Final
Astros' Lyles toes rubber at Wrigley Field
Jun 23, 2013 - 1:54 PM (Sports Network) - Streaking right-hander Jordan Lyles goes for an eighth straight start without a loss on Sunday when the Houston Astros return to Wrigley Field to close out a three-game interleague series with the Chicago Cubs.Lyles split his initial two decisions of the season across his first three starts but has since gone 3-0 in seven appearances while watching his earned run average plummet from 8.36 to 3.22.
He's allowed two runs or less in each of the seven unbeaten starts, including one run on seven hits in seven innings of a 10-1 downing of the Milwaukee Brewers in a June 18 outing.
He's allowed just nine runs in those seven games, which have covered 44 2/3 innings and seen him strike out 33 batters.
Lyles is 1-0 in three lifetime starts against the Cubs with a 2.50 ERA across 18 innings.
He's opposed by Chicago righty Jeff Samardzija, who's won three of five decisions since opening the season at 1-5.
He's thrown at least eight innings in each of the victories, including a 4-2 defeat of the St. Louis Cardinals in which he went 8 1/3 innings and allowed two runs on seven hits with six strikeouts.
One victory earlier, Samardzija went the distance and allowed two hits while defeating the crosstown Chicago White Sox, 7-0, on May 27.
Samardzija is 3-2 with a blown save and three holds in 17 career meetings with Houston, while posting a 3.60 ERA in 30 full innings.
On Saturday, Ronny Cedeno bunted home the winning run in the ninth inning to lift the Astros past the Cubs, 4-3.
Earlier in the frame, Justin Maxwell connected on a line drive double to left off Kevin Gregg (2-1) and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Matt Dominguez. Cedeno then pushed a perfect bunt up the first-base line to put the Astros on top.
In the home half of the eighth, the calls didn't go the Cubs' way.
Alfonso Soriano doubled and Anthony Rizzo was intentionally walked with one out. Soriano was picked off by Jose Cisnero (2-0) at second on a controversial call which was followed by a Ryan Sweeney single that could have possibly scored Soriano. Welington Castillo was walked to load the bases. Darwin Barney had a 3-1 count and took what appeared to be ball four before flying out two pitches later.
Jose Veras threw a 1-2-3 ninth to collect his 15th save of the year.
J.D. Martinez had a three-run homer for the Astros, who have won seven of their last 10 games.
Bud Norris yielded three runs -- two earned -- on six hits while walking three in six effective innings of work for Houston.
The Cubs won eight of 15 games with the Astros in 2012, Houston's final season in the National League.
- HOUSTON: 6
CHICAGO: 14
Final
Jun 23 5:58 PM - J.D. Martinez grounded into a double play, third to first scored Justin Maxwell with two outs. On the play, Jason Castro advances to second and Jose Altuve out at third. Runner on second and Chris Carter due up.
Astros 6, Cubs 14 Top 9, 2 OutsJun 23 5:58 PM - Anthony Rizzo one-out, two-run Home Run (12) to right center scored Nate Schierholtz. Ryan Sweeney due up.
Astros 5, Cubs 14 Bot 8, 1 OutJun 23 5:48 PM - Chris Carter doubled to left scored J.D. Martinez with none out. Runner on second and Marc Krauss due up.
Astros 5, Cubs 12 Top 8, 0 OutsJun 23 5:40 PM - Luis Valbuena tripled to right scored Scott Hairston with two outs. Runner on third and Starlin Castro due up.
Astros 4, Cubs 12 Bot 7, 2 OutsJun 23 5:34 PM - Ryan Sweeney none-out, three-run Home Run (3) to right center scored Alfonso Soriano and Anthony Rizzo. Welington Castillo due up.
Astros 4, Cubs 11 Bot 7, 0 OutsJun 23 5:28 PM - Matt Dominguez singled to center scored Chris Carter with one out. Runner on first and Marwin Gonzalez due up.
Astros 4, Cubs 8 Top 6, 1 OutJun 23 5:14 PM - Darwin Barney singled to center scored Ryan Sweeney with two outs. Runner on first and Jeff Samardzija due up.
Astros 3, Cubs 8 Bot 5, 2 OutsJun 23 5:09 PM - Ryan Sweeney doubled to center scored Anthony Rizzo with one out. Runner on second and Welington Castillo due up.
Astros 3, Cubs 7 Bot 5, 1 OutJun 23 3:59 PM - Anthony Rizzo singled to center scored Alfonso Soriano with one out. Runner on first and Ryan Sweeney due up.
Astros 3, Cubs 6 Bot 5, 1 OutJun 23 3:56 PM - Matt Dominguez reached first on Starlin Castro's throwing error scored Chris Carter with two outs. Matt Dominguez to second. Runner on second and Marwin Gonzalez due up.
Astros 3, Cubs 5 Top 4, 2 OutsJun 23 3:31 PM - Chris Carter doubled to center scored Jason Castro with one out. Runner on second and Marc Krauss due up.
Astros 2, Cubs 5 Top 4, 1 OutJun 23 3:25 PM - J.D. Martinez grounded out second to first scored Jose Altuve with one out. On the play, Jason Castro advances to third. Runner on third and Chris Carter due up.
Astros 1, Cubs 5 Top 4, 1 OutJun 23 3:24 PM - Ryan Sweeney doubled to center scored Nate Schierholtz with two outs. Runner on second and Welington Castillo due up.
Astros 0, Cubs 5 Bot 3, 2 OutsJun 23 3:14 PM - Anthony Rizzo sacrifice fly out to center scored Starlin Castro with two outs. On the play, Nate Schierholtz advances to second. Runner on second and Ryan Sweeney due up.
Astros 0, Cubs 4 Bot 3, 2 OutsJun 23 3:13 PM - Nate Schierholtz singled to right scored Jeff Samardzija and Luis Valbuena with none out. On the play, Starlin Castro advances to third. Runners on first and third and Alfonso Soriano due up.
Astros 0, Cubs 3 Bot 3, 0 OutsJun 23 3:08 PM - Ryan Sweeney grounded out second to first scored Anthony Rizzo with one out. None on and Welington Castillo due up.
Astros 0, Cubs 1 Bot 2, 1 OutJun 23 2:50 PM - HOUSTON: 0
CHICAGO: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Jun 23 2:24 PM
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