Sticks pick up steam

If Derrek Lee's sore back keeps him out of the Cubs' lineup for more than a day or so, cleanup hitter Aramis Ramirez demonstrated a possible way to fill the void Saturday.

In fact, Ramirez had the answers to almost everything that has ailed the Cubs' lineup lately, hitting a three-run home run for an early lead in the fourth, then adding another three-run shot in the eighth after Lee left the game to make it a 9-2 rout over the woeful Washington Nationals at Wrigley Field.

''If he gets going, it's a pretty dangerous lineup,'' said second baseman Mark DeRosa, who hit a solo home run in the sixth.

While starting ace Ryan Dempster (15-5) provided another 7�-inning example of the biggest reason why the Cubs have the best record in baseball, Ramirez's six-RBI jump to 90 for the season was a sign the lineup might be ready to stir again after a weeklong snooze -- coming on the same afternoon DeRosa hit his third homer in as many days and Ryan Theriot delivered his 49th multihit game of the season.

''We've got a great offense. You guys [media] panic too quick,'' Ramirez said of the 13-hit game that came a day after an embarrassing 13-5 loss to the Nationals.

Maybe we should have waited until Lee hurt his back on an awkward swing as he struck out in the fifth. Or until he had to reach for a wide throw from Dempster in the sixth and felt it ''grab'' again, as Piniella described it, then left the game.

''We took him out to put some heat on him to see if we can get him ready for tomorrow,'' said Piniella, who was unsure whether Lee would be back in the lineup for the series finale today.

The Cubs are calling it ''upper back spasms.'' Lee was gone by the time media arrived in the clubhouse after the game.

Whether it's one day or 12 without their No. 3 hitter, the Cubs needed a breakout day, if only for their own psyches -- or to put a few of the questions to rest about men left on base in recent games.

In fact, the Cubs left eight men on base in the first three innings before Lee's RBI single and Ramirez's first home run finally scored some runs.

''Our team never wavers. We know we're capable of scoring runs,'' DeRosa said. ''It was just nice to see one of our big guys pop the ball out of the yard and get us a 4-0 lead. And then he comes up again in the eighth inning and drives another one out.''

And with the whole lineup getting on base throughout the game -- reaching in every inning and 20 times in all -- maybe they're out of the minislump.

''We should be,'' said Ramirez, who is hitting .432 with three homers and 15 RBI in his last 11 games.

''I hope so,'' DeRosa said. ''Guys swung the bats well. Ryan [Theriot] had three hits. Aramis obviously had a huge day. There's just a bunch of guys who found their way on base today.

''But I always go back to Ryan [Dempster] just putting up zeroes after we put up runs. That's the key. You go out and put up three or four runs, and you want your pitcher to go throw a doughnut up on the board, and he's been able to do that time and time again for us.''

Which might have something to do with that big lead in the division and that record that's back up to 29 games over .500.

''It's been fun. It's been fun for all of us,'' Dempster said. ''We're having a great time, and we just want to keep it going.''

Comment at suntimes.com.

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Game Recap

At the plate Two three-run homers by Aramis Ramirez, along with a solo shot by Mark DeRosa - his third consecutive game with a homer -- roused the Cubs' lineup out of a weeklong slumber.

On the mound If Ryan Dempster (15-5) isn't the Cubs' ace, he sure looks like one. Taking a shutout into the seventh inning, he finished a strong 7� innings on a sweatbox day for his third victory in a row.

Pivotal point After leaving eight men on base in the first three innings, the Cubs broke through in the fourth, with Derrek Lee's one-out single and Ramirez's ensuing long ball, his first of the game.

On deck The Cubs' Rich Harden (3-1, 1.50 ERA) vs. the Nationals' Jason Bergmann (2-9, 4.50), 1:20 p.m. today, Ch. 9, 720-AM.

Color Photo: Richard A. Chapman, Sun-Times / Aramis Ramirez (center) returns to the dugout after hitting his second three-run homer of the game in the eighth inning. ;