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Astros-Cubs Preview

Jul 28, 2009 - 6:21 AM By DAN PIERINGER STATS Writer

Houston (50-49) at Chicago (52-45), 8:05 p.m. EDT

In first place in the NL Central for the first time in more than three months, the Chicago Cubs refused to give it up after just one day.

After Alfonso Soriano's walk-off grand slam in the 13th inning kept them atop the division, the Cubs go for their 10th win in 12 games since the All-Star break Tuesday night when they continue a four-game series against the Houston Astros at Wrigley Field.

Chicago (52-45) took a half-game lead over St. Louis in the division with a win and a Cardinals loss Sunday, the two-time defending NL Central champs' first hold on first place since the Cubs were 8-4 on April 21.

That lead was in jeopardy for most of Monday night before Soriano came up with the bases loaded and nobody out in the 13th inning. Soriano, 0 for 5 with three strikeouts before that at-bat, hit a long drive to straightaway center to give the Cubs a 5-1 victory and keep them a half-game ahead of the Cardinals.

"I think that's the best swing I made in the second half," said Soriano, who has hit safely in all 10 games he's played in since the break, batting .405 (17 for 42) with four homers, 12 RBIs and six runs scored.

Soriano's fourth career grand slam was Chicago's first hit in nine at-bats with runners in scoring position. Houston (50-49) went 0 for 7 while suffering its third straight defeat. The Astros hadn't lost more than two consecutive games since a season-high seven-game skid from May 21-27.

"This was a tough one, but we battled hard and played hard," manager Cecil Cooper said. "We had some chances and just didn't get the big base hit."

Soriano is 9 for 39 (.231) with three home runs in his career against Astros ace Roy Oswalt (6-4, 3.66 ERA).

The Astros have won their last five games started by Oswalt, who's 3-0 with a 2.00 ERA over his last six outings. The right-hander gave up three runs in seven innings of Houston's 4-3 victory over St. Louis on Wednesday.

Oswalt is 0-1 with a 4.15 ERA in two starts against the Cubs this season, both Astros losses. He has a 4.81 career ERA at Wrigley Field.

The Cubs plan to activate Ryan Dempster (5-5, 4.09) from the disabled list to start Tuesday. The right-hander fractured his right big toe hopping over the dugout railing to go on the field and celebrate a win over Milwaukee on July 5. He was originally expected to miss a month, but he's eager to return.

"Any time you get hurt, if you're diligent about your rehab and you take care of it and do what you need to do (you can recover). And I haven't knocked it on any beds or nightstands or anything like that, it's been feeling good," he told the Cubs' official Web site.

"I like pitching. I don't like taking that many days between starts."

Since moving into Chicago's starting rotation for the 2008 season, Dempster has a 2.77 ERA in six games against Houston. The Cubs, though, have lost five of those contests. They gave Dempster nine runs of support in the lone win and totaled three over 31 innings of the five defeats.

Astros outfielder Hunter Pence is 8 for 20 (.400) with two homers and a double in his career against Dempster.