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Final Score: Chicago Cubs 7 - Milwaukee 2

Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Ryan Theriot went 3-for-3 with three runs batted in, and Ryan Dempster allowed just one run over seven dominant innings as the Chicago Cubs continued to pull away from the Milwaukee Brewers with a 7-2 win in the third of four games at Miller Park.

Dempster (12-4) allowed just five hits and struck out nine while walking one for the Cubs, who have won four straight to open up a four-game lead over the Brewers in the NL Central. Chicago also holds a four-game lead over the St. Louis Cardinals, who topped the Braves, 7-2, on Wednesday.

"Guys are coming through in big ways, picking each other up, coming up with two-out hits, two-out RBI, and the guys in the bullpen are coming in and doing their jobs," Dempster said.

Reed Johnson and Alfonso Soriano picked up three hits a piece for the Cubs, who won despite going 4-for-17 with runners in scoring position and stranding 15 men on base.

"We got some big situational hits," Theriot said. "We've been hitting with two strikes and two outs well. It comes in spurts, and when you're getting those hits, you've got to take advantage of it."

Prince Fielder homered for the Brewers, losers of four straight since tying the Cubs atop the Central on Saturday. Manny Parra (9-4) was tagged for five runs on eight hits in 5 1/3 frames while striking out five and walking four. Parra also doubled and tripled to notch two of Milwaukee's six hits.

"I made some good pitches and they hit them," Parra said. "I made some bad ones and they capitalized on those, too."

The Cubs were handed two runs in the first inning and never looked back. With runners at the corners and two outs, Johnson fanned to seemingly end the inning. But, Parra's pitch got past Jason Kendall, and Soriano came in to score as Johnson beat out Kendall's throw to first. Mark DeRosa then made Parra pay further for the extra out, plating Derrek Lee with a single up the middle.

The Brewers got a run back in the home half as Ray Durham led off with a ground-rule double, moved to third and scored on a wild pitch with two outs.

The Brewers had a chance to tie the game in the fifth, but a baserunning error doomed their chances. Kendall singled with one out, but was thrown out trying to steal second. That proved costly, as Parra followed with his first career triple, then was stranded there when Durham grounded out.

Chicago pulled away with three more in the sixth. Dempster and Soriano singled with one out, and Theriot ripped a line drive past Corey Hart in right for a two-run triple that chased Parra. Two batters later, Johnson singled off Carlos Villanueva to score Theriot for a 5-1 lead.

"The big one was the triple, that really got us going," said Cubs manager Lou Piniella. "We've won three in a row, let's see if we can finish it off tomorrow."

The Cubs loaded the bases against Brian Shouse in the ninth before a walk to Theriot plated another run. Guillermo Mota came on in relief, but the Cubs padded their lead to 7-2 when Lee grounded into an RBI force out.

Fielder's one-out blast to right off Neal Cotts in the home half secured the final margin.