Feliz wins it with a sac fly, Astros beat Cubs

[April 20, 2010]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Pedro Feliz hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the 10th inning after Geoff Blum tied it with an RBI double in the ninth, and the Houston Astros rallied to defeat the Chicago Cubs 3-2 on Sunday.

Tim Brydak (1-0) pitched a scoreless ninth to earn the victory as Houston won its first series since taking two out of three from Pittsburgh Sept. 11-13, 2009.

Jason Michaels led off the 10th inning with a leadoff double off Cubs reliever Sean Marshall (0-1). Michaels moved to third on Michael Bourn's sacrifice. After intentional walk to Jeff Keppinger, Feliz flied out to left-center to score Michaels. Michaels easily beat center fielder Marlon Byrd's throw.

Houston closer Matt Lindstrom pitched a scoreless 10th inning for his second save in two opportunities in back-to-back days.

Cubs closer Carlos Marmol couldn't hold a 2-0 lead after an impressive outing by starter Ryan Dempster. Dempster recorded 13 consecutive outs beginning with Feliz's fielder's choice that ended the third. The Astros did not get a hit until a leadoff infield single by Tommy Manzella in eighth.

That infield hit came back to haunt Dempster. Bourn followed with a walk, ending Dempster's outing. With runners on first and second and two outs, Keppinger greeted Marmol with an RBI single, but Marmol quickly ended the inning with a called third strike to Feliz.

In the ninth inning, Hunter Pence singled off Marmol and stole second after Cubs catcher Koyie Hill couldn't get the ball out of hit mitt. Blum followed with an RBI double down the right-field line to tie it at 2.

It was Marmol's first blown save in four opportunities.

Dempster breezed through the Houston order in his third start of the season. He struck out the side in the fifth inning and finished with eight strikeouts. He allowed one run, four hits and walked two in 7 2-3 innings.

Byrd had a two-run single in the Cubs' 2-1 win over Astros on Saturday.

Jeff Baker had a leadoff walk in the third inning and Geovany Soto followed with a single. Dempster sacrificed the runners into scoring position. With two outs, Byrd singled to left, scoring Baker and Soto to give the Cubs a 2-0 lead.

Astros starter Wandy Rodriguez allowed two runs and six hits in seven innings. He struck out three and walked one.

NOTES: Astros 1B Lance Berkman, who hasn't played a game this season after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on March 13, went 0 for 2 with a sacrifice fly Saturday in his first rehab game for Triple-A Round Rock. Berkman is expected to get four at-bats Sunday, according to Astros manager Brad Mills. ... Cubs LHP Ted Lilly (shoulder surgery) is scheduled to make his second rehab start on Monday for Class A Peoria and if all goes well he is expected to make his first start of the season for the Cubs at Milwaukee on Saturday. .... Despite a gametime temperature of 44 degrees, the announced crowd was 39,506.

[Associated Press]

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