Cubs 1 - 2 Astros
Final
  for this game

Astros send Cubs to eighth straight loss

May 23, 2012 - 5:50 AM

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Houston, TX (Sports Network) - J.D. Martinez smacked a go-ahead RBI single in the sixth inning, Jose Altuve had a pair of hits, including a leadoff home run and J.A. Happ tossed six solid frames as the Houston Astros handed the Chicago Cubs their eighth straight loss with a 2-1 win in the middle test of a three- game set.

Happ (4-3) fanned six and surrendered a run on five hits and two walks for the Astros, who have won five of their last seven games.

"I feel a little bit more relaxed out there and a little more in tuned with myself," said Happ. "I'm just trying keep building off that."

Travis Wood (0-1) made his second start in a Cubs uniform and allowed a pair of runs on two hits and two walks over 5 2/3 frames, while Alfonso Soriano drilled a solo homer.

Altuve belted a solo shot over the wall in left-center to lead off the game.

Happ's lone blemish came in the fourth frame when Soriano drilled a 3-2 belt- high fastball that caromed off the facade in left, which tied the contest 1-1.

Houston pushed across a two-out run in the sixth to take the lead. After Justin Maxwell walked, Shawn Camp replaced Wood on the mound. Camp allowed a free pass to Carlos Lee before Martinez, who was in a 5-for-56 slump, delivered with a single to right-center, which scored Maxwell for a 2-1 Houston advantage.

The Astros bullpen did the rest.

Wesley Wright worked a 1-2-3 seventh inning and registered the first out of the eighth. Wilton Lopez came on and allowed a single to Reed Johnson. Tony Campana pinch-ran for Johnson and scampered to third on a throwing error by Lopez. On the play, Carlos Lee retrieved the ball and his throw to third was in plenty of time, but Campana emphatically leapt over Matt Downs and although Campana went past the bag, he was able to crawl back in time safely.

But Starlin Castro and Soriano struck out to end the threat and Brett Myers fanned two in a 1-2-3 ninth for his 11th save of the season.

"We just can't seem to get anything going," said Cubs manager Dale Sveum. "Guy at third less than two outs and you get a couple strikeouts."

Game Notes

Chicago last lost eight in a row from May 30-June 7 of last season...Altuve has 18 multi-hit games on the year...Jed Lowrie extended his hitting streak to six games.






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