GAME THREAD: NL: CHICAGO CUBS (58-53) at HOUSTON (49-63)

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    NL: CHICAGO CUBS at HOUSTON

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

    BATTERIES: CHN - SEAN MARSHALL, KERRY WOOD (6TH), RYAN DEMPSTER (8TH) AND JASON
    KENDALL

    HOU - WOODY WILLIAMS, DAVE BORKOWSKI (7TH), CHAD QUALLS
    (8TH), BRAD LIDGE (9TH) AND BRAD AUSMUS

    HOME RUNS: CHN - MATT MURTON (2) OFF DAVE BORKOWSKI IN THE 7TH, 0 ON

    HOU - JASON LANE (7) OFF SEAN MARSHALL IN THE 2ND, 0 ON</div>
     
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    NL: CHICAGO CUBS at HOUSTON

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

    BATTERIES: CHN - SEAN MARSHALL, KERRY WOOD (6TH), RYAN DEMPSTER (8TH) AND JASON
    KENDALL

    HOU - WOODY WILLIAMS, DAVE BORKOWSKI (7TH), CHAD QUALLS
    (8TH), BRAD LIDGE (9TH) AND BRAD AUSMUS


    WP - WOODY WILLIAMS (6-12)
    LP - SEAN MARSHALL (5-6)
    SAVE - BRAD LIDGE (7)

    HOME RUNS: CHN - MATT MURTON (2) OFF DAVE BORKOWSKI IN THE 7TH, 0 ON

    HOU - JASON LANE (7) OFF SEAN MARSHALL IN THE 2ND, 0 ON


    TIME: 2:34 ATT: 37,561

    PROBABLES: CHN - CARLOS ZAMBRANO (14-7, 3.42)
    HOU - ROY OSWALT (11-6, 3.55)</div>
     
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    NL: CHICAGO CUBS at HOUSTON

    <div class="pre">CHICAGO CUBS (2) VS HOUSTON (5) - FINAL

    CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
    R Theriot ss 4 1 1 0 1 2 1 .282
    M Fontenot 2b 4 0 1 0 0 1 2 .305
    D Lee 1b 3 0 0 0 1 3 1 .323
    C Floyd rf 3 0 1 1 1 0 1 .291
    M DeRosa 3b 4 0 1 0 0 2 3 .283
    J Jones cf 4 0 0 0 0 0 5 .247
    J Kendall c 3 0 0 0 1 0 3 .255
    E Patterson lf 3 0 1 0 0 2 3 .333
    K Wood p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
    R Dempster p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
    a-A Pagan ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .264
    S Marshall p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .048
    M Murton lf 2 1 1 1 0 1 0 .259

    Totals 32 2 6 2 4 13 19

    a-struck out swinging for R Dempster in the 9th.

    BATTING: HR - M Murton (2, 7th inning off D Borkowski 0 on, 0 Out). S - S
    Marshall. RBI - C Floyd (36), M Murton (11). Runners left in scoring position,
    2 out - J Kendall 2, C Floyd 1, M Fontenot 1, E Patterson 2. Team LOB - 8.

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


    HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
    C Biggio 2b 4 1 1 1 0 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 1 2 0 0 0 0 .285
    L Berkman rf 4 1 1 1 0 1 1 .257
    C Lee lf 3 0 2 1 1 0 0 .303
    T Wigginton 3b 4 0 1 1 0 0 3 .296
    J Lane cf 4 1 1 1 0 1 4 .168
    E Bruntlett ss 3 0 1 0 0 0 2 .261
    B Ausmus c 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 .234
    W Williams p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .089
    a-C Burke ph 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231
    D Borkowski p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
    b-M Lamb ph-1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .297

    Totals 31 5 10 5 1 4 10

    a-sacrificed to catcher for W Williams in the 6th; b-flied out to right for D
    Borkowski in the 7th.

    BATTING: 2B - B Ausmus (13, S Marshall); C Lee (31, K Wood). HR - J Lane (7,
    2nd inning off S Marshall 0 on, 2 Out). S - C Burke. RBI - J Lane (21), C
    Biggio (39), L Berkman (70), C Lee (92), T Wigginton (3). 2-out RBI - J Lane.
    Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - E Bruntlett 2, J Lane 1. GIDP - T
    Wigginton. Team LOB - 4.

    BASERUNNING: SB - E Bruntlett (4, 2nd base off S Marshall/J Kendall).

    FIELDING: E - L Berkman (7, bobble).


