Ok, so this time the Cubs rallied from behind and beat the White Sox in the 9th on an Alfonso Soriano opposite-field base hit against a pitcher with an ERA under 2.00. Now that's way more of an accomplishment on at least three levels. This is the kind of game that you can look back at in September and say "see that win, that's when they really turned it around."

But let's not get ahead of ourselves. For true Cub fans, the idea of "cautious optimism" is as widely accepted as high beer prices in Wrigleyville -- that's just the way it goes around here.

The Cubs have an opportunity against the Cleveland Indians this weekend to finish with a winning record both on the home stand and overall. Anything less will be dissatisfactory. I don't give the Cubs a prayer against 2008 AL Cy Young winner Cliff Lee today, especially after Lee nearly threw a no-hitter against the Cardinals last Sunday, but the other two match-ups favor the Cubs with Ted Lilly and Randy Wells expected to start.

Who knows, maybe the media will inundate the Cubs with questions about the returns of Mark DeRosa and Kerry Wood to Wrigley Field and that will keep the attention off their previously sleeping bats. That is, of course, if this win didn't do it. The best signs coming from the 6-5 comebacker were Soriano's two hits late in the game and Geovany Soto's home run. Getting those two hot again might be all the Cubs need to get run production with Milton Bradley and Derrek Lee hitting effectively in the 3 and 4 spots.

2 of 3 is a must with 10 straight road games beginning Monday and a date with the Brewers for 4 games over 4th of July weekend upon their return. The Cubs goal is to be within striking distance when they finally get another shot at a team above them in the division.

More interestingly, this series against the Indians could provide some of the better or absolute worst headlines and story leads of the season. It could be as good as "Cubs hit walk-off against Kerry Wood, sweep Indians" or as bad as "Cubs' bats go back into hibernation as Mark DeRosa slaughters them with 8 RBI in series, 3 against Kevin Gregg." The last thing the Cubs need is to label the win yesterday an "accident" by failing to hit the ball and then have the media on their backs again about the off season because Mark DeRosa is hitting the cover off the ball. I guess now is a bad a time as any to mention DeRosa's riding a 7-game hitting streak into today's game during which he's been hitting .400 and that with his numbers on the Cubs roster he'd be 1st in RBI by a mile (48), 2nd in home runs (13) by just one and 2nd in batting average (.280) just behind Theriot. But we're totally over the DeRosa thing, totally.

Undoubtedly, DeRosa will get his standing ovation when he steps to the plate at Wrigley Field for the first time, but the Cubs can earn theirs too. Perhaps with yesterday's win, the guys Cubs' batters won't feel any pressure and lay off more pitches early in the count. which was a problem as late as the 4th inning yesterday. Here are my keys (sorry Comcast Sports Net) to reading better headlines in this weekend's sports section:

• A continuation of success for Soriano and Soto. Although success seems like a premature word considering it was just one game, Soto looks like he's getting the power back and now the consistency must follow. As for Fonsi, we know what he can do when he swings a hot bat.

• Production from Reed Johnson. With two lefties scheduled for this weekend and Kosuke Fukudome playing as poorly as he is, this could be a big series for Reed and he'll likely be in the middle of the order where there will be RBI opportunities.

• Good defense. Defense is only a factor in close games and that's what the Cubs have had. If they can be a little smarter than they've been in the home stand so far, it'll be of help. As such, play Andres Blanco, even against the lefties. His glove is stellar and he's a smarter hitter than Aaron Miles, even if the numbers don't show it. He works deeper counts and makes more effective outs.