Cubs beat Astros 5-2

[July 27, 2010]  HOUSTON (AP) -- Geovany Soto drove in two runs and Alfonso Soriano had two doubles and an RBI to help the Chicago Cubs beat the Houston Astros 5-2 on Monday night.

Cubs starter Carlos Silva (10-4) yielded five hits and one run with four strikeouts to get his 10th win of the season after two straight losses. Carlos Marmol allowed one hit in a scoreless ninth inning for his 19th save in 23 opportunities.

Soto bruised his left foot and left the game in the middle of the sixth inning after fouling a pitch off of it earlier in the inning.

Derrek Lee doubled with one out in the third inning and scored when Marlon Byrd grounded into a force out. Byrd scored when Soriano hit his second double of the game that made it 4-1.

Soriano doubled in the second inning after Byrd walked. Soto scored both of them with his double to the corner of left field to give Chicago a 2-1 lead.

Ryan Theriot hit his first home run of the season on a solo shot to left field in the sixth inning that pushed Chicago's lead to 5-1.

Michael Bourn doubled before scoring on a single by Lance Berkman that made it 1-0 in the first inning. Hunter Pence drove in a run on a single in the seventh inning to get Houston within 5-2.

Chris Johnson singled in the first inning to extend his career-long hitting streak to 10 games. He is the first Houston rookie to reach the mark since Luke Scott did it in 2006. He added a second single in the eighth inning.

Converted reliever Wesley Wright (0-1) allowed eight hits and four runs in five innings in his second career major league start. He was replaced by Nelson Figueroa, who gave up three hits and a run in two innings.

Koyie Hill replaced Soto after he left with the injury.

Justin Berg replaced Silva and gave up five hits and a run in 1 2-3 innings.

NOTES: Cubs reliever Andrew Cashner met the team in Houston on Monday after staying home in Chicago on Sunday to recover from a sore throat. He received antibiotics and then took a commercial flight to Houston to join the team before Monday's game. Manager Lou Piniella said he was feeling better after his day of rest and Cashner faced one batter in the seventh inning, retiring Carlos Lee. ... Houston RHP Jeff Fulchino, on the disabled list with right elbow tendinitis, started a rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Round Rock on Monday. He allowed one hit in a scoreless inning. ... The Astros still aren't sure when RHP Brian Moehler will return after he experienced tightness in his strained right hamstring while throwing a simulated game on Friday. ... A fan got removed from the park in the ninth inning when he toppled over the railing and onto the field on his stomach trying to reach for a foul ball.

[Associated Press; By KRISTIE RIEKEN]

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