The Chicago Cubs scored 6 runs in the first 2 innings & held on for a 7-4 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday evening from Wrigley Field.

The Cubs started a rally in the bottom of the 1st inning after Ryan Theriot hit a 1-out double off Orioles starter Matt Albers.

Derrek Lee then singled to put runners at 1st & 2nd with just 1 out for Aramis Ramirez.

Ramirez got his 30th birthday going in grand fashion, as he hit an RBI single to score Theriot from 2nd base & gave the Cubs a 1-0 lead.

Jim Edmonds then drew a walk to load the bases with just 1 out for Geovany Soto.

The Orioles were then forced to go into their bullpen early with Albers leaving the game due to discomfort in his right shoulder.Geovany Soto then hit a 2-run single to score both Lee & Ramirez to make it a 3-0 Cubs lead. Soto was able to advance to 2nd base on the play.

Mark DeRosa then hit an RBI single, scoring Edmonds from 3rd base & made it a 4-0 Cubs lead.

With 2 outs & Geovany Soto on 3rd base, Mike Fontenot & Ted Lilly both struck out to end the inning.

The Orioles cut their deficit in half in the top of the 2nd inning after Ramon Hernandez drew a 1-out walk from Cubs started Ted Lilly.

Jay Payton then followed with a 2-run homer (5th of season) to make it a 4-2 Cub lead.

The Cubs were able to get those 2 runs back in the bottom of the 2nd inning after Ryan Theriot hit a 1-out single & advanced to 2nd base on a wild pitch from Cormier.

Derrek Lee then walked & Aramis Ramirez singled to load the bases with nobody out for Jim Edmonds.

Edmonds grounded into a fielder’s choice, but scored Theriot from 3rd base to give the Cubs a 5-2 lead.

Geovany Soto then followed with an RBI single, which scored Lee from 3rd base & gave Chicago a 6-2 lead.

Mark DeRosa then drew a walk to load the bases with 2 outs for Mike Fontenot, who grounded out to Alex Cintron at shortstop to end the inning.

Baltimore looked to rally in the top of the 3rd inning after Brian Roberts hit a 1-out double off Lilly.

Nick Markakis then drew a walk to put runners on 1st & 2nd with just 1 out, but Lilly retired both Melvin Mora & Aubrey Huff on outfield flyout to end the scoring threat.

The Cubs had another chance to push across more runs in the bottom of the 3rd inning after Lilly hit a lead-off single against Cormier.

Eric Patterson then walked to put runners at 1st & 2nd with nobody out.

2 batters later, Derrek Lee grounded out to Cormier but was able to advance both Lilly & Patterson into scoring position with 2 outs for Aramis Ramirez.

Ramirez ended the scoring threat with a groundout to Melvin Mora at 3rd base.

The Orioles crept a bit closer in the top of the 4th inning after Luke Scott hit a 1-out single off Lilly.

Jay Payton then followed with another 2-run homer (6th of season) to make it a 6-4 Cub lead. It is the first multi-homer game for Payton since September 3rd, 2003 (Payton hit a pair of solo homers as a member of the Colorado Rockies, but lost 7-6 to the San Francisco Giants.)

Jim Edmonds continued his hot hitting, as his 4th inning solo homer (7th of season) gave the Cubs a 7-4 lead. Edmonds is now batting 26 for 82 (.317 with 6 HR & 20 RBI) in 28 games since joining the Cubs on May 14th.

Chicago had a chance to add on more runs after Mike Fontenot hit a 2-out double off Baltimore reliever Ryan Bukvich.

Ted Lilly then followed with a slow single up the middle, but Eric Patterson struck out to end the inning.

The Cubs had yet another chance to tack on more runs in the bottom of the 6th inning after Jim Edmonds & Geovany Soto drew back-to-back walks off Bukvich.

Bukvich was able to strike out Mark DeRosa, Mike Fontenot & Ted Lilly to end the scoring threat.

Chicago had 1 final chance to break the game open in the bottom of the 8th inning after Jim Edmonds, Geovany Soto & Mark DeRosa drew 3 straight 1-out walks against Baltimore reliever Dennis Sarfate.

Mike Fontenot then popped out on his 1st pitch to Luke Scott in left field before pinch-hitter Daryle Ward struck out swinging to end the scoring threat.

Kerry Wood ended the game by striking out the side in the top of the 9th inning.

Ted Lilly (8-5) picks up the win for the Cubs after allowing 4 runs & 5 hits in 7 innings of work. The Cubs have now won their last 7 home starts when Lilly pitches.

Matt Albers (3-3) takes the loss for the Orioles after allowing 4 runs on 3 hits in just 1/3rd of an inning after being forced to leave with right shoulder discomfort.

Kerry Wood pitched a perfect 9th inning for his 20th save of the season.

The Cubs will now look to record yet another interleague series win on Thursday afternoon, as righthander Jason Marquis (6-3, 4.43) will oppose Orioles righthander Radhames Liz (1-0, 6.27).

Marquis will look to win his 5th consecutive start on Thursday & is a perfect 4-0 in 7 day game starts with a 3.53 ERA.

Thursday will be Marquis’ 1st career start against the Orioles.

Liz is 1-0 in just 3 career road starts with a 6.57 ERA. Baltimore has won both of Liz’s interleague apperances this season.

Signing off for now,