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Marquis, Cubs look to sweep Astros

Jul 15, 2007 - 2:07 PM Houston (39-52) at Chicago Cubs (46-43), 2:20 pm EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) - The Chicago Cubs turn to Jason Marquis to keep the ball rolling.

Marquis and the Cubs look for their fourth three-game sweep of the season when they face the struggling Houston Astros on Sunday.

Chicago crushed Houston, 9-3, on Saturday to win its third straight home series. The Cubs received outstanding performances by starter Ted Lilly (one run, four hits in eight innings) and Aramis Ramirez (four RBI) as well as a three-run blast by Alfonso Soriano, Chicago's first homer in 11 games.

It was the Cubs' seventh win in 10 games in July and 19th victory in their last 28 contests. The Astros have lost five of seven.

To earn their fourth sweep of 2007, the Cubs turn to Marquis (6-5, 3.67 ERA), who has just one victory in the last two months. The lefthander earned his sixth win on July 1 against Milwaukee but hasn't recorded another victory since May 9. He is 1-4 since then with six no-decisions.

Marquis suffered an 8-4 loss at Pittsburgh on July 6, surrendering six runs and eight hits - two homers - in 4 2/3 innings.

The 28-year-old is 7-5 lifetime against the Astros, including a loss on April 10 at Wrigley Field.

Houston turns to Wandy Rodriguez (6-7, 3.87) to help it snap a two-game losing streak. Rodriguez has won two straight, including a 4-0 shutout of the New York Mets on July 6. In that game, the lefthander yielded just four hits while striking eight while going the distance.

The 28-year-old is 2-3 in five career starts vs. the Cubs, but is 0-2, with an 8.38 ERA, yielding nine runs in 9 2/3 innings here. The Dominican has also struggled on the road, going 1-5 in eight games away from home this season.