GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: CHICAGO CUBS (58-52) at HOUSTON (48-63)

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
- - - - - - - - -
CHICAGO CUBS 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
HOUSTON 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0

10 R H E
-- - - -
CHICAGO CUBS 0 1 5 0
HOUSTON 1 3 1 (BOT 10)

CURRENT PITCHERS: CHN - BOBBY HOWRY
HOU - BRAD LIDGE

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: T WIGGINTON (.304, 0-FOR-3)
J LANE (.165, 0-FOR-3)
E BRUNTLETT (.261, 0-FOR-3)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">CHICAGO CUBS (1) VS HOUSTON (1) - MID 10TH - IN PROGRESS

CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Theriot ss 5 1 2 0 0 0 0 .282
R Cedeno 2b 4 0 0 0 0 2 1 .130
b-C Floyd ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .290
D Lee 1b 4 0 1 1 0 1 1 .325
A Ramirez 3b 4 0 0 0 0 2 2 .313
M Murton lf 3 0 1 0 0 1 2 .256
a-M Fontenot ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .306
B Howry p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
M DeRosa rf 3 0 0 0 1 2 0 .284
A Pagan cf 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .265
J Kendall c 3 0 1 0 1 0 0 .271
R Hill p 3 0 0 0 0 2 3 .119
C Marmol p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
E Patterson lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 35 1 5 1 2 13 12

a-struck out swinging for M Murton in the 9th; b-struck out swinging for R
Cedeno in the 10th.

BATTING: 2B - R Theriot 2 (19, W Rodriguez 2). S - E Patterson. RBI - D Lee
(59). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Floyd 1, D Lee 1, M Murton 1,
R Hill 2. Team LOB - 7.

BASERUNNING: SB - R Theriot (20, 3rd base off W Rodriguez/B Ausmus).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (R Theriot-R Cedeno-D Lee).


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 3 0 0 0 1 1 0 .245
C Qualls p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
B Lidge p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
M Loretta 1b-2b 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 .283
L Berkman rf 4 0 0 0 0 2 0 .257
C Lee lf 3 1 2 1 1 0 0 .300
T Wigginton 3b 3 0 0 0 0 2 2 .304
J Lane cf 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 .165
E Bruntlett ss 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 .261
B Ausmus c 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .232
a-O Palmeiro ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .244
E Munson c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270
W Rodriguez p 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .147
b-M Lamb ph-1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .298

Totals 29 1 3 1 2 8 8

a-struck out swinging for B Ausmus in the 8th; b-grounded to first for W
Rodriguez in the 8th.

BATTING: HR - C Lee (24, 4th inning off R Hill 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - C Lee (91).
2-out RBI - C Lee. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - E Bruntlett 1.
GIDP - M Loretta. Team LOB - 3.

BASERUNNING: SB - C Lee (8, 2nd base off R Hill/J Kendall).

FIELDING: E - C Biggio (8, ground ball).


----------------------------------------------------
CHICAGO CUBS - 000 010 000 0 -- 1
HOUSTON - 000 100 000 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
R Hill 7 3 1 1 2 6 1 3.54
C Marmol 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1.67
B Howry 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.88

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
W Rodriguez 8 4 1 1 2 9 0 4.50
C Qualls 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 3.30
B Lidge 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 2.72

Pitches-strikes: R Hill 100-63; C Marmol 15-11; B Howry 12-7; W Rodriguez
121-79; C Qualls 11-10; B Lidge 13-8. Ground balls-fly balls: R Hill 7-8; C
Marmol 1-1; B Howry 0-2; W Rodriguez 9-6; C Qualls 0-0; B Lidge 1-1. Batters
faced: R Hill 25; C Marmol 3; B Howry 3; W Rodriguez 31; C Qualls 3; B Lidge 4.


UMPIRES: HP--Alfonso Marquez. 1B--Tim Timmons. 2B--Chuck Meriwether. 3B--Rick
Reed.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: C Floyd in right field.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: CHICAGO CUBS 1
HOUSTON 1 BOTTOM, 10TH

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: T Wigginton (.304, 0-FOR-3)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - PITCHING CHANGE
CHN: MIKE WUERTZ (2-2, 3.33) STARTING THE 10TH
CURRENT SCORE: CHICAGO CUBS 1, HOUSTON 1

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: T WIGGINTON (.304, 0-FOR-3)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: M Wuertz relieved B Howry.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: CHICAGO CUBS 1
HOUSTON 1 BOTTOM, 10TH

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: T Wigginton (.304, 0-FOR-3)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: M DeRosa at second base.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: CHICAGO CUBS 1
HOUSTON 1 BOTTOM, 10TH

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: T Wigginton (.304, 0-FOR-3)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY ERIC MUNSON SCORED TY WIGGINTON.