    ----------------------------------------------------
    CHICAGO CUBS - 100 000 100 -- 2
    HOUSTON - 010 004 00x -- 5
    ----------------------------------------------------

    CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
    S Marshall (L, 5-6) 5 1/3 7 5 5 0 2 1 4.17
    K Wood 1 2/3 2 0 0 0 1 0 0.00
    R Dempster 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 3.80

    HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
    W Williams (W, 6-12) 6 4 1 1 4 7 0 5.21
    D Borkowski 1 2 1 1 0 2 1 5.36
    C Qualls (H, 12) 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.24
    B Lidge (S, 7) 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 2.66

    WP - D Borkowski. Pitches-strikes: S Marshall 68-44; K Wood 31-16; R Dempster
    12-7; W Williams 116-71; D Borkowski 20-15; C Qualls 8-6; B Lidge 16-13. Ground
    balls-fly balls: S Marshall 11-2; K Wood 1-3; R Dempster 1-1; W Williams 4-7; D
    Borkowski 1-0; C Qualls 2-0; B Lidge 0-0. Batters faced: S Marshall 21; K Wood
    7; R Dempster 5; W Williams 26; D Borkowski 5; C Qualls 3; B Lidge 3.

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

    T--2:34. Att--37,561.
    Weather: INDOORS</div>
     
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    NL: CHICAGO CUBS at HOUSTON

    <div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
    NL
    CHICAGO CUBS 2
    HOUSTON 5 FINAL</div>
     
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    NL: CHICAGO CUBS at HOUSTON

    <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    CHICAGO CUBS (2) AT HOUSTON (5) - HOW THEY SCORED
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    CHICAGO CUBS 1ST: R Theriot walked. M Fontenot singled to right, R Theriot
    to third. D Lee walked, M Fontenot to second. C Floyd walked, R Theriot
    scored, M Fontenot to third, D Lee to second. M DeRosa struck out swinging.
    J Jones popped out to shortstop. J Kendall flied out to right. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
    0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 1, HOUSTON 0.

    HOUSTON 2ND: C Lee singled to right. T Wigginton grounded into double
    play, shortstop to second to first, C Lee out at second. J Lane homered to
    left. E Bruntlett singled to center. E Bruntlett steals second, E Bruntlett
    out at third attempting to advance on play. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors)
    CHICAGO CUBS 1, HOUSTON 1.

    HOUSTON 6TH: B Ausmus doubled to deep left center. C Burke hit for W
    Williams. C Burke sacrificed to catcher, B Ausmus to third. C Biggio singled
    to center, B Ausmus scored. M Loretta reached on infield single to pitcher,
    C Biggio to second. L Berkman singled to right, C Biggio scored, M Loretta to
    second. K Wood relieved S Marshall. M Murton in left field. C Lee doubled to
    deep left center, M Loretta scored, L Berkman to third. T Wigginton singled to
    center, L Berkman scored, C Lee to third, T Wigginton to second advancing on
    throw. J Lane flied out to right. E Bruntlett lined out to shortstop.
    (4 Runs, 6 Hits, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 1, HOUSTON 5.

    CHICAGO CUBS 7TH: D Borkowski relieved W Williams. M Murton homered to left
    center. R Theriot singled to right, R Theriot to second on error by right
    fielder L Berkman. M Fontenot struck out looking. R Theriot to third on wild
    pitch by D Borkowski. D Lee struck out looking. C Floyd grounded out to
    shortstop. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 1 Error) CHICAGO CUBS 2, HOUSTON 5.</div>
     
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    NL: CHICAGO CUBS at HOUSTON

    <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    CHICAGO CUBS (2) AT HOUSTON (5) - EVENT LOG
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Chicago Cubs Starting Lineups -- R Theriot SS, M Fontenot 2B, D Lee 1B, C Floyd RF,
    M DeRosa 3B, J Jones CF, J Kendall C, E Patterson LF, S Marshall 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 Williams RHP.

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

    Gametime Weather: INDOORS.


    CHICAGO CUBS 1ST: R Theriot walked. M Fontenot singled to right, R Theriot
    to third. D Lee walked, M Fontenot to second. C Floyd walked, R Theriot
    scored, M Fontenot to third, D Lee to second. M DeRosa struck out swinging.
    J Jones popped out to shortstop. J Kendall flied out to right. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
    0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 1, HOUSTON 0.

    HOUSTON 1ST: C Biggio grounded out to third. M Loretta grounded out to
    third. L Berkman flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 1,
    HOUSTON 0.

