By RICK GANO
AP Sports Writer

CHICAGO(AP) -- Derrek Lee took a curtain call after his second
homer, a grand slam that gave him a career-high seven RBIs on a
night when the baseball seemed to be coming at a different
speed.

"Just some nights the game seems like it slows down a little bit
and tonight was one of those nights," Lee said after leading the
Chicago Cubs to a 9-5 win over the Milwaukee Brewers in the
opener of an 11-game homestand.

The Cubs also got homers from Geovany Soto and Jake Fox as their
erratic offense showed some spark against Brewers starter Seth
McClung and reliever Chris Smith.

"It makes it fun to hit when everyone is swinging the bats well.
There are guys on base and pressure on the pitcher," Lee said.
"Tonight is a great night, but we're right back here tomorrow at
1. ... So, turn the page."

Lee drove his 10th career grand slam off Smith in the fourth
after connecting for a three-run shot off McClung in the first.
Fox and Soto also had solo shots off McClung (3-2), who was
making just his second start of the season.

The Brewers entered the game with a one-game lead over the
Cardinals in the NL Central, but are now only a percentage point
ahead after St. Louis beat the Giants.

McClung gave up seven hits and seven earned runs in 3 1-3
innings.

"It is disappointing to know that I got an opportunity to show
what I could do," said McClung, who's been primarily a reliever.

"It's disheartening. I know I'm better than the statistics I put
up the last couple of times."

Ryan Dempster (5-5) got his first win since May 30 and improved
his career record against the Brewers to 10-3. He gave up four
runs - three earned - and eight hits in 6 2-3 innings, including
Mike Cameron's 13th homer in the second and Prince Fielder's
21st in the sixth.

He left after Ryan Braun's RBI single in the seventh, and Jason
Kendall's RBI single off Aaron Heilman cut the Chicago lead to
9-5 in the eighth.

"Our offense gave us a chance, our starting pitching didn't,"
Brewers manager Ken Macha said. "You've got to locate the ball
to Lee and we didn't do it."

Sam Fuld, replacing slumping Alfonso Soriano, drew a leadoff
walk in the first, Ryan Theriot singled and Lee sent his 13th
homer deep into the left field bleachers. One out later, Fox hit
his third home run of the season to give Dempster an early 4-0
cushion.

"This is an important series," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said.
"Derrek has been swinging the bat well now for awhile. You look
up there and all of a sudden you see 14 home runs and 48 RBIs
and around a .290 (.285) batting average. He's getting some runs
in for us, which is important."

After Cameron's two-run drive cut the lead in half, the Cubs
drove out McClung with a five-run fourth.

Soto led off with his eighth homer. After a single by Mike
Fontenot, a sacrifice and infield single by Fuld, Smith relieved
and walked Theriot to load the bases for Lee, who sent another
long drive into the left-field bleachers.

"Bases loaded and a 3-1 count is about the best situation you
can be in," Lee said. "He has to throw a strike. He can't walk
you there, so I tried to be aggressive."

"I'm just swinging the bat well right now," he added. "I'm
getting a pitch to hit and putting a swing on it."

NOTES: It was Milwaukee's first trip to Wrigley Field this
season, even though the teams are in the same division and
located only 90 miles apart. ... Cubs 3B Aramis Ramirez
(shoulder) and CF Reed Johnson (back) will begin rehab
assignments with Class A Peoria this weekend. Ramirez is slated
to play three games beginning Friday and Johnson will start
Saturday. Both could be activated by the Cubs on Monday.