CHICAGO, Sept. 16 (UPI) — Marlon Byrd’s infield single drove in Starlin Castro with one out in the 11th inning Friday, giving the Chicago Cubs a 4-3 win over the Houston Astros.

Carlos Lee’s second home run in the game, a two-run shot with two outs in the ninth, erased a 3-1 Chicago lead and forced extra innings.

With Davis Carpenter (0-3) pitching, Castro walked to open the 12th and advanced on a sacrifice bunt. After Aramis Ramirez was intentionally walked, both runners moved up on a wild pitch, leading to an intentional walk to Reed Johnson to load the bases.

Byrd hit a high chopper down the third-base line that third baseman Chris Johnson just touched, allowing Castro to score the winning run.

Jeff Samardzija (7-4) earned the win with an inning of one-hit relief.

Lee had a second-inning home run but it was his ninth-inning shot — his 18th of the year — that ruined a strong outing by Cubs starter Matt Garza, who took a three-hitter into the ninth.

A home run by Geovany Soto tied the score at 1-1 in the third and Chicago went up 3-1 in the sixth when Jeff Baker singled in Aramis Ramirez, who had tripled, and then score on Alfonso Soriano’s base hit.

(Sports Network) – The Chicago Cubs weren’t getting hits in clutch situations against the Astros earlier this week. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, they did yesterday, just hours after the team fired their general manager.

Jim Hendry was shown the door by the Cubs on Friday after spending nine years as GM of the organization. He was replaced on an interim basis by assistant GM Randy Bush.

The Cubs made three postseason appearances under Hendry’s leadership, including in 2003, when they advanced to the NL Championship Series before losing to the Florida Marlins. However, they haven’t won a playoff game since that NLCS and are on track now to miss the postseason for a third consecutive year.

“I think he did a great job. We made the playoffs three times,” Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez said about Hendry. “It’s just that lately we haven’t been getting it done.”

Despite being 15 games under .500, the Cubs have played inspired baseball lately, winning six of their last nine games, including yesterday’s 5-4 victory in 10 innings. Tyler Colvin’s game-winning, pinch-hit single capped the comeback win.

The hit made a winner out of Sean Marshall (6-5), who tossed a perfect top of the inning to lead the streaking Cubs to a 12-5 record in August.

Octavio Dotel (0-2) allowed the game-deciding run in the Cardinals’ fourth loss in six games.

The Cubs were just 4-for-38 with runners in scoring position in their three- game Houston series, including an 0-for-13 mark on Wednesday. They did go 3-for-10 with RISP Friday, but left 10 men on base.

Randy Wells went seven innings for Chicago, allowing four runs on four hits and three walks while striking out five, and Jaime Garcia allowed three runs on nine hits and two walks in 6 1/3 innings in the start for St. Louis.

Yesterday’s loss was another tough one for the Cardinals, in respect to their drive for the playoffs. They now stand 7 1/2 games behind first-place Milwaukee in the NL Central.

“They’re playing really good,” Garcia said of the Cubs. “They’ve got a good thing going on for them, but we feel comfortable with ourselves too. Today was a tough loss, but all we can do it put it behind us and go out tomorrow and try to win a ball game.”

Matt Garza tries to continue Chicago’s winning ways today. The right-hander has just one triumph over his last nine starts. He’s coming off a no-decision at Atlanta on Sunday. Garza has struggled against the Cardinals with a 1-1 mark and a 7.80 ERA in three games.

Edwin Jackson gets the start for St. Louis. The righty, who has won four of his last five decisions, limited the Rockies to a pair of runs in 5 1/3 innings in a victory Sunday. He’s 2-2 with a 6.21 ERA in five lifetime facing the Cubs.

St. Louis holds a 7-3 lead in the season series.

 

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HOUSTON, Aug. 17 (UPI) — Brian Bogusevic and Matt Downs each delivered two-run hits Wednesday in propelling the Houston Astros past the Chicago Cubs 4-3.

Bogusevic doubled in a pair of runs in the third inning and Downs’ two-run single came in the fourth to beat Casey Coleman (2-5).

Coleman was battered for 10 hits and four runs in 3 2/3 innings.

Houston starter Bud Norris (6-8) lasted just five innings but got the win despite giving up a two-run home run to Aramis Ramirez in the third inning and a solo shot by Geovany Soto in the fourth.

Ramirez has 23 home runs this year while Soto has hit 13.

Mark Melancon allowed two singles to open the ninth but still earned his 12th save after one runner was thrown out at home.