    CHICAGO CUBS 2ND: E Patterson singled to left. S Marshall sacrificed to
    third, E Patterson to second. R Theriot popped out to first. M Fontenot
    grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 1, HOUSTON 0.

    HOUSTON 2ND: C Lee singled to right. T Wigginton grounded into double
    play, shortstop to second to first, C Lee out at second. J Lane homered to
    left. E Bruntlett singled to center. E Bruntlett steals second, E Bruntlett
    out at third attempting to advance on play. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors)
    CHICAGO CUBS 1, HOUSTON 1.

    CHICAGO CUBS 3RD: D Lee struck out looking. C Floyd reached on infield
    single to third. M DeRosa singled to left, C Floyd to second. J Jones flied
    out to left. J Kendall walked, C Floyd to third, M DeRosa to second.
    E Patterson struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 1,
    HOUSTON 1.

    HOUSTON 3RD: B Ausmus grounded out to shortstop. W Williams struck out
    swinging. C Biggio lined out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
    CHICAGO CUBS 1, HOUSTON 1.

    CHICAGO CUBS 4TH: S Marshall struck out swinging. R Theriot struck out
    looking. M Fontenot flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
    CHICAGO CUBS 1, HOUSTON 1.

    HOUSTON 4TH: M Loretta grounded out to second. L Berkman grounded out to
    first. C Lee grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 1,
    HOUSTON 1.

    CHICAGO CUBS 5TH: D Lee struck out swinging. C Floyd grounded out to
    first. M DeRosa flied out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 1,
    HOUSTON 1.

    HOUSTON 5TH: T Wigginton grounded out to first. J Lane struck out looking.
    E Bruntlett grounded out to pitcher. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 1,
    HOUSTON 1.

    CHICAGO CUBS 6TH: J Jones flied out to center. J Kendall grounded out to
    shortstop. E Patterson struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
    CHICAGO CUBS 1, HOUSTON 1.

    HOUSTON 6TH: B Ausmus doubled to deep left center. C Burke hit for W
    Williams. C Burke sacrificed to catcher, B Ausmus to third. C Biggio singled
    to center, B Ausmus scored. M Loretta reached on infield single to pitcher,
    C Biggio to second. L Berkman singled to right, C Biggio scored, M Loretta to
    second. K Wood relieved S Marshall. M Murton in left field. C Lee doubled to
    deep left center, M Loretta scored, L Berkman to third. T Wigginton singled to
    center, L Berkman scored, C Lee to third, T Wigginton to second advancing on
    throw. J Lane flied out to right. E Bruntlett lined out to shortstop.
    (4 Runs, 6 Hits, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 1, HOUSTON 5.

    CHICAGO CUBS 7TH: D Borkowski relieved W Williams. M Murton homered to left
    center. R Theriot singled to right, R Theriot to second on error by right
    fielder L Berkman. M Fontenot struck out looking. R Theriot to third on wild
    pitch by D Borkowski. D Lee struck out looking. C Floyd grounded out to
    shortstop. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 1 Error) CHICAGO CUBS 2, HOUSTON 5.

    HOUSTON 7TH: B Ausmus grounded out to shortstop. M Lamb hit for
    D Borkowski. M Lamb flied out to right. C Biggio struck out swinging. (0 Runs,
    0 Hits, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 2, HOUSTON 5.

    CHICAGO CUBS 8TH: C Qualls relieved D Borkowski. M Loretta at second base.
    M Lamb at first base. M DeRosa struck out looking. J Jones grounded out to
    first. J Kendall grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
    CHICAGO CUBS 2, HOUSTON 5.

    HOUSTON 8TH: R Dempster relieved K Wood. M Loretta singled to right.
    L Berkman struck out swinging. C Lee walked, M Loretta to second. T Wigginton
    flied out to center. J Lane grounded out to pitcher. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
    CHICAGO CUBS 2, HOUSTON 5.

    CHICAGO CUBS 9TH: B Lidge relieved C Qualls. A Pagan hit for R Dempster.
    A Pagan struck out swinging. M Murton struck out swinging. R Theriot struck out
    swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 2, HOUSTON 5.</div>
     
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    Williams hands Cubs third straight loss

    <h3>HOUSTON 5, CHICAGO CUBS 2</h3>By Gene Duffey
    PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


    HOUSTON (Ticker) - Something had to give.


