Wood, Rizzo help Cubs finish sweep of Astros

[July 02, 2012]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Travis Wood pitched shutout ball into the eighth inning and used some nifty base-running to set up Anthony Rizzo's go-ahead single as the Chicago Cubs completed a three-game sweep of the Houston Astros with a 3-0 win on Sunday.

Before the game, Houston Astros first baseman Carlos Lee said he was still undecided on whether he will accept a trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was 1 for 4 with a double in the ninth.

Wood (3-3) held the Astros to three hits in 7 2-3 innings. He struck out four and didn't allow a walk in his longest outing of the season.

Wood left the game to a loud ovation after retiring Brian Bixler in the eighth. The 25-year-old lefty has yielded one run over 20 2-3 innings in his last three starts.

It was scoreless in the sixth when Wood led off with a double against Wandy Rodriguez (6-6).

Reed Johnson followed with a grounder to third baseman Matt Downs, who made a sliding stop. Downs didn't look Wood back, and the pitcher took third as Johnson was thrown out.

After an intentional walk to Starlin Castro, Rizzo singled. Jeff Baker followed with a two-run double to left.

Two of new club president Theo Epstein's biggest offseason acquisitions -- Wood and Rizzo -- teamed up on this victory. Wood was obtained in a trade with Cincinnati for reliever Sean Marshall and Rizzo came from San Diego in a trade involving starter Andrew Cashner.

Rizzo hit his first homer of the season Saturday, a two-run, go-ahead shot.

Cubs reliever Shawn Camp retired one batter in the eighth and closer Carlos Marmol pitched a scoreless ninth for eighth save in 10 chances. He saved all three games of the series.

The game started after a 56-minute weather delay and the teams combined for just one baserunner in the first four innings. Luis Valbuena's single with one out in the Cubs' third was the first hit of the game.

After Wood retired the first 12 Houston batters, he allowed a leadoff double to J.D. Martinez in the fifth. Wood pitched out of the inning by retiring Downs, Brian Bogusevic and Bixler in order.

NOTES: All-Star second baseman Jose Altuve was back in the Houston lineup after missing six straight games because of a right hamstring injury. He was 1 for 4 with two strikeouts. ... Castro was selected to his second straight All-Star game at shortstop and Cubs OF Bryan LaHair was selected to his first All-Star game. LaHair had the day off.

[Associated Press]

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