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Munson delivers in 10th to lift Astros past Cubs

Aug 7, 2007 - 4:17 AM HOUSTON (Ticker) -- Eric Munson's single to right field plated Ty Wigginton as the Houston Astros won for the 12th time in their final at-bat this season with a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs in 10 innings on Monday.

Wigginton, who started the inning off with a walk, was sacrificed to second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Munson then slapped a single to right off Cubs reliever Michael Wuertz (2-3) to win the game.

Houston's Brad Lidge (3-1) allowed one hit in one inning to pick up the victory.

Munson was fairly subdued about his game-winning hit.

"I was trying to go to left-center until (the count) got to 3-2," Munson said. "I was just lucky - he threw it up. It's a lot easier when you play back-to-back days. Last year, I was playing every fifth day."

Wuertz was clearly disappointed in serving up the decisive hit.

"A lead-off walk kills you every time - it's that simple," Wuertz said. "You walk that guy, it comes back to haunt you.

"It's tough to lose a game that way. I threw him a slider and he hit it. I threw the same pitch at 3-1. It just ended up being too fine. That's what happens when you fall behind in the count as well."

Monday was an especially painful day for the Cubs, who learned that they could be without All-Star outfielder Alfonso Soriano for up to a month due to a right quadriceps strain.

Soriano suffered the injury while running the bases in Sunday's game against the New York Mets.

For the eighth consecutive time at home, Astros pitcher Wandy Rodriguez provided a stellar performance. In eight innings, he allowed just one run on four hits, struck out a season-high nine and walked just two.

"I felt very good - I located my pitches," Rodriguez said. "I felt as strong in the eighth inning as I did in the first."

Rodriguez entered the game with a 6-1 record and 1.35 earned-run average in his last seven starts at Minute Maid Park dating back to May 13. Only San Diego's Chris Young (0.76) has a lower home ERA than Rodriguez (1.76).

Rodriguez's performance Monday was decidedly better than his only other outing against the Cubs this year. He allowed seven earned runs in 3 1/3 innings on July 15 at Wrigley Field.

"I'm not superstitious," Rodriguez said. "I throw the same everywhere. I feel comfortable on the road, too."

This time, Rodriguez only appeared to get stronger as he struck out the side in the eighth inning.

"On his 108th and 109th pitches, he had his best fastball," Astros manager Phil Garner said. "He just buckled down and did his job. He was strong. His breaking ball was better than it's been at home."

Chicago's Rich Hill was equally effective, allowing three hits, but one of those was Carlos Lee's 24th home run in the fourth inning. Lee reached base in every at-bat, singling in the second and walking to lead off the seventh.

"I felt I threw the ball really well," Hill said. "I just made one mistake, and I thought that was a good pitch. You just tip your hat. It was a good piece of hitting by Carlos Lee.

"I just went back to my old mechanics. I had a good, aggressive approach, and I challenged the hitters. It's just disappointing we didn't win. We'll just go out there and try to get one tomorrow."

The only other hit allowed by Hill was a bloop single by Brad Ausmus in the fifth. Hill was relieved by Carlos Marmol to start the eighth. The game represented Hill's fourth consecutive no-decision.

Cubs manager Lou Piniella was short and to the point in assessing the Cubs' latest loss.

"We got a good game out of (Rich) Hill, and we squandered some scoring opportunities," Piniella said. "You hold a team to two runs in 10 innings, you should win. "(Wandy) Rodriguez threw the ball well. I don't know that he was that dominant, but he threw well. Hill gave us seven good innings. He gave us every opportunity to win this game."

After Lee's home run in the fourth, the Cubs tied the game in the fifth when Derrek Lee's groundout scored Ryan Theriot from third.