    In a battle of struggling starting pitchers, Woody Williamspitched six solid innings to outduel Sean Marshall as theHouston Astros posted a 5-2 triumph over the Chicago Cubs onTuesday.


    Williams and Sean Marshall entered having only just once intheir last six starts. The Astros righthander broke throughthanks to some timely hitting by his teammates, and Marshalltook the loss because of one bad inning.


    The game was tied at 1-1 in the bottom of the sixth whenWilliams left for a pinch hitter. The Astros followed withthree straight hits and scored four runs off Marshall in theinning.


    The Cubs, lost their third straight to fall 1 1/2 games behindthe Milwaukee Brewers in the National league Central.

    Williams (6-12) couldn't find the strike zone in the firstinning. He walked three of the first four batters and gave up abloop single to rookie Mike Fontenot. He walked Cliff Floydwith the bases loaded for the first run of the game.

    But Williams composed himself and struck out Mark DeRosa,retired Jacque Jones on a pop to shortstop and got Jason Kendallon a fly to right to get out of the inning.


    The Cubs were 0-for-19 with runners in scoring position for thegame.


    Houston tied the game in the second inning on a 404-foot homerun by Jason Lane, his seventh of the season. Lane was recalledfrom Class AAA Round Rock July 23 when rookie Hunter Pence wasinjured and entered the game batting a lowly .165.

    The Astros took a 5-1 lead in the sixth.


    Brad Ausmus led off with a double, pinch hitter Chris Burkesacrificed him to third and Craig Biggio scored Ausmus with aground ball single through a drawn-in infield, the 2,023rd hitof his career, tying him with Lou Brock for 22nd on the all-timelist.


    Mark Loretta followed with a slow roller up the third base line.The Cubs waited for it to go foul and it didn't, puttingrunners on first and second. Lance Berkman then hit a groundball single through the right side to score Biggio with thesecond run of the inning and knock out Marshall (5-6). CarlosLee hit reliever Kerry Wood's second pitch for a double, scoringLoretta to make it 4-1.


    Ty Wigginton also took advantage of a drawn-in infield, singlingup the middle to bring home Berkman.


    Williams had already thrown 116 pitches, two short of his seasonhigh, through six innings. He gave up four hits, all singles,struck out seven and walked four.


    Marshall surrendered seven hits and five earned runs in 5 1/3innings. He had pitched extremely well in his other two startsat Minute Maid Park, giving up just one run in 14 innings lastyear.


    Matt Murton, who entered the game on a double-switch in thebottom of the sixth, led off the seventh with a homer toleft-center off reliever Dave Borkowski to cut Houston's lead to5-2.


    Chad Qualls logged the eighth and Brad Lidge struck out the sidein the ninth for his seventh save.
     
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    NL: CHICAGO CUBS at HOUSTON

    <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    CHICAGO CUBS (2) AT HOUSTON (5) - HOW THEY SCORED
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    CHICAGO CUBS 1ST: R Theriot walked. M Fontenot singled to right, R Theriot
    to third. D Lee walked, M Fontenot to second. C Floyd walked, R Theriot
    scored, M Fontenot to third, D Lee to second. M DeRosa struck out swinging.
    J Jones popped out to shortstop. J Kendall flied out to right. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
    0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 1, HOUSTON 0.

    HOUSTON 2ND: C Lee singled to right. T Wigginton grounded into double
    play, shortstop to second to first, C Lee out at second. J Lane homered to
    left. E Bruntlett singled to center. E Bruntlett stole second.(1 Run, 3 Hits,
    0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 1, HOUSTON 1.

    HOUSTON 6TH: B Ausmus doubled to deep left center. C Burke hit for
    W Williams. C Burke sacrificed to catcher, B Ausmus to third. C Biggio singled
    to center, B Ausmus scored. M Loretta reached on infield single to pitcher,
    C Biggio to second. L Berkman singled to right, C Biggio scored, M Loretta to
    second. K Wood relieved S Marshall. M Murton in left field. C Lee doubled to
    deep left center, M Loretta scored, L Berkman to third. T Wigginton singled to
    center, L Berkman scored, C Lee to third, T Wigginton to second advancing on
    throw. J Lane flied out to right. E Bruntlett lined out to shortstop.
    (4 Runs, 6 Hits, 0 Errors) CHICAGO CUBS 1, HOUSTON 5.

