Dunn is down on Wrigley

Cincinnati Reds left fielder Adam Dunn ripped Wrigley Field after teammate Ken Griffey Jr. was injured on a play in the eighth inning Wednesday night.

''That outfield is dangerous,'' Dunn said. ''I'm surprised more people don't get injured out there. It's worse than playing in a parking lot.''

''That outfield is dangerous,'' Dunn said. ''I'm surprised more people don't get injured out there. It's worse than playing in a parking lot.''

After appearing to slip while fielding Derrek Lee's single to right, Griffey lobbed the ball back in, then doubled over in pain and crumpled to the ground. The initial diagnosis was an abdominal strain.

After appearing to slip while fielding Derrek Lee's single to right, Griffey lobbed the ball back in, then doubled over in pain and crumpled to the ground. The initial diagnosis was an abdominal strain.

Told that concerts were held in the outfield earlier this summer, Dunn said: ''It looks like they had a monster truck rally. It's terrible. There are potholes. It's bad. It's unsafe.''

The quality of the outdated, crowned playing surface at Wrigley has been an issue for years. But Cubs shortstop Ryan Theriot, who has spent a lot of practice time in the outfield, defended his home turf.

''Yeah, they've got some spots out there,'' he said. ''Yeah, it's tough. But there are a lot of other places just like that.''

Cubs closer Ryan Dempster was unavailable because of a case of stomach flu that caused severe enough dehydration that he took two IVs before the game.

In his place, Bob Howry (6-7) finished off the game in the ninth after pitching the eighth and earned the win.

With a day off today, manager Lou Piniella said he expected Dempster to be ready to pitch again Friday, when the Cubs open a series against Pittsburgh.

Talk about the difference a year makes. Piniella said if the Cubs need a one-game playoff Oct. 1 against Milwaukee to decide the National League Central champ, he'll use right-hander Jason Marquis for the Game 163 start at Wrigley Field.

That would come nearly a year to the day after Marquis was left off the playoff roster of the eventual World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals.

''It would definitely be a big game,'' said Marquis (12-8), a key member of the Cubs' rotation all year. ''Whether I happen to fall on that date or he chose me, I have full confidence in myself, and hopefully Lou has the same.''

Catcher Geovany Soto, honored before the game as the Cubs' minor-league player of the year, delivered big again in his fifth start of September, hitting a tying home run in the fifth and earning another round of praise from Piniella.

''You know, we could use a little power down in the bottom part of our order,'' said Piniella, sounding like he might give Soto a bigger role over the final nine games. ''This young man has the ability to supply it.''

Soto is 10-for-19 (.526) in his five starts with three doubles and one of his two homers. The Cubs are 4-1 in those games.

Alfonso Soriano's ninth homer leading off a game Wednesday against Tom Shearn broke Rick Monday's 31-year-old franchise record for a season. It was Soriano's 41st career leadoff homer.

•    •    Including 5-for-5 games Aug. 16 and Monday, second baseman Mark DeRosa is 14 for his last 15 (.933) against Reds pitching.