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New-look Cubs face Astros in home opener

Apr 9, 2007 - 1:44 PM Houston (1-5) at Chicago Cubs (3-3), 2:20 pm EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Chicago Cubs spent close to $300 million dollars improving their team in the offseason. The home fans will finally get a peek at the new additions.

The Cubs send one of their new faces, Ted Lilly, to the mound when they welcome the Houston Astros to Wrigley field for a three-game series on Monday.

Chicago missed a chance to sweep Milwaukee on Sunday, losing 9-4. Center fielder Alfonso Soriano, who inked a $136 million deal, has yet to get going, batting just .214 (6-of-28) with no homers.

Lilly (1-0) pitched a gem in his first outing, allowing just one run and three hits while striking out nine in seven innings to earn a win over Cincinnati. The veteran lefthander signed a four-year, $40 million deal to join Chicago in December.

The Astros will counter with their own offseason acquisition, Woody Williams. The veteran righthander signed a two-year, $12.5 million deal with Houston in November to partially fill the gaping holes created by the departures of Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens.

The 40-year-old Houston native is 3-8 with a 4.65 ERA in 16 games- 15 starts - in his career against the Cubs.

Houston has had trouble getting the bats going early in the season, managing a total of 16 runs in six games. Its only win came Saturday when ace Roy Oswalt pitched a complete game five-hitter.