He appeared set for his first complete game since a six-hitter while with the Cincinnati Reds against the Cubs in 2002, but he ran into trouble in the ninth.

Brian Giles, who had three hits against Dempster on Thursday, led off the ninth with a double, which prompted a visit from Cubs manager Lou Piniella.

Dempster followed with a strikeout of Adrian Gonzalez, but Pinella decided to pull him out after Kevin Kouzmanoff singled to put runners on first and third.

Kerry Wood came in and struck out Khalil Greene and pinch-hitter Josh Bard for his eighth save in 11 chances for the National League Central-leading Cubs (25-16).

Maddux, 42, made his debut with the Cubs in 1986 and potentially made his final start in the historic stadium. He might retire after this season and the Padres aren't scheduled to play against the Cubs in Chicago again this season.

The left-hander allowed four runs on 11 hits across 4 1/3 innings with most of the damage against him coming in the fifth inning.

Ronny Cedeno, Henry Blanco and Dempster singled to put the Cubs ahead. Alfonso Soriano followed with a single to load the bases, Ryan Theriot hit a sacrifice fly and Derrek Lee had a two-run double.

That ended the game for Maddux (3-4), who left to a standing ovation.

The Padres, owners of the lowest team batting average (.233) and fewest runs scored in the major leagues, were blanked for the fourth time this season.

San Diego struck out a total of 14 times in all on Thursday, just one day after striking out 15 times in Chicago's 8-5 win on Wednesday. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it was the most strikeouts by a team in a span of two nine-inning games since 30 batters for the Texas Rangers were fanned last Aug. 19 and 21.

Jim Edmonds, who was released by San Diego last week, made his debut in centre field for Chicago and went one-for-four with a single and a strikeout.