FINAL SCORE: HOUSTON 2, CHICAGO CUBS 1</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL FINAL 10
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
- - - - - - - - -
CHICAGO CUBS 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
HOUSTON 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0

10 R H E
-- - - -
CHICAGO CUBS 0 1 5 0
HOUSTON 1 2 4 1 (FINAL 10)

BATTERIES: CHN - RICH HILL, CARLOS MARMOL (8TH), BOBBY HOWRY (9TH), MIKE WUERTZ
(10TH) AND JASON KENDALL

HOU - WANDY RODRIGUEZ, CHAD QUALLS (9TH), BRAD LIDGE
(10TH) AND BRAD AUSMUS, ERIC MUNSON (9TH)

HOME RUNS: CHN - NONE

HOU - CARLOS LEE (24) OFF RICH HILL IN THE 4TH, 0 ON</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL FINAL 10
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
- - - - - - - - -
CHICAGO CUBS 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
HOUSTON 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0

10 R H E
-- - - -
CHICAGO CUBS 0 1 5 0
HOUSTON 1 2 4 1 (FINAL 10)

BATTERIES: CHN - RICH HILL, CARLOS MARMOL (8TH), BOBBY HOWRY (9TH), MIKE WUERTZ
(10TH) AND JASON KENDALL

HOU - WANDY RODRIGUEZ, CHAD QUALLS (9TH), BRAD LIDGE
(10TH) AND BRAD AUSMUS, ERIC MUNSON (9TH)


WP - BRAD LIDGE (3-1)
LP - MIKE WUERTZ (2-3)
SAVE - NONE

HOME RUNS: CHN - NONE

HOU - CARLOS LEE (24) OFF RICH HILL IN THE 4TH, 0 ON


TIME: 2:44 ATT: 36,459

PROBABLES: CHN - SEAN MARSHALL (5-5, 3.86)
HOU - WOODY WILLIAMS (5-12, 5.37)</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">CHICAGO CUBS (1) VS HOUSTON (2) - FINAL IN 10 INNINGS

CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Theriot ss 5 1 2 0 0 0 0 .282
R Cedeno 2b 4 0 0 0 0 2 1 .130
b-C Floyd ph-rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .290
D Lee 1b 4 0 1 1 0 1 1 .325
A Ramirez 3b 4 0 0 0 0 2 2 .313
M Murton lf 3 0 1 0 0 1 2 .256
a-M Fontenot ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .306
B Howry p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
M Wuertz p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
M DeRosa rf-2b 3 0 0 0 1 2 0 .284
A Pagan cf 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .265
J Kendall c 3 0 1 0 1 0 0 .271
R Hill p 3 0 0 0 0 2 3 .119
C Marmol p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
E Patterson lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 35 1 5 1 2 13 12

a-struck out swinging for M Murton in the 9th; b-struck out swinging for R
Cedeno in the 10th.

BATTING: 2B - R Theriot 2 (19, W Rodriguez 2). S - E Patterson. RBI - D Lee
(59). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Floyd 1, D Lee 1, M Murton 1,
R Hill 2. Team LOB - 7.

BASERUNNING: SB - R Theriot (20, 3rd base off W Rodriguez/B Ausmus).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (R Theriot-R Cedeno-D Lee).


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 3 0 0 0 1 1 0 .245
C Qualls p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
B Lidge p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
M Loretta 1b-2b 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 .283
L Berkman rf 4 0 0 0 0 2 0 .257
C Lee lf 3 1 2 1 1 0 0 .300
T Wigginton 3b 3 1 0 0 1 2 2 .304
J Lane cf 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 .165
E Bruntlett ss 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 .258
B Ausmus c 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .232
a-O Palmeiro ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .244
E Munson c 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .278
W Rodriguez p 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .147
b-M Lamb ph-1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .298

Totals 31 2 4 2 3 8 9

a-struck out swinging for B Ausmus in the 8th; b-grounded to first for W
Rodriguez in the 8th.

BATTING: HR - C Lee (24, 4th inning off R Hill 0 on, 2 Out). S - J Lane. RBI -
C Lee (91), E Munson (12). 2-out RBI - C Lee, E Munson. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - E Bruntlett 1. GIDP - M Loretta. Team LOB - 4.

