Cubs 4, Astros 3
Carlos Peña and Geovany Soto each doubled in a pair of runs as the Chicago Cubs held on for a 4-3 victory at Houston on Monday night, their 12th win in 15 games.
Chicago starter Rodrigo Lopez (4-3) allowed three runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings, striking out three and walking two.
Four relievers combined to toss 3 2/3 hitless innings for the Cubs, with Kerry Wood pitching the ninth for his first save of the season.
Soto and Aramis Ramirez each had three of the 11 Chicago hits.
Chicago took a 2-0 lead in the first inning when Peña doubled home Darwin Barney and Ramirez. Another two-run double by Soto in the top of the sixth gave the Cubs a 4-1 cushion.
Matt Downs' two-run double in the bottom of the sixth made it 4-3.
Henry Sosa (0-2) worked six innings in defeat for the Astros, yielding four runs on seven hits. He finished with six strikeouts and two walks.