• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Astros edge Cubs

Sep 19, 2011 - 3:49 AM Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Clint Barmes' two-run single in the first proved to be the game-winner as the Houston Astros held on for a 3-2 win over the Chicago Cubs in the finale of a three-game set.

J.D. Martinez drove in the other run for the Astros, who had dropped their previous three games. Brett Myers (6-13) won his third straight start as he gave up just two runs -- one earned -- and seven hits with one walk and five strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings.

Aramis Ramirez and Bryan LaHair each drove in a run for the Cubs, who have lost four of their past six. Ryan Dempster (10-13) lost his fifth straight decision after giving up three runs on seven hits over seven innings.

In the first, Houston plated all three of its runs. Jason Bourgeois walked to lead off and Angel Sanchez followed with a free pass. Martinez then singled home one run. After the next two batters recorded outs, Jimmy Paredes beat out an infield single and Barmes brought home two with a single to center.

"[Dempster] wasn't really hit hard, but just wasn't as sharp in the first inning as he was when he settled down. He pitched fine," said Chicago manager Mike Quade.

The Cubs got one back in the home half of the first as Starlin Castro led off with a double, moved to third on a Tony Campana groundout and came home when LaHair followed with a sac fly.

The eighth inning saw Ramirez bring home Darwin Barney, who reached third base when Brian Bogusevic missed a catch in center field, with a sacrifice fly to make it a 3-2 game.

The game went into a 67-minute rain delay after the eighth and when play was resumed Mike Melancon, who got the final out of the eighth, set the Cubs down in order to pick up his 18th save.

Game Notes

Houston travels to Cincinnati for three games starting on Monday...The Cubs host Milwaukee for three games beginning on Monday...Chicago won the season series, 8-7...Dempster fell to 7-11 against Houston...Myers improved to an impressive 13-3 in 21 games against the Cubs.