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Cubs-Astros Preview

Jun 11, 2009 - 6:54 AM By DAN PIERINGER STATS Writer

Chicago (29-27) at Houston (26-31), 2:05 p.m. EDT

Carlos Zambrano did everything he could to help the Chicago Cubs continue their success against the Houston Astros. Inconsistency at the plate, though ensured it wasn't enough.

The Astros look to build on their second walkoff win in nine days and notch consecutive victories over the Cubs for the first time this season as the NL Central rivals finish a three-game series Thursday in Houston.

Chicago (29-27) rolled to a 7-1 win Tuesday to beat Houston (26-31) for the sixth time in eight games in 2009.

The Cubs had plenty of opportunities to improve that record Wednesday thanks to a brilliant performance from Zambrano, who gave up a run and three hits over eight innings. But the Astros rallied against Angel Guzman in the ninth to steal a 2-1 win.

Geoff Blum's one-out single up the middle with the bases loaded plated Miguel Tejada with the winning run. Tejada, who hit a walkoff home run in the 11th inning of a 3-2 victory over Colorado on June 2, is 15 for 36 (.417) with seven runs scored in nine games against the Cubs this year.

"That one was almost a must-win situation," Houston manager Cecil Cooper told the team's official Web site. "I thought we really had to have that, and the guys really battled and hung in there with Z. ... We have a good enough offense to scratch out some runs."

The Cubs have been held to three runs or fewer in 13 of their last 20 games, going 8-12. They've also lost 22 of 25 games in which they've scored fewer than four runs.

"When we start hitting consistently, we'll start winning consistently," manager Lou Piniella said. "When you can hold a team on the road to two runs, you've got to feel pretty good about your chances."

Piniella hopes to get that kind of outing from Ryan Dempster (4-3, 4.12 ERA). The right-hander hasn't allowed an earned run in 13 innings over his last two starts, but Cincinnati tallied three unearned runs against him Saturday and the Cubs lost 4-3 in 11 innings.

Dempster is 1-3 with a 3.09 ERA in five starts against the Astros since the start of last season. He held Houston to two runs over six innings in his season debut April 7, but the Astros won 3-2 in 10 innings.

Outfielder Hunter Pence is 8 for 17 (.471) with two homers in his career against Dempster.

Russ Ortiz (3-2, 3.96) will take the mound for Houston for his first start since May 7, also against Chicago. The right-hander, used out of the bullpen for the last month, gave up three runs in 2 1-3 innings of that 8-5 loss.

Ortiz also gave up three runs in three innings of relief in an 11-6 loss to Chicago on April 8.

First baseman Derrek Lee, batting .361 (13 for 36) during a nine-game hitting streak, is 3 for 32 (.094) with 10 strikeouts in his career against Ortiz.