BASERUNNING: SB - C Lee (8, 2nd base off R Hill/J Kendall).

FIELDING: E - C Biggio (8, ground ball).


----------------------------------------------------
CHICAGO CUBS - 000 010 000 0 -- 1
HOUSTON - 000 100 000 1 -- 2

Two outs when winning run scored.
----------------------------------------------------

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
R Hill 7 3 1 1 2 6 1 3.54
C Marmol 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1.67
B Howry 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.88
M Wuertz (L, 2-3) 2/3 1 1 1 1 0 0 3.46

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
W Rodriguez 8 4 1 1 2 9 0 4.50
C Qualls 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 3.30
B Lidge (W, 3-1) 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 2.72

WP - M Wuertz. Pitches-strikes: R Hill 100-63; C Marmol 15-11; B Howry 12-7;
M Wuertz 16-9; W Rodriguez 121-79; C Qualls 11-10; B Lidge 13-8. Ground
balls-fly balls: R Hill 7-8; C Marmol 1-1; B Howry 0-2; M Wuertz 1-1; W
Rodriguez 9-6; C Qualls 0-0; B Lidge 1-1. Batters faced: R Hill 25; C Marmol 3;
B Howry 3; M Wuertz 4; W Rodriguez 31; C Qualls 3; B Lidge 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Alfonso Marquez. 1B--Tim Timmons. 2B--Chuck Meriwether. 3B--Rick
Reed.

T--2:44. Att--36,459.
Weather: INDOORS</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NL
CHICAGO CUBS 1
HOUSTON 2 FINAL</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CHICAGO CUBS (1) AT HOUSTON (2) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HOUSTON 4TH: M Loretta struck out looking. L Berkman fouled out to first.
C Lee homered to right. T Wigginton struck out swinging. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 0, HOUSTON 1.

CHICAGO CUBS 5TH: R Theriot doubled to right. R Cedeno grounded out to
third, R Theriot to third. D Lee grounded out to second, R Theriot scored.
A Ramirez grounded out to second. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 1,
HOUSTON 1.

HOUSTON 10TH: C Floyd in right field. M Wuertz relieved B Howry. M DeRosa
at second base. T Wigginton walked. J Lane sacrificed to catcher, T Wigginton
to second. E Bruntlett flied out to left. T Wigginton to third on wild pitch
by M Wuertz. E Munson singled to right, T Wigginton scored. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 1, HOUSTON 2.</div>

 

NL: CHICAGO CUBS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CHICAGO CUBS (1) AT HOUSTON (2) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chicago Cubs Starting Lineups -- R Theriot SS, R Cedeno 2B, D Lee 1B, A Ramirez 3B,
M Murton LF, M DeRosa RF, A Pagan CF, J Kendall C, R Hill LHP.

Houston Starting Lineups -- C Biggio 2B, M Loretta 1B, L Berkman RF, C Lee LF,
T Wigginton 3B, J Lane CF, E Bruntlett SS, B Ausmus C, W Rodriguez LHP.

Umpires -- Alfonso Marquez (HP), Tim Timmons (1B), Chuck Meriwether (2B),
Rick Reed (3B).

Gametime Weather: INDOORS.


CHICAGO CUBS 1ST: R Theriot flied out to right. R Cedeno safe at first on
error by second baseman C Biggio. D Lee singled to center, R Cedeno to third.
A Ramirez struck out swinging. M Murton struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
1 Error) CHICAGO CUBS 0, HOUSTON 0.

HOUSTON 1ST: C Biggio walked. M Loretta grounded into double play,
shortstop to second to first, C Biggio out at second. L Berkman struck out
looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 0, HOUSTON 0.

CHICAGO CUBS 2ND: M DeRosa grounded out to second. A Pagan grounded out to
pitcher. J Kendall fouled out to catcher. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
CHICAGO CUBS 0, HOUSTON 0.

HOUSTON 2ND: C Lee singled to left. C Lee stole second. T Wigginton struck
out swinging. J Lane flied out to left. E Bruntlett lined out to first.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 0, HOUSTON 0.

CHICAGO CUBS 3RD: R Hill struck out swinging. R Theriot doubled to deep
right. R Theriot stole third. R Cedeno struck out swinging. D Lee flied out
to center. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 0, HOUSTON 0.

HOUSTON 3RD: B Ausmus flied out to center. W Rodriguez grounded out to
third. C Biggio struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 0,
HOUSTON 0.

