Astros 5, Cubs 1
Wandy Rodriguez pitched seven strong innings and host Houston completed a three-game sweep of Chicago, handing the Cubs their first nine-game losing streak in a decade.
Houston has won six of eight after notching its first home sweep of Chicago since August 2007.
Rodriguez (4-4) scattered eight hits while striking out five and walking
none. Brandon Lyon fanned two in the eighth to preserve the 2-1 lead
before Houston plated three in the bottom half.
Jeff Samardzija (4-3), who went six innings, was the hard-luck loser in his first career start against Houston.
After Reed Johnson’s first-inning solo homer put the Cubs on top, J.D. Martinez - who had the game-winning RBI on Tuesday - tripled in two runs in the fourth.
Martinez added an RBI single in the eighth, Matt Downs followed with a bases-loaded walk and another run crossed after Jose Altuve was hit by a pitch.
That was more than enough offense against Chicago, which has scored 11 runs in its last five games.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The Cubs get Thursday off before visiting the Pirates for a three-game series. ... Houston starts a seven-game trip Friday in Los Angeles. ... Astros first baseman Carlos Lee went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, raising his average to .306.
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