    CHICAGO CUBS 7TH: D Borkowski relieved W Williams. M Murton homered to left
    center. R Theriot singled to right, R Theriot to second on error by right
    fielder L Berkman. M Fontenot struck out looking. R Theriot to third on wild
    pitch by D Borkowski. D Lee struck out looking. C Floyd grounded out to
    shortstop. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 1 Error) CHICAGO CUBS 2, HOUSTON 5.</div>
     
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    Williams hands Cubs third straight loss

    <h3>HOUSTON 5, CHICAGO CUBS 2</h3>By Gene Duffey
    PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


    HOUSTON (Ticker) - Something had to give.


    In a battle of struggling starting pitchers, Woody Williamspitched six solid innings to outduel Sean Marshall as theHouston Astros posted a 5-2 triumph over the Chicago CubsTuesday night.


    Williams and Sean Marshall each entered having won just once intheir last six starts. The Astros righthander broke throughthanks to some timely hitting by his teammates, and Marshalltook the loss because of one bad inning.


    "So many games they gave me four or five runs and I've done apoor job holding the lead," Williams said of his teammates."That was nice tonight."


    The game was tied at 1-1 in the bottom of the sixth whenWilliams left for a pinch hitter. The Astros followed withthree straight hits and scored four runs off Marshall in theinning.


    "I don't know we exactly tattoed the ball," Houston manager PhilGarner said. "We found some holes."


    The Cubs, lost their third straight to fall 1 1/2 games behindthe Milwaukee Brewers in the National league Central.

    "Good teams go through droughts," Marshall (5-6) said. "TheBrewers went through one last month. We just have to bounceback tomorrow and swing the bats.


    "We just need a game where we swing the bats and score some runsand then go from there," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said.

    Williams (6-12) couldn't find the strike zone in the firstinning. He walked three of the first four batters and gave up abloop single to rookie Mike Fontenot. He walked Cliff Floydwith the bases loaded for the first run of the game.

    "I was worried in the first inning," Garner said. "We had somedifficulties the last 10 days (in the first inning)."

    "I was just able to find the plate," Williams said of hissuccess. "I think it was moving around the first inning. Ididn't get comfortable and locked in. I don't feel I wasreaching out and finishing my pitches the first inning."

    But Williams composed himself and struck out Mark DeRosa,retired Jacque Jones on a pop to shortstop and got Jason Kendallon a fly to right to get out of the inning.


    "After the first inning they were digging in and swinging fromtheir heels," said Williams, who struck out seven. "I wasfortunate to make some good pitches. The ones I threw over themiddle of the plate they missed."


    The Cubs were 0-for-19 with runners in scoring position for thegame.


    Houston tied the game in the second inning on a 404-foot homerun by Jason Lane, his seventh of the season. Lane was recalledfrom Class AAA Round Rock July 23 when rookie Hunter Pence wasinjured and entered the game batting a lowly .165.

    "It's frustrating because my average is obviously down," Lanesaid. "But I feel like I've been pretty productive with myat-bats and helped us win some games. I didn't know I'd been inthere every day since (I got called up). I'm just happy to getsome consistent at-bats."


    The Astros took a 5-1 lead in the sixth.


    Brad Ausmus led off with a double, pinch hitter Chris Burkesacrificed him to third and Craig Biggio scored Ausmus with aground ball single through a drawn-in infield, the 2,023rd hitof his career, tying him with Lou Brock for 22nd on the all-timelist.


    "The first two times I squarted the bat on the ball," Biggiosaid. "The third baseman made a good play on the first and theshortstop made a good play on the second. You get luckysometimes and get one through."


    Carlos Lee doubled in a run in the rally, his 92nd RBI of theseason.


    "Why give up?" responded Lee when asked if the Astros were stillin the race. "We're playing against the Cubs, then Milwaukee."

    Williams had already thrown 116 pitches, two short of his seasonhigh, through six innings. He gave up four hits, all singles,struck out seven and walked four.


    Marshall surrendered seven hits and five earned runs in 5 1/3innings.


    Matt Murton, who entered the game on a double-switch in thebottom of the sixth, led off the seventh with a homer toleft-center off reliever Dave Borkowski to cut Houston's lead to5-2.


    "It's never easy to replace a guy like (Alfonso) Soriano,"Murton said. "He brings a lot to the club. You don't replacehim. All you can do is go out and pick up the pieces and do thebest you can."


    Chad Qualls logged the eighth and Brad Lidge struck out the sidein the ninth for his seventh save.


    "If we had the lead in the seventh, we were going to win," Leesaid.
     

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