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Bourn helps Astros beat Cubs

Sep 8, 2010 - 4:09 AM CHICAGO(AP) -- Michael Bourn has been putting it all on display lately, whether it's running the bases, hitting the ball hard down the line or backing up his pitcher on the defensive end.

Bourn had three hits and three RBIs, Brett Wallace hit his first career home run, and the Houston Astros beat the Chicago Cubs 7-3 on Tuesday night.

"The last couple of games he's (Bourn) been outstanding. "Today he was swinging the bat and he ran the bases extremely well," said Astros manager Brad Mills.

Bourn also scored twice for the Astros who won for the 12th time in 16 games.

"Sometimes you have games like this. But sometimes you might have one hit and that might be the deciding factor. You might get a walk. Whatever it is. I'm trying to do something. It might be on defense," said Bourn.

Astros starter Nelson Figueroa (5-2) pitched five innings to earn the victory. He allowed three runs on six hits. He struck out five and walked three. Figueroa was backed by four scoreless innings from the Houston bullpen, which allowed only one hit.

"He (Figueroa) had to work really hard to get through that 5. He used a lot of pitches to get through that," said Mills.

Cubs starter Carlos Silva (10-6), who made his first start since Aug. 1, was tagged for six runs on nine hits in five innings. In his previous start at Colorado, he left after recording only one out with an abnormal heart rate. Silva underwent a surgical procedure called cardiac ablation to correct the problem a week later. He returned after two rehab starts for Class A Peoria, but was far from regaining his stuff that helped him win his first eight decisions of the season.

"Probably not that unusual coming off a situation like this. Obviously you would like to see some improvement ... but there are a variety of things going on. It's late but you hope after some more activity that his arm strength will be better and his stuff will be better as well," said Cubs manager Mike Quade.

Silva said his heart felt fine.

"I feel really good, especially after the second inning, I felt more comfortable on the mound, but the result wasn't good at all," said Silva.

Tyler Colvin drove in two runs on two hits for the Cubs.

Trailing 2-1 in the second inning, Wallace homered to tie the game. Tommy Manzella and Jason Castro followed with back-to-back singles. With two outs, Bourn hit a two-run double in the left-center gap to give the Astros a 4-2 lead.

Leading 4-3 in the fifth, Bourn led off with a single and stole before scoring on Jeff Keppinger's single. Hunter Pence followed with a double down the right-field line, scoring Keppinger from first without a throw.

Bourn led off the game with a triple to right-center and scored on Keppinger's RBI single.

"He was going from homeplate (1st inning triple). That was very nice to see. A standup triple," said Mills.

In the first inning, Kosuke Fukudome led off with a double and score on Marlon Byrd's single. Byrd scored on Colvin's fielder's choice.

Micah Hoffpauir walked in the third inning and scored on Colvin's triple.

Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro spent his second game on the bench after not knowing how many outs there were in the seventh inning of Chicago's 18-5 loss to the Mets. The rookie came into the game with the third best batting average in the National League at .317.

Quade is unsure if he will play him on Wednesday night.

"I will sleep on that tonight and contemplate. He's had a couple of good days and has done a lot of extra work and has had some time, so we will see," said Quade. "I asked him to get about his business, you don't want have this wind up as time off with nothing gained."

NOTES: Before the game, a statue of Hall of Famer Billy Williams was dedicated by the Chicago Cubs outside Wrigley Field on Tuesday. The sculpture was unveiled before Chicago's home game against the Houston Astros. Williams was accompanied at the ceremony by his wife, Shirley. Also in attendance were former teammates Ernie Banks, Ferguson Jenkins, Ron Santo and Glenn Beckert, and Chicago dignitary Rev. Jesse Jackson. ... Bourn also added a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning.