Sat Jul 19 21:48:15 2008

Comment | Email | Print

Astros beat Cubs

---

Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Wandy Rodriguez was brilliant through 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball, as the Houston Astros topped the Chicago Cubs, 4-1, in the middle contest of a three-game series at Minute Maid Park.

Rodriguez (5-3) allowed only a solo home run to Carlos Zambrano in stifling the Cubs potent lineup. The southpaw fanned seven and did not walk a batter on nine hits to win his third straight decision.

Miguel Tejada was 2-for-4 with an RBI while Carlos Lee, Darin Erstad and Hunter Pence each had an RBI for Houston, which has won four straight.

Zambrano (10-4) labored through 6 1/3 innings, surrendering four runs on six hits and a season-high six walks. The right-hander had three strikeouts and helped himself with a solo homer but snapped a two-start win streak.

Ryan Theriot was 3-for-4 in a losing cause, the only multi-hit effort for Chicago, which has dropped three straight.

Houston put a run on the board in the second. Lee drew a leadoff walk, Tejada moved him to third with a single to right and Pence chased him home with an RBI ground out to short.

The 'Stros padded their lead in the third. Zambrano allowed a single to his counterpart Rodriguez to start and Lance Berkman drew a two-out walk before Lee and Tejada delivered back-to-back RBI singles.

Rodriguez kept the Cubs off the board until Zambrano helped himself with a solo home run with two gone in the seventh. Theriot followed with a single and Rodriguez was lifted in favor of Chris Sampson, who retired pinch-hitter Daryle Ward on strikes.

Houston erased that run with one of its own in the home half. Pinch-hitter David Newhan tripled to the gap in right-center and scored on an Erstad ground out two batters later.

Jose Valverde entered in the ninth and proceeded to strike out the first two batters before pinch-hitter Mike Fontenot lined out to end the game. Valverde's 25th save of the season tied San Francisco's Brian Wilson for the NL-lead.

Game Notes

The Cubs are just 3-7 over their last 10 games at Minute Maid Park and have dropped two of three tests to the Astros in Houston back in May. The Astros lead the season series 4-3...Sunday's series finale will feature Chicago's Ryan Dempster (10-4) and Houston's Brandon Backe (6-9)...Zambrano became the Cubs all-time home run leader for a pitcher with his career 14th home run, a solo shot in the seventh, severing a tie with Hall-of-Famer Ferguson Jenkins. It was also Zambrano's fourth career home run at Minute Maid Park, marking the most from any pitcher home or visiting...Theriot extended his hitting streak to a career-high 12 games and also recorded his 38th multi-hit game of the season, good for first in that category in the NL.