MILWAUKEE | Baseball doesn't make any sense. It never did, anyway.

The Cubs came into Miller Park Monday playing as poorly as any team on the road with a 22-30 record. They fielded a listless, lifeless lineup in many games.

At the same time, the Milwaukee Brewers came into their present homestand a robust 31-17 at home, eagerly anticipating the wobbly Cubs' arrival in town.

After three games here, the Cubs, getting a second wind, have thoroughly dominated the Brewers, the latest virtuoso act a 7-2 victory Wednesday before 44,871 that combined more clutch hitting and Ryan Dempster's five-hit, nine-strikeout effort over seven innings.

The Cubs' fourth win in a row overall boosted their first-place lead to four games after they were tied for the NL Central lead with the Brewers heading into Sunday's action. They've clawed back to their season-high of 20 games over .500 at 64-44. At the same time, the Brewers have gone 1-5 on the homestand as their momentum has been blunted.

Cubs hitters nibbled at Brewers lefty Manny Parra until they finally chased him amid a three-run sixth highlighted by Ryan Theriot's two-run triple. The Cubs have tallied 19 runs in the three games with just one homer.

"Consciously, I don't think we've changed much," Theriot said. "We got some big situational hits. We've been hitting with two strikes and two outs as well. It kind of comes in spurts and while you're getting those hits, you try to take advantage of it. We've been putting the ball in play and not striking out."

Manager Lou Piniella has credited the offense's revived efficiency to Alfonso Soriano's comfort-inducing return after six weeks on the disabled list. Soriano reached base all five times Wednesday with three hits and two walks while scoring two runs and stealing a base.

"More important is I can help the team with my power and my speed," Soriano said. "I'm healthy and back to play again. They are very comfortable and very happy I'm in the lineup because they know I play hard."

Meanwhile, the Brewers have scored just four runs off Cubs starting pitchers and six overall in the three games here -- with strikeout artist Rich Harden scheduled to pitch today's matinee.

"If you look at the last three games, we've been aggressive and thrown a lot of strikes," Dempster (12-4) said. "When you face a lineup like that, as good as they are, you've got to put to try to put the count in your favor as soon as you can to have success."