• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Cubs beat Astros 5-2

Jul 27, 2010 - 4:17 AM By KRISTIE RIEKEN AP Sports Writer

HOUSTON(AP) -- Chicago Cubs pitcher Carlos Silva wasn't happy after losing two straight games. He never lost confidence that he could turn things around.

On Monday night he got back on track, yielding five hits and one run with four strikeouts to get his 10th win of the season as the Cubs beat the Astros 5-2.

Geovany Soto drove in two runs and Alfonso Soriano had two doubles and an RBI to help in the win.

"If those two games were going to take me out of the year I've been having, then I'm very poor in my mentality," Silva said. "So that's why I said: 'I'm not concerned at all.' We're human. We're going to have bad games and the only thing you've got to do is keep working and that's what I do."

Cubs manager Lou Piniella was impressed with his work.

"Quite an improvement over his last start," Piniella said of a game where he allowed seven hits and five runs in one inning against Houston. "We were expecting a better performance and we got it."

Carlos Marmol allowed one hit in a scoreless ninth inning for his 19th save in 23 opportunities.

Soto bruised his left foot and left the game in the middle of the sixth inning after fouling a pitch off of it earlier in the game.

Piniella said Soto would be doubtful for Tuesday's game but they hope he can return on Wednesday.

Derrek Lee doubled with one out in the third inning and scored when Marlon Byrd grounded into a force out. Byrd scored when Soriano hit his second double of the game that made it 4-1.

Soriano doubled in the second inning after Byrd walked. Soto scored both of them with his double to the corner of left field to give Chicago a 2-1 lead.

Ryan Theriot hit his first home run of the season on a solo shot to left field in the sixth inning that pushed Chicago's lead to 5-1. It was his first home run since last June, a span of 700 at bats, which was the longest active streak without a homer in the major league.

Michael Bourn doubled before scoring on a single by Lance Berkman that made it 1-0 in the first inning. Hunter Pence drove in a run on a single in the seventh inning to get Houston within 5-2.

Chris Johnson singled in the first inning to extend his career-long hitting streak to 10 games. He is the first Houston rookie to reach the mark since Luke Scott did it in 2006. He added a second single in the eighth inning.

Converted reliever Wesley Wright (0-1) allowed eight hits and four runs in five innings in his second career major league start. He was replaced by Nelson Figueroa, who gave up three hits and a run in two innings.

"Wesley was throwing the ball well and had good stuff," Houston manager Brad Mills said. "He was getting behind hitters throwing his fastball in the second and third innings, and that was crucial. He couldn't use his curveball."

Wright said he might have been a little worked up for this start.

"I think in the first couple innings I was excited with this being my first home start, so I was overthrowing a little bit trying to get ahead of the hitters," he said. "They got a really good hitting team, and when you get in a hole, they make you pay for it."

Koyie Hill replaced Soto after he left with the injury.

Justin Berg replaced Silva (10-4) and gave up five hits and a run in 1 2-3 innings.

Notes: Cubs reliever Andrew Cashner met the team in Houston on Monday after staying home in Chicago on Sunday to recover from a sore throat. He received antibiotics and then took a commercial flight to Houston to join the team before Monday's game. Piniella said he was feeling better after his day of rest and Cashner faced one batter in the seventh inning, retiring Carlos Lee. ... Houston RHP Jeff Fulchino, on the disabled list with right elbow tendinitis, started a rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Round Rock on Monday. He allowed one hit in a scoreless inning. ... The Astros still aren't sure when RHP Brian Moehler will return after he experienced tightness in his strained right hamstring while throwing a simulated game on Friday. ... A fan got removed from the park in the ninth inning when he toppled over the railing and onto the field on his stomach trying to reach for a foul ball.