J.B. Shuck led off the Astros’ third with a single and, after a force out, J.D. Martinez also singled. Coleman got the second out but then walked Jimmy Paredes. Bogusevic followed with a double to right that scored two.

Norris singled with one out in the fourth and Shuck reached on a force out. Jose Altuve singled and Martinez walked, loading the bases. Downs singled to center, making the score 4-3.

Marmol allowed the Astros to load the base before surrendering a grand slam to pinch-hitter Brian Bogusevic for a 6-5 loss that ended the Cubs’ three-game winning streak.

“When you’re not sharp sometimes you get beat,” Cubs manager Mike Quade said of Marmol’s performance. “His slider wasn’t as good as it usually is, and his fastball command left him.”

“One swing can beat you. It’s one of those things.”

Until the bottom of the ninth inning, the Cubs seemed poised to take the three-game series with a game to spare.

Tyler Colvin hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning, and Aramis Ramirez added a solo shot in the eighth as the Cubs built a 5-2 lead. Colvin, who has spent time in Triple-A this season and is hitting just .135, has homered three times in the last 13 games, including Tuesday’s blast that landed in the second deck in right field.

Houston starter Brett Myers exited after the seventh inning having yielded six hits and four runs in seven innings and hasn’t won since June 17.

The Cubs jumped to an early lead, getting Myers for two runs in the first inning.

Starlin Castro hit a leadoff single followed by a single by Darwin Barney. Ramirez hit the third single of the inning to score Castro and give Chicago a 1-0 lead. Carlos Pena walked before Marlon Byrd grounded into a double play and Barney scored to make it 2-0.

Rookie Jimmy Paredes’ RBI double in the bottom of the first inning got the Astros back in it.

But Houston failed to overcome the one-run deficit despite Myers shutting out the Cubs over the next four innings.

Cubs starter Ryan Dempster was partly to blame. Much like Myers, Dempster settled after giving up an early run. He shut out the Astros the next five innings.

By the time the Astros managed to score again — Humberto Quintero’s sac fly off Dempster brought home J.B. Shuck in the bottom of the seventh — the Astros had dug themselves in what looked like too big of a hole.

The run again cut the Chicago’s lead in half, only this time the score was 4-2 in favor of the Cubs.

Dempster left after the seventh inning having just allowed four hits and two runs, replaced by Kerry Wood, who pitched a scoreless eighth.

“That’s a bummer,” Dempster said. “We had a chance to win the series. It just didn’t work out. The guy came up, swung and missed two fastballs and he hits one out.”

Ramirez’s 22nd homer came off reliever Wilton Lopez in the eighth inning and pushed the lead to 5-2.

Then came Houston’s rally.

Shuck singled with one out in the ninth off Marmol (2-4) before advancing to second on a wild pitch. Clint Barmes singled and Matt Downs drew a walk to load the bases and bring up Bogusevic, who went deep to left center field for first career grand slam.

“Bad day, you know?” said Marmol of his eighth blown save. “I’ve been pitching good. Hopefully that continues tomorrow and (I) forget about today.”

Houston rookie reliever Aneury Rodriguez (1-4) struck out one in 2-3 innings for the win, his first in the majors.

“I was surprised (about Marmol),” Quade said. “We just didn’t get it done. We played well. Obviously you never know how many runs you’re going to need.”

NOTES: Houston OF Jordan Schafer, on the DL since July 20 with an injured left middle finger, was cleared to start a rehabilitation assignment at Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday. If his rehabilitation goes well, he could join Houston on Monday in Colorado. Schafer was acquired from Atlanta in the Michael Bourn trade. … Bud Norris starts for Houston in Wednesday’s finale against Chicago’s Casey Coleman. … Norris didn’t allow a run in seven innings in his last start, but did not factor in the decision. … Coleman was recalled from Triple-A Iowa to replace Carlos Zambrano in the rotation. Coleman is 2-4 with a 7.23 ERA in 11 games this season for Chicago.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

HOUSTON, Aug. 16 (UPI) — Brian Bogusevic cracked a pinch-hit grand slam in the bottom of the ninth Tuesday, rallying the Houston Astros past the Chicago Cubs 6-5.

The Astros came into the ninth trailing 5-2 but began a comeback off Cubs closer Carlos Marmol (2-4) when J.B. Shuck got a one-out single. Marmol loaded the bases when Clint Barmes singled and pinch-hitter Matt Downs walked.

Bogusevic then worked the count to 2-2 before blasting a pitch over the center field wall for Houston’s first walk-off grand slam since 2002.

