Lee blasts two home runs with seven RBI as Cubs topple the Brewers

CHICAGO - After Derrek Lee hit .189 with one home run in April, some Cubs fans cried for his benching.

But Lee has been on fire since, and he hit two home runs with a career-high seven RBI on Thursday night in a 9-5 victory over the Brewers in the opener of a four-game showdown.

"Keep going," Lee said. "Just about trying to help the team win. Tonight's a great night, but we're right back here (Friday afternoon) and it's another big game."

The Cubs moved back to .500 at 38-38 and are now within 2{ games of the Brewers and Cardinals, the division co-leaders after Thursday's action. The 11-game homestand against Milwaukee, Atlanta and St. Louis could be a pivotal point of the season, so it was crucial for the Cubs to get out on the right foot.

"It's not our season, but it's certainly 11 important games at home against two of the teams that are directly in front of us, and Atlanta," manager Lou Piniella said. "These are 11 tough games. We have a chance to make up some ground. We'll see. We've played well at home (22-13), so there's no reason to assume we won't play well in this stretch."

Lee cranked a three-run homer off Brewers starter Seth McClung in the first inning and added a grand slam onto Waveland Avenue off reliever Chris Smith in the fourth. He received a curtain call after the street shot from the crowd of 40,545.

Since the start of May, Lee is hitting .326 with 13 home runs and 38 RBI. He has been the club's most consistent hitter in Aramis Ramirez's absence and could be their lone representative July 14 at the All-Star Game in St. Louis.

"There are some first basemen having some really big years," Lee said. "So I think I'll enjoy my three days off."

Jake Fox and Geovany Soto also homered for the Cubs, who had not had a four-homer game since an 11-3 victory May 14 over San Diego at Wrigley Field.

Soto has five home runs since June 14 and appears to be getting back to his old form.