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DeRosa, Cubs slam Astros

Aug 6, 2008 - 11:17 PM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Chicago Cubs continue to enjoy the "friendly confines" of Wrigley Field.

Mark DeRosa hit a grand slam and Alfonso Soriano added a three-run shot Wednesday as the Cubs pounded the Houston Astros, 11-4, in the rubber game of a three-game set.

Chicago, which has won nine of its last 11 games, improved its major league-best home record to 43-16.

"We won another series, and that is the objective," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "I have said all along that we get after it pretty good. Today, after they scored the four runs, we came right back."

Chicago trailed, 4-1, in the bottom of the third before scoring eight two-out runs to take the lead.

Astros starter Brandon Backe (6-11) gave up a one-out single by Ryan Theriot and then walked Aramis Ramirez and Jim Edmonds with two outs. DeRosa followed with a grand slam to center field, giving the Cubs a 5-4 lead.

"It feels good to contribute," DeRosa said. "I am a guy who takes things home, and July was a tough month for me. Even when the team is successful, you want to take pressure off the big guys."

After a double and another walk, Jason Marquis doubled in a run. Soriano capped the outburst with a three-run blast to left, extending the advantage to 9-4.

Kosuke Fukudome had an RBI single and rookie Geovany Soto added a sacrifice fly in the fourth to cap the scoring.

Backe was rocked in the worst outing of his career, giving up 11 runs and nine hits in 3 1/3 innings. The righthander walked six and did not strike out a batter.

"There was a ground ball that got through the infield that started things, along with a few walks," Astros manager Cecil Cooper said. "Then there was the home-run balls, and things got away from him."

Backe felt he may have been squeezed by plate umpire Marty Foster but did not want to voice his feelings.

"I am not going to comment on that," Backe said. "If I say anything about that, it digs a deeper hole for me. I am going to say it was all my fault, but it is tough to pitch constantly in the zone and get people out."

Marquis (7-7) allowed four runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings, winning his first start since June 21.

"I told myself to be more aggressive and attack the strike zone," Marquis said. "The pitch to (Carlos) Lee was in a good location but wrong selection. Other than that, I was happy with how I threw the ball, and my offense was great today."

DeRosa delivered an RBI double in the second to give Chicago a 1-0 lead before the Astros moved ahead with four runs in the third. Lee highlighted the frame with a three-run shot, his 27th home run of the season.