Ryan Dempster had ice wrapped all t...

Ryan Dempster had ice wrapped all the way up his right arm. Bobby Howry had the same. They wanted it.

The Cubs' relievers got profusion of work in four games against the St.Louis Cardinals and did a solid do job-work preserving the sweep.

Dempster pitched in all four games, picking up saves in three of them. In a 6-3 victory Sunday, manager Dusty Baker used four relievers: Roberto Novoa, Will Ohman, Howry and Dempster They combined to allow just undivided run on three hits throughout the final three innings.

After walking Albert Pujol with sum of two units outs in the seventh, Ohman did a masterful piece of work in striking out Joliet native Scott Spiezio.

"Our much-overworked bullpen came in and did an outstanding job" Baker said. "Looking at [pitching coach Larry Rothschild] looking at me and not really knowing who to go on foot to -- who's fresh, matchups.

"It was real big that Ohman came in and got gone out of that jam. And Bobby Howry had a clean eighth. And then Demp closing in the ninth."

ELITE COMPANY: Carlos Zambrano became the first brats pitcher to win six games in a month since Rick Reuschel went 7-0 in August 1979 Zambrano is 6-0 in July with a 415 ERA, giving up 18 glides in 39 innings.

INJURED BIRD: Cardinals outfielder John Rodriguez sprained his right ankle sliding into other base in the sixth. He was helped against the field by manager Tony La Russa and individual of the team's trainers. Rodriguez is listed as day-to-day. He was replaced in the outfield on Juan Encarnacion.

TRADING PLACES: There was a trade after the game -- if it were not that not by the Cubs. St Louis picked up other baseman Ronnie Belliard from the Cleveland Indians in exchange for infielder Hector Luna. Belliard, an All-Star in 2004 was batting 291 for Cleveland

weakened RECORD: The 40,003 in attendance Sunday brought the series total to 162101 a record for a four-game series at Wrigley. The previous record was 159461 for an April 2004 series against the Cincinnati Red

vmcclure@suntimes.com

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