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Astros-Cubs Preview

Apr 16, 2010 - 12:14 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Houston (0-8) at Chicago (4-4), 2:20 p.m. EDT

Having hit 100 homers at Wrigley Field, Derrek Lee has added his name to an impressive list in Chicago Cubs history.

Strong performances against the Houston Astros last year helped him reach that mark.

Coming off a loss but still hot at the plate, the Cubs look to bounce back Friday against an Astros team that seeks back-to-back wins following a season-opening eight-game skid.

After scoring 16 runs while winning the first two games of a series with Milwaukee, Chicago (4-5) couldn't overcome a poor effort from its pitchers in the finale, losing 8-6 on Thursday.

"It's hard to win when the other team keeps adding runs," manager Lou Piniella said.

The Cubs' lineup, though, had another strong game, reaching double digits in hits for the third straight contest. Lee, Marlon Byrd and Aramis Ramirez all homered for Chicago.

Lee hit his second homer of the season, and became the 10th player to hit 100 at Wrigley Field, joining Sammy Sosa (293), Ernie Banks (290), Billy Williams (231), Ron Santo (212), Ryne Sandberg (164), Hank Sauer (118), Gabby Hartnett (115), Andre Dawson (110) and Hack Wilson (109).

Chicago's first baseman has four homers in his last eight home games against the Astros (1-8), batting .407 with three doubles and eight RBIs during that stretch. Lee's one hit in two career at-bats against Houston's scheduled starter, Felipe Paulino (0-0, 7.20 ERA), was a home run.

Paulino gets the nod in the opener of this three-game set after struggling in his first outing, allowing four runs, four hits and four walks in five innings of a 9-6 loss to Philadelphia on Saturday night.

The right-hander is 0-1 with an 8.10 ERA in one start and one relief appearance against the Cubs.

Chicago will counter with Carlos Silva (0-0, 1.50), who left his first start of the season after six innings and 71 pitches due to shoulder stiffness. He gave up one run and three hits in a 5-4 loss to Cincinnati on Friday.

The veteran right-hander, acquired in a trade with Seattle for Milton Bradley in December, is making his first Wrigley Field appearance since July 2003. Silva is 1-0 with no ERA in three career relief outings at the Friendly Confines.

He'll face a lineup that has been largely unproductive so far, scoring 14 runs while losing its first eight games. The Astros, though, are coming off a 5-1 win over St. Louis on Thursday and avoided matching the worst start in franchise history set in 1983.

"We came out of the gate a little bit slow, that's fine," said starting pitcher Bud Norris, who drove in a run and earned the win. "We're not worried about that, we've had a little bit of pressure on us, but we're over it. We know what we can do."

One of those players who have gotten off to a slow start is left fielder Carlos Lee, but a visit to Chicago's North Side may help. Lee is hitting .086 so far in 2010, but batted .306 with four homers and eight RBIs at Wrigley Field last year.

The Cubs won last season's series 11-6.