Fairly quick, exciting, and a win. It's the best Memorial Day present Cubs fans could have gotten today, as the Cubs "outdueled" the Dodgers to win 3-1.

You know what I mean. If you just looked at the line, you'd  think this was just a great pitching matchup; and there were some very big spots throughout this game. But man, these teams were through. And they looked it. Even the umpires looked worn out, calling everything even remotely close a strike, and looking like they really wanted to wrap this up quickly. The Dodgers, after finishing off an extra-inning game yesterday, probably made it to the hotel here in Chicago by 1:00 this morning. If they were lucky. And the Cubs -- with their weekend full of extra innings -- couldn't have been much better, with both teams likely at the ballpark by 10:00 this morning. So with the bench thin, the bullpen worn out, and both teams in need of a win, it was up to stars to be stars. And they came through.

First with Ryan Dempster gutting out a seven inning performance, giving up only one run, on seven hits. He cruised for the most part, running into trouble only in the 5th, in which he gave up the only run on a Juan Pierre infield hit. The theme of the day seemed to be lead-off baserunners, who he allowed on in the in the 1st, 4th, 5th, and 6th. However, you have to give him credit for settling down each time, and getting out of the innings for the most part unscathed. 

Next with Derrek Lee, who clobbered his 12th home run of the season -- and 250th of his career -- in the 1st, which proved to be the winning run.

Then with Aramis Ramirez, who hit a home run to deep left to give the Cubs a much needed insurance run, and allow those of us who breathlessly watched Bobby Howry get out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the inning, to exhale a bit.

And to Kerry Wood, who came on in the 9th to fire missiles, and quietly retire the Dodgers.

With most of the National League being off - including the Cardinals -- the Cubs take a half-game lead in the division into tomorrow night's game against the Dodgers. It's Kuroda vs. Gallagher in what I'm expecting to be a big night offensively. I'll be there. I hope you'll be too. In the meantime, enjoy Memorial Day.