Giants 13, Cubs 0

Hero: Alfonso Soriano (2-for-4) doubled twice, giving him a respectable total of 38 two-baggers on the season.

Goat: Ryan Dempster (14-11), perhaps in his worst outing as a Cub, allowed nine runs - all earned - on seven hits in just 1 2/3 innings. Dempster struck out two, walked two and surrendered a two-run homer to Juan Uribe during San Francisco's nine-run second inning. It was the right-hander's shortest start since April 30, 2003.

Key Play: Uribe greeted reliever Thomas Diamond with a grand slam - the fifth of his career - in the second inning to give the Giants a 10-0 lead.

Comments: In their first games against a playoff contender since they were in Cincinnati, Aug. 27-29, the Cubs (69-83) dropped two of three to San Francisco (86-67). The Giants moved back into first place, a half-game ahead of second-place San Diego in the NL West.

Giants starter Madison Bumgarner (6-6) allowed seven hits over seven innings while striking out nine and walking one.

Next: Left-hander Tom Gorzelanny (7-8, 3.90 ERA) will make his first start since Sept. 1 on Friday (CSN, 1:20 p.m.) when the Cubs host the St. Louis Cardinals (78-74). Gorzelanny was injured when his pitching hand was hit by a line drive.

Adam Wainwright (19-11, 2.45) will try for his 20th victory and surpass his previous career high of 19. The 29-year-old right-hander has won all four of his previous starts at Wrigley Field.

Since defeating the Cubs 6-3 on Aug. 13 when they were in first place one game ahead of second-place Cincinnati in the NL Central, the Cardinals are 13-25 and now trail the first-place Reds by 7.5 games.