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 Hill (9-8) struck out seven and walked three as the Cubs won for the third time in seven games and snapped a four-game losing streak at Minute Maid Park. They entered the day one game behind the Brewers, who lost 7-4 at Pittsburgh.
Ryan Dempster, who lost Tuesday's game in the 11th inning when he gave up a walkoff triple, earned his 26th save in 29 chances despite allowing a run in the ninth inning.
Cliff Floyd hit a solo homer in the second and tripled in the fourth off Houston starter Matt Albers (4-8). Ryan Theriot had two RBIs, snapping an 0-for-14 stretch with an infield single that scored Floyd.
The Cubs came in averaging 3.24 runs per game when Hill pitches, the lowest run support for any starter in the majors. Hill didn't need much help in this one, baffling every Astro but Mark Loretta, who had three hits, two against Hill.
The Astros have lost six of their last seven games and nine of 14 since Cecil Cooper replaced Phil Garner as manager on Aug. 27. With the loss, Houston is guaranteed to finish below .500 for the first time since 2000 and for just the second time since 1991.
Loretta led off the ninth with a single and was replaced by pinch-runner Josh Anderson. Mike Lamb tripled to right-center to make it 3-2. Dempster then got Scott, who had the game-winning hit Tuesday, to ground out. He walked pinch-hitter Orlando Palmeiro then Eric Munson grounded into a double play to end the game.
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Floyd led off the second with a homer into the upper deck in right field, his sixth of the season. Mark DeRosa and Jason Kendall followed with singles before Theriot's sacrifice fly made it 2-0.
Hill walked Loretta and Ty Wigginton to open the second, then struck out four of the next seven Astros he faced.
Floyd led off the fourth with a triple that rookie center fielder Hunter Pence misjudged. Floyd scored on Theriot's high-bouncing infield single to put Chicago up 3-0.
Loretta reached on an infield single with one out in the fourth, but Wigginton grounded into a double play. Hill needed only 11 pitches to retire the Astros in order in the fifth.
Loretta led off the seventh with a homer into the left-field porch, his third of the season and first since June 29. Hill then struck out Wigginton and Humberto Quintero and got Luke Scott to fly out.
Notes: The Cubs have won five of the last six games Hill has started. ... Floyd's triple was his first since May 21, 2006. ... Albers started in place of rookie LHP Troy Patton, who was scratched Tuesday with a sore shoulder. ... Pence led off the game with a single to center, Houston's only other hit off Hill.
[Associated Press;
by Chris Duncan]
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed.
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