The Chicago Cubs got home runs from unlikely candidates on Thursday evening, as Henry Blanco & Ronny Cedeno both went deep during their 6-3 win over the Florida Marlins from Wrigley Field.

The Cubs had a chance to take an early lead in the bottom of the 2nd inning after Reed Johnson hit a 1-out double against Marlins starter Scott Olsen.

Mark DeRosa then flied out to Josh Willingham in left field to advance Johnson to 3rd base with 2 outs, but Henry Blanco grounded out to Jorge Cantu at 3rd base to end the scoring threat.

Florida then was able to take the lead in the top of the 3rd inning after Scott Olsen hit a 1-out single off Chicago starter Carlos Zambrano.

Hanley Ramirez then followed with a 2-run homer (24th of season) to give the Marlins a 2-0 lead.

The Cubs were then able to chip their deficit in half on Ronny Cedeno’s solo homer (2nd of season) to make it a 2-1 game.

For Cedeno, it was his first home run since April 22nd against the New York Mets, which was also hit at Wrigley Field.

Chicago then took the lead for good in the bottom of the 5th inning after Mark DeRosa’s lead-off walk against Olsen started a big rally.

Henry Blanco then singled to put runners at 1st & 2nd with nobody out.

2 batters later, Carlos Zambrano helped his own cause by hitting an RBI double to score DeRosa from 2nd base & tie the game 2-2.

Alfonso Soriano was then intentionally walked to load the bases for Ryan Theriot, who grounded into a fielder’s choice for the 2nd out.

Derrek Lee then drew a bases-loaded walk from Olsen to force in Zambrano from 3rd base, which gave the Cubs a 3-2 lead.

Aramis Ramirez then hit a 2-run double to score both Soriano & Theriot to give Chicago a 5-2 lead.

Lee also tried to score on the play, but was tagged out at home plate to end the inning.

The Cubs scored their 6th & final run in the bottom of the 6th inning on Henry Blanco’s solo homer (2nd of season) to make it a 6-2 lead.

For Blanco, it was his first home run since May 30th against Colorado which was also hit at Wrigley Field.

Florida then tried to make things interesting late as Alfredo Amezaga hit a lead-off single against Chicago reliever Chad Gaudin to start the 8th inning.

Jorge Cantu then doubled to put runners at 2nd & 3rd with nobody out, which forced Cubs skipper Lou Piniella to remove Gaudin from the game & replace him with lefty Neal Cotts.

Cotts then walked pinch-hitter Wes Helms to load the bases with nobody out for Cody Ross, which again brought out Piniella from the Cubs’ dugout to make another pitching change.

This time he went to righty Bob Howry, who retired Cody Ross on an outfield flyout to Mark DeRosa in right field.

DeRosa then made the play of the game, as he made an outstanding diving catch to rob former Cub Luis Gonzalez of an extra-base hit. Amezaga was able to score on the sac fly & made it a 6-3 game.

Carlos Marmol then entered the game & struck out Josh Willingham to end the inning.

The Cubs had a chance to score some key insurance runs in the bottom of the 8th inning after Aramis Ramirez hit a 1-out single against Marlins reliever Joe Nelson.

Ramirez was then able to steal 2nd base during Mark DeRosa’s at-bat, who walked to put runners at 1st & 2nd with 2 outs for Henry Blanco.

Blanco struck out to end the scoring threat.

Florida then made things very interesting in the top of the 9th inning after Carlos Marmol gave up back-to-back walks to John Baker & pinch-hitter Dan Uggla to put runners at 1st & 2nd with nobody out.

Marmol then dodged a huge bullet by striking out Hanley Ramirez, who tied Uggla for the team lead in home runs with his 2nd inning shot off Carlos Zambrano earlier tonight.

Alfredo Amezaga then reached on a fielder’s choice, but Uggla was out at 2nd base for the 2nd out of the inning.

Jorge Cantu then drew a walk to load the bases for Wes Helms, who struck out swinging to end the ballgame.

Carlos Zambrano (11-4) gets the win for the Cubs & remains unbeaten in 11 home starts this season after pitching 7 innings & allowing 2 runs on 6 hits while striking out six.

Zambrano now ties teammate Ryan Dempster for the team lead with 11 wins apiece.

Scott Olsen (6-5) takes the loss for the Marlins after allowing 6 runs on 7 hits in 6 innings of work.

Despite allowing three 9th-inning walks, Carlos Marmol pitched out of it for his 4th save of the season.

With Thursday night’s victory, the Cubs are now the National League’s first team to win 60 games this season.

Chicago will try to shoot for their 3rd straight win on Friday afternoon at 1:20 PM cst from Wrigley Field, as righthander Ryan Dempster (11-4, 3.05) will be opposed by Florida righthander Josh Johnson (0-0, 3.86).

Dempster is 10-1 in 12 home starts this season with a 2.81 ERA & will make his 1st career start against Florida on Friday.

Johnson has made just 2 starts so far as he tries to recover from Tommy John surgery which cost him most of the 2007 season.

In Johnson’s only career apperance against the Cubs on April 24th, 2006, he gave up 4 runs on 2 hits in 1 inning of work out the bullpen & has a career ERA of 36.00 against Chicago.

Signing off for now,