CHICAGO CUBS 4TH: A Ramirez grounded out to third. M Murton singled to
left. M DeRosa walked, M Murton to second. A Pagan flied out to center.
J Kendall walked, M Murton to third, M DeRosa to second. R Hill struck out
looking. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 0, HOUSTON 0.

HOUSTON 4TH: M Loretta struck out looking. L Berkman fouled out to first.
C Lee homered to right. T Wigginton struck out swinging. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 0, HOUSTON 1.

CHICAGO CUBS 5TH: R Theriot doubled to right. R Cedeno grounded out to
third, R Theriot to third. D Lee grounded out to second, R Theriot scored.
A Ramirez grounded out to second. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 1,
HOUSTON 1.

HOUSTON 5TH: J Lane popped out to second. E Bruntlett popped out to
second. B Ausmus singled to right center. W Rodriguez struck out looking.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 1, HOUSTON 1.

CHICAGO CUBS 6TH: M Murton grounded out to second. M DeRosa struck out
looking. A Pagan flied out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 1,
HOUSTON 1.

HOUSTON 6TH: C Biggio grounded out to first. M Loretta grounded out to
shortstop. L Berkman fouled out to catcher. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
CHICAGO CUBS 1, HOUSTON 1.

CHICAGO CUBS 7TH: J Kendall popped out to shortstop. R Hill bunt grounded
out to pitcher. R Theriot grounded out to pitcher. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
CHICAGO CUBS 1, HOUSTON 1.

HOUSTON 7TH: C Lee walked. T Wigginton flied out to center. J Lane
grounded into fielder's choice to third, C Lee out at second. E Bruntlett
grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 1, HOUSTON 1.

CHICAGO CUBS 8TH: R Cedeno struck out swinging. D Lee struck out swinging.
A Ramirez struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 1,
HOUSTON 1.

HOUSTON 8TH: C Marmol relieved R Hill. O Palmeiro hit for B Ausmus. O
Palmeiro struck out swinging. M Lamb hit for W Rodriguez. M Lamb grounded out
to first. C Biggio flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
CHICAGO CUBS 1, HOUSTON 1.

CHICAGO CUBS 9TH: C Qualls relieved W Rodriguez. M Loretta at second base.
E Munson catching. M Lamb at first base. M Fontenot hit for M Murton.
M Fontenot struck out swinging. M DeRosa struck out looking. A Pagan struck out
swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 1, HOUSTON 1.

HOUSTON 9TH: B Howry relieved C Marmol. E Patterson in left field.
M Loretta fouled out to catcher. L Berkman struck out swinging. C Lee flied out
to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 1, HOUSTON 1.

CHICAGO CUBS 10TH: B Lidge relieved C Qualls. J Kendall singled to left.
E Patterson sacrificed to first, J Kendall to second. R Theriot flied out to
center, J Kendall to third. C Floyd hit for R Cedeno. C Floyd struck out
swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 1, HOUSTON 1.

HOUSTON 10TH: C Floyd in right field. M Wuertz relieved B Howry. M DeRosa
at second base. T Wigginton walked. J Lane sacrificed to catcher, T Wigginton
to second. E Bruntlett flied out to left. T Wigginton to third on wild pitch
by M Wuertz. E Munson singled to right, T Wigginton scored. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 1, HOUSTON 2.</div>

 

Munson delivers in 10th to lift Astros past Cubs

<h3>HOUSTON 2, CHICAGO CUBS 1 (10 INNINGS)</h3>HOUSTON (Ticker) -- Eric Munson's single to right field platedTy Wigginton as the Houston Astros won for the 12th time intheir final at-bat this season with a 2-1 victory over theChicago Cubs in 10 innings on Monday.


Wigginton, who started the inning off with a walk, wassacrificed to second and advanced to third on a wild pitch.Munson then slapped a single to right off Cubs reliever MichaelWuertz (2-3) to win the game.


Houston's Brad Lidge (3-1) allowed one hit in one inning to pickup the victory.


For the eighth consecutive time at home, Astros pitcher WandyRodriguez provided a stellar performance. In eight innings, heallowed just one run on four hits, struck out a season-high nineand walked just two.


Rodriguez entered the game with a 6-1 record and 1.35 earned-runaverage in his last seven starts at Minute Maid Park datingback to May 13. Only San Diego's Chris Young (0.76) has a lowerhome ERA than Rodriguez (1.76).


Rodriguez's performance Monday was decidedly better than hisonly other outing against the Cubs this year. He allowed sevenearned runs in 3 1/3 innings on July 15 at Wrigley Field.

This time, Rodriguez only appeared to get stronger as he struckout the side in the eighth inning.


Chicago's Rich Hill was equally effective, allowing three hits,but one of those was Carlos Lee's 24th home run in the fourthinning. Lee reached base in every at-bat, singling in thesecond and walking to lead off the seventh.


The only other hit allowed by Hill was a bloop single by BradAusmus in the fifth. Hill was relieved by Carlos Marmol tostart the eighth. The game represented Hill's fourthconsecutive no-decision.


After Lee's home run in the fourth, the Cubs tied the game inthe fifth when Derrek Lee's groundout scored Ryan Theriot fromthird.

 

Munson delivers in 10th to lift Astros past Cubs

<h3>HOUSTON 2, CHICAGO CUBS 1 (10 INNINGS)</h3>HOUSTON (Ticker) -- Eric Munson's single to right field platedTy Wigginton as the Houston Astros won for the 12th time intheir final at-bat this season with a 2-1 victory over theChicago Cubs in 10 innings on Monday.


Wigginton, who started the inning off with a walk, wassacrificed to second and advanced to third on a wild pitch.Munson then slapped a single to right off Cubs reliever MichaelWuertz (2-3) to win the game.


Houston's Brad Lidge (3-1) allowed one hit in one inning to pickup the victory.


Munson was fairly subdued about his game-winning hit.

"I was trying to go to left-center until (the count) got to3-2," Munson said. "I was just lucky - he threw it up. It's alot easier when you play back-to-back days. Last year, I wasplaying every fifth day."


Wuertz was clearly disappointed in serving up the decisive hit.

"A lead-off walk kills you every time - it's that simple," Wuertzsaid. "You walk that guy, it comes back to haunt you.

"It's tough to lose a game that way. I threw him a slider andhe hit it. I threw the same pitch at 3-1. It just ended upbeing too fine. That's what happens when you fall behind in thecount as well."


Monday was an especially painful day for the Cubs, who learnedthat they could be without All-Star outfielder Alfonso Sorianofor up to a month due to a right quadriceps strain.

Soriano suffered the injury while running the bases in Sunday'sgame against the New York Mets.


For the eighth consecutive time at home, Astros pitcher WandyRodriguez provided a stellar performance. In eight innings, heallowed just one run on four hits, struck out a season-high nineand walked just two.


"I felt very good - I located my pitches," Rodriguez said. "Ifelt as strong in the eighth inning as I did in the first."

Rodriguez entered the game with a 6-1 record and 1.35 earned-runaverage in his last seven starts at Minute Maid Park datingback to May 13. Only San Diego's Chris Young (0.76) has a lowerhome ERA than Rodriguez (1.76).


Rodriguez's performance Monday was decidedly better than hisonly other outing against the Cubs this year. He allowed sevenearned runs in 3 1/3 innings on July 15 at Wrigley Field.

"I'm not superstitious," Rodriguez said. "I throw the sameeverywhere. I feel comfortable on the road, too."


This time, Rodriguez only appeared to get stronger as he struckout the side in the eighth inning.


"On his 108th and 109th pitches, he had his best fastball,"Astros manager Phil Garner said. "He just buckled down and didhis job. He was strong. His breaking ball was better than it'sbeen at home."


Chicago's Rich Hill was equally effective, allowing three hits,but one of those was Carlos Lee's 24th home run in the fourthinning. Lee reached base in every at-bat, singling in thesecond and walking to lead off the seventh.


"I felt I threw the ball really well," Hill said. "I just madeone mistake, and I thought that was a good pitch. You just tipyour hat. It was a good piece of hitting by Carlos Lee.

"I just went back to my old mechanics. I had a good, aggressiveapproach, and I challenged the hitters. It's justdisappointing we didn't win. We'll just go out there and try toget one tomorrow."


The only other hit allowed by Hill was a bloop single by BradAusmus in the fifth. Hill was relieved by Carlos Marmol tostart the eighth. The game represented Hill's fourthconsecutive no-decision.


Cubs manager Lou Piniella was short and to the point inassessing the Cubs' latest loss.


"We got a good game out of (Rich) Hill, and we squandered somescoring opportunities," Piniella said. "You hold a team to tworuns in 10 innings, you should win. "(Wandy) Rodriguez threw theball well. I don't know that he was that dominant, but hethrew well. Hill gave us seven good innings. He gave us everyopportunity to win this game."


After Lee's home run in the fourth, the Cubs tied the game inthe fifth when Derrek Lee's groundout scored Ryan Theriot fromthird.