Dempster wins 15th as Cubs rebound

CHICAGO: Aramis Ramirez hit a pair of three-run homers and Ryan Dempster won his 15th game this season as the Chicago Cubs coasted to a 9-2 win over the Washington Nationals on Saturday.

Mark DeRosa homered for the third straight game as the Cubs improved to a National League best 79-50 and 48-19 at Wrigley Field, one day after losing 13-5 to the lowly Nationals in the series opener.

Dempster (15-5) matched a career-high for wins, allowing one run on eight hits with four strikeouts and a walk over 7-1/3 innings, helping to hand the Nationals their 13th loss in 15 games on a muggy afternoon.