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Wednesday, May 3 2:20pm ET
Cubs continue winning arms race vs. Astros | |||||
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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
CHICAGO (AP) -- Jon Lieber doesn't think he's got any special hold over the Houston Astros. After the last five days, however, the Astros might disagree. Lieber, who pitched a complete game against the Astros last Thursday, gave up three runs and six hits over 7 2/3 innings Wednesday as the Cubs beat the Astros 4-3. "I can't explain it," said Lieber, who is now 5-6 lifetime with a 3.26 ERA against the Astros. "I've just been fortunate. That's a very, very good team over there, outstanding from top to bottom. They're a challenge." Eric Young homered, Damon Buford hit a two-run single and Henry Rodriguez added an RBI as Chicago got all the offense it needed in the first inning. The Astros had chances in the eighth and ninth but couldn't turn them in to runs. They loaded the bases in the eighth on Young's error, but Kyle Farnsworth struck out pinch-hitter Matt Mieske to end the threat. In the ninth, Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell both singled, but Ken Caminiti struck out swinging to end the game. "We came back and we had a chance, but didn't come back and get the win," Houston manager Larry Dierker said. "We were one key hit away in two or three different innings, and couldn't get that key hit." It was a big win for the Cubs, who've lost six of their 12 games decided by one or two runs. Chicago has now won five of its last seven overall. "Today we hung on," Mark Grace said. "We needed a win like this to prove we can win close games like this one." The Astros already had their troubles with Kerry Wood, who tied a major league record with 20 strikeouts against them May 6, 1998, in just his fifth career start. And it was Houston that Wood faced Tuesday night in his return to the majors after almost 19 months away. Wood and the Cubs won 11-1. Now the Astros have to deal with Lieber (3-2). He beat them 12-3 last week in Houston, allowing only one earned run as he got the eighth complete game of his career. And he did it at Enron Field, what's fast becoming a horror house for pitchers. He didn't go the distance Wednesday, but he went long enough. Rick Aguilera pitched the ninth for his sixth save. Chris Holt (1-4), who threw a one-hitter in his last outing, settled down after a rough first inning, but the Astros couldn't overcome the early damage. He gave up four runs and seven hits in six innings. "Jon's a tough pitcher and he's had success against us in the past," said Bagwell, whose single in the ninth broke an 0-for-13 slump. "Good pitchers make good pitches when they have to. That's what Jon did today." Lieber struck out seven, getting Bagwell twice. He got into trouble in the fifth inning as Holt singled and Biggio doubled to center. Lance Berkman then hit a two-run single over Lieber's head to cut the Cubs' lead to 4-3. But the Astros couldn't get anything else. "We had our opportunities," Holt said. "More times than not, with our hitters, we're going to get those runs in." The other Houston run came in the fourth on Richard Hidalgo's solo homer to left field, his seventh of the season. The Cubs got all over Holt in the first inning, tagging him for four runs. Young led off with a solo homer to left, and Henry Rodriguez hit an RBI double. After Holt loaded the bases with walks to Willie Greene and Jeff Reed, Buford singled to give Chicago a 4-0 lead. Game notesMark Grace scored his 1,000th career run in the first inning on Rodriguez's RBI double. ... Young's leadoff homer was the second of the season. He got his first last week off another Astro, Jose Lima. ... Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura was the guest conductor for the seventh-inning stretch. ... Lima, shelled for nine runs and 13 hits Tuesday night, sat on top of the Astros' dugout before the game and signed autographs. | ALSO SEE Baseball Scoreboard Houston Clubhouse Chicago Cubs Clubhouse No knock on Wood in comeback from arm surgery
RECAPS Anaheim 6 Baltimore 5
Chicago Cubs 4
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