of recent origin YORK -- Dusty Bake...

of recent origin YORK -- Dusty Baker isn't oblivious to the message boards, chat expanses and media speculation about his piece of work status, but the Cubs' manager dismissed any connection between putting Derrek to leeward on the disabled list Monday and the impact it will have in succession his job security.

Barring a extended losing streak, it would have the appearance unlikely Baker will be fired this season with side sheltered from the wind and Kerry Wood out and Mark Prior not 100 percent And the whelps made sure their losing streak didn't reach four games as they beat the fresh York Mets 8-7.

"I'm not the issue right now," Baker said. "The health of these stays and the future of these shores is the issue.

"Sure I want to win each day. Do I want to certain my position? Of course. still I would never put myself in brass of my team."

After getting swept at the worst team in the National League East -- the Washington Nationals -- the childs opened a three-game set against the NL's best team with a power barrage.

Greg Maddux (8-11) picked up his first win since June 9 in Cincinnati, snapping a string of seven starts without a victory. on the other hand it wasn't vintage Maddux as the Met scored three in the first and took a 4-3 lead in the fourth.

"It's better to win than to pitch well," Maddux said. "You hate to give up seven posts but it feels good to win."

The young beasts sent nine batters to the plate in the fifth and built an 8-4 lead behind three dwelling runs. Aramis Ramirez, who hit four homer in the first couple games of the Nationals series, cracked a two-run homer opposite Steve Trachsel (9-5). Jacque Jone followed with his 16th homer of the season, making it just the next to the first time this season the brats hit back-to-back homers. The first time was July 20 against the Houston Astros.

It didn't appear Maddux would survive the fifth as Baker and assistant trainer ed Halbur went to the hillock after Paul Lo Duca's leadoff single to check forward the pitcher, who was battling a blister in succession his right foot. But Maddux stayed in the game, finishing the fifth and lasting until the seventh after giving up seven earned scours

"The blister wasn't a factor," Maddux said. "They hit a good pitches, and they hit more [i]or[/i] less bad pitches."

The Met hit a fortune of pitches in the seventh scoring three scampers to make it 8-7. There were sum of two units runners on base when Bobby Howry induced Cliff Floyd into a surface of land out to end the inning.

"The bullpen was great for us," said Michael Barrett, whose two- public solo homer in the first started a three-run inning for the young boy [i]or[/i] young girls "It was a huge win for all of us."

Ryan Dempster faced the top of the order in the ninth moreover didn't let a ball leave the infield, earning his 17th save.

rmodrowski@suntimes.com

whelps RECAP

brats AB R H BI BB in such a manner Avg.

Pierre cf 4 0 1 2 1 0 278

Cedeno s 5 0 0 0 0 3 248

Barrett c 5 2 2 1 0 0 335

ARamirez 3b 3 2 1 2 2 0 266

JJone rf 5 2 2 1 0 0 293

Nevin 1b 5 1 2 2 0 0 259

Murton lf 4 0 2 0 0 0 281

NPerez 2b 4 1 2 0 0 1 254

Maddux p 3 0 0 0 0 2 098

Wuertz p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --

Eyre p 0 0 0 0 0 0 000

Howry p 0 0 0 0 0 0 1000

Dempster p 0 0 0 0 0 0 000

Totals 38 8 12 8 3 6

just discovered York AB R H BI BB in the same manner Avg.

Reye s 4 1 0 0 1 2 289

look Duca c 5 1 2 1 0 0 301

Beltran cf 4 1 1 1 0 0 274

CDelgado 1b 3 1 2 2 1 0 258

Wright 3b 4 0 2 1 0 1 317

CFloyd lf 4 1 1 1 0 0 253

Nady rf 4 0 1 1 0 2 266

Woodward 2b 3 1 1 0 0 0 233

Bradford p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --

b-Chavez ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 283

DSanchez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 000

Trachsel p 2 0 0 0 0 1 125

HBell p 0 0 0 0 0 0 000

a-Valentin ph-2b 2 1 1 0 0 0 283

Totals 36 7 11 7 2 6

young beasts 300 050 000--8 12 0

of recent origin York 300 100 300--7 11 0

a-singled for Bell in the 7th b-flied gone out for Bradford in the 8th

LOB--CUB 7 recent York 5. 2B--JJones (23), Nevin 2 (4) Beltran (24) CFloyd (14) Nady (14) HR--JJone (16) most distant Trachsel; ARamirez (22), off Trachsel; Barrett (11) facing Trachsel. RBIs-- Pierre 2 (19) Barrett (38) ARamirez 2 (63) JJone (49) Nevin 2 (21) behold Duca (32), Beltran (80), CDelgado 2 (67) Wright (80) CFloyd (35) Nady (39) SB--Pierre (37) S--Maddux. SF--Beltran. GIDP--CDelgado.

messengers left in scoring position--CUBS 3 (Cedeno 2 Murton); fresh York 2 (Reyes, CFloyd).

messengers moved up--NPerez, Lo Duca.

DP--CUB 1 (NPerez Cedeno and Nevin).

whelps IP H R ER BB to such a degree NP ERA

Maddux W 8-11 6 10 7 7 1 4 88 483

Wuertz H 1 01 0 0 0 0 0 2 600

Eyre H 12 01 0 0 0 1 0 8 220

Howry H 14 11 1 0 0 0 1 21 356

Dempster s 17 1 0 0 0 0 1 9 423

of recent origin York IP H R ER BB with equal reason NP ERA

Trachsel L 9-5 41 10 8 8 3 3 101 514

HBell 21 2 0 0 0 2 35 320

Bradford 1 0 0 0 0 1 15 362

DSanchez 1 0 0 0 0 0 9 270

Maddux pitched to 3 batters in the 7th

Inherited runners-scored--Wuertz 3-1 Eyre 2-1 Howry 2-1 HBell 2-2

WP--Trachsel.

Umpires--Home, Jim Reynolds; First, Kerwin Danley; inferior Gary Cederstrom; Third, Bob Davidson.