The pitcher has offered 50 tickets to families disrupted by the war in Iraq for Sunday's Mother's Day game between the Cubs and Arizona Diamondbacks at Wrigley Field.

"We always do it for Father's Day," Dempster said on Friday, "but I think Mother's Day is just as important."

Dempster started the ticket program a few years ago, and usually hosts families on Father's Day. Because the Cubs will be on the road then, Dempster decided to switch to Mother's Day. The families invited include some whose moms are serving overseas.

"Their mothers are over there going to war and the families are here," Dempster said. "It can be a lonely time for them, so hopefully they can come out here and celebrate Mother's Day. That's what it's all about."

Dempster, who will start Game 2 of the Cubs' weekend series against the Diamondbacks on Saturday, will meet with the group on Sunday and treat them to lunch. Some of the White Sox players dyed their facial hair pink in honor of Mother's Day, but Dempster isn't one of them.

Some of the Cubs will not only use pink bats on Sunday to raise awareness for breast cancer, but also wear shoes that have pink trim made specifically for the holiday.

Pitching matchup
CHC: RHP Ryan Dempster (4-1, 2.72 ERA)
Dempster is coming off his first loss of the season. He was charged with five runs -- none earned -- on four hits over six innings against the Reds. The right-hander is the first Cubs pitcher to give up at least five unearned runs since Greg Hibbard was charged with six, all unearned, on July 11, 1993, against Houston. Dempster did strike out a season-high seven, but the Reds took advantage of two errors for the win.

ARI: RHP Max Scherzer (0-1, 5.40 ERA)
Scherzer made his Major League debut on April 29, and set the baseball world buzzing as he retired all 13 batters he faced in relief of Edgar Gonzalez. Scherzer, who was the team's No. 1 pick in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft, struck out seven and his electric fastball reached 98 mph. The D-backs put Scherzer in the rotation in place of Gonzalez and he struggled in his first start against the Phillies, giving up five runs on seven hits over four innings.

Tidbits
Special assistant coach Ivan DeJesus was the first-base coach, and first-base coach Matt Sinatro was the bullpen coach on Friday, while bullpen coach Lester Strode attended his daughter's graduation ceremony. ... Saturday's game will start at 2:40 p.m. CT to accommodate the FOX network. ... Kevin Hart struck out six over 3 2/3 scoreless innings in Iowa's 14-2 win over Tacoma on Thursday. Adam Harben gave up three runs on five hits over five innings in Daytona's 3-2 loss to Sarasota. ... WGN Radio's Ron Santo was not in the booth on Friday because he was ill. Dave Otto filled in. ... Former Cub Mark Grace sang "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" on Friday on the anniversary of his hitting for the cycle. Grace is the last Cubs player to do so, going 4-for-5 on May 9, 1993. He completed the cycle with a ninth-inning homer. ... Chicago Sky player Sylvia Fowles will be one of the singers for the seventh-inning stretch on Saturday. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo will sing on Sunday. On Tuesday, it will be Simon LeBon and John Taylor of the band Duran Duran; and next Friday and Saturday, two Chicago Bears players, Lance Briggs and Hunter Hillenmeyer, will lead the crowd at Wrigley Field. ... Jones, the ad agency for the Cubs, was awarded a Silver Pencil for its work on the brand during the 33rd annual One Show Awards in New York City.

Tickets
 Buy tickets now to catch the game in person.

On the Internet
 MLB.TV
 Gameday Audio
•  Gameday
•  Official game notes

On television
• FOX

On radio
• WGN 720

Up next
• Sunday: Cubs (Carlos Zambrano, 5-1, 1.80) vs. D-backs (Randy Johnson, 2-1, 5.06), 1:20 p.m. CT
• Monday: Cubs (Jason Marquis, 1-2, 5.08) vs. Padres (Randy Wolf, 2-2, 4.14), 7:05 p.m. CT
• Tuesday: Cubs (Jon Lieber, 2-2, 3.80) vs. Padres (TBD), 7:05 p.m. CT