Aneury Rodriguez (1-4) was credited with the win after recording the final two outs in the top of the ninth as the Astros broke a seven-game losing streak with the wild comeback.

Ryan Dempster started and went seven innings for the Cubs, yielding a pair of runs on four hits.

Tyler Colvin smacked a two-run homer and Aramis Ramirez drove in two with a solo blast and an RBI single.

“It’s good for us,” Bogusevic said. “We’ve been struggling a little bit. One of the good parts about being young is you’re not going to give up. We’re going to fight all nine innings and it doesn’t matter if we’re down one run or 10 runs, we’re going to keep going.”

J.B. Shuck singled with one out in the ninth off closer Carlos Marmol (2-4) before advancing to second on a wild pitch. Clint Barmes singled and Matt Downs drew a walk to load the bases and bring up Bogusevic.

“When you’re not sharp sometimes you get beat,” Chicago manager Mike Quade said referring to Marmol. “His slider wasn’t as good as it usually is, and his fastball command left him.”

Bogusevic, who called the hit a “thrill,” sped around the bases at first because he wasn’t sure he’d hit it out.

“I was (running fast) because I know that I’m the winning run and if it doesn’t get out, I’ve got to get myself into scoring position somewhere,” he said. “After I saw it land, I kind of slowed down a little bit to maybe soak it in a little bit.”

Houston reliever Aneury Rodriguez (1-4) struck out one in 2-3 innings for his first career win.

Astros’ manager Brad Mills was excited to see two of his young players come through in the victory.

“(Bogusevic) really did a good job,” Mills said. “That was just tremendous and I’m so thrilled for him and thrilled for Aneury Rodriguez to get his first win. Those things are cool.”

Kerry Wood pitched a scoreless eighth before Marmol blew his eighth save, which snapped a streak of nine straight saves for him.

“Bad day, you know,” Marmol said. “I’ve been pitching good. Hopefully that continues tomorrow and (I) forget about today.”

Tyler Colvin hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning and Aramis Ramirez added a solo shot in the eighth as the Cubs built a 5-2 lead. Colvin, who has spent time in Triple-A this season and is hitting just .135, has homered three times in the last 13 games, including Tuesday’s blast that landed in the second deck in right field.

Houston starter Brett Myers yielded six hits and four runs in seven innings and hasn’t won since June 17.

“First inning I was struggling to get my rhythm,” Myers said. “Sixth inning, just one pitch cost me two runs. But that ninth inning made up for everything. I don’t even feel like I pitched tonight,”

Chicago starter Ryan Dempster allowed four hits and two runs in seven innings before being replaced by Wood.

Jimmy Paredes had two doubles and drove in a run for the Astros.

Ramirez’s 22nd homer came off reliever Wilton Lopez in the eighth inning and pushed the lead to 5-2.

Starlin Castro hit a leadoff single followed by a single by Darwin Barney. Ramirez hit the third single of the inning to score Castro and give Chicago a 1-0 lead. Carlos Pena walked before Marlon Byrd grounded into a double play and Barney scored to make it 2-0.

Jason Bourgeois drew a walk with no outs in the first for Houston before Carlos Lee walked with two outs. The double by Paredes, which landed in the corner of left field, scored Bourgeois, but Lee was out at home to leave it at 2-1.

Ramirez reached on an error by Clint Barmes and Pena walked in the third inning, but Myers didn’t allow another hit after the three first-inning singles until Barney singled with two outs in the fifth inning. Ramirez grounded into a force out to end that inning, before Pena doubled to start the sixth.

Then came Colvin’s two-out homer that scored Pena and pushed Chicago’s lead to 4-1.

Shuck doubled in the seventh inning and scored on a sacrifice fly by Humberto Quintero to make it 4-2.

NOTES: Houston OF Jordan Schafer, on the DL since July 20 with an injured left middle finger, was cleared to start a rehabilitation assignment at Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday. If his rehabilitation goes well, he could join Houston on Monday in Colorado. Schafer was acquired from Atlanta in the Michael Bourn trade. … Bud Norris starts for Houston in Wednesday’s finale against Chicago’s Casey Coleman. … Norris didn’t allow a run in seven innings in his last start, but did not factor in the decision. … Coleman was recalled from Triple-A Iowa to replace Carlos Zambrano in the rotation. Coleman is 2-4 with a 7.23 ERA in 11 games this season for Chicago.

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Kristie Rieken can be reached at http://twitter.com/kristieAP.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.