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Home runs by Theriot, Lee rally Cubs past Astros

Jul 15, 2007 - 11:50 PM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Chicago Cubs are playing their best baseball of the season.

Ryan Theriot and Derrek Lee each providing key home runs as the Cubs rallied from a five-run deficit to defeat the Houston Astros, 7-6, on Sunday.

Angel Pagan added a two-run homer for the Cubs, who have won three straight games and 15 of their last 19. The team also completed a rare three-game sweep against the Astros at Wrigley Field, something Chicago hadn't done since May 18-20, 1984.

"The club is gaining confidence, that's the important thing," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "These kids fought right back from a 5-0 deficit. On top of that, our bullpen was stellar."

Righthander Michael Wuertz (2-2) pitched 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief to earn the victory and Bob Howry tossed a perfect ninth for his fifth save of the season.

"It was one of those weird days at Wrigley," Wuertz said. "Everybody pieced it together and we're able to come away with a W."

After falling behind, 5-0, Lee gave the Cubs a 6-5 lead with a three-run homer to cap a six-run second. Houston tied the game on a homer by Mike Lamb in the third, but Theriot put Chicago ahead for good with a solo shot in the fourth.

"I'm never thinking home run," Theriot said. "But I did put a good swing on it and it went out."

The Astros built their early lead behind Lance Berkman's RBI single in the first and his two-run double in the second. Luke Scott and Brad Ausmus also provided RBI hits off starter Jason Marquis during the outburst.

"We swung the bats much better today," Astros manager Phil Garner said. "We hit a lot of balls hard. Unfortunately for us, a lot of them were caught. A loss is a loss, but we did swing the bats better today."

Houston starter Wandy Rodriguez (6-8), who is 0-3 and has allowed 16 runs in 13 innings in three career starts here, gave up the cushion in the bottom of the second.

Mark DeRosa began the onslaught with a one-out double and scored moments later on a single by Geovany Soto. Pagan followed with his fourth home run of the season and cut the deficit to 5-3.

Following back-to-back singles by Marquis and Theriot, Rodriguez got Mike Fontenot to ground out for the second out of the inning before giving up the three-run blast to Lee.

Once a feared power hitter, Lee's seventh homer of the year was his first since June 3.

"I really haven't hit anything in the air for a long time," Lee said. "It was just nice to hit one up in the air and actually get a home run out of it. The reason it worked was that a home run was the last thing on my mind there."

After Lamb connected for his eighth longball of the year to tie the game, Houston had a chance to go ahead in the fourth when Hunter Pence moved into scoring position with a two-out steal of second base.

However, Carlos Lee's sharp liner down the third base line was snared by third baseman Aramis Ramirez, who made a diving catch.

"That's one of the reasons why we've gone on this streak," Ramirez said. "We're making all the plays we're supposed to and, once in awhile, a great play."

Theriot's second home run of the season - and first since May 29 - restored the Cubs' one-run lead in the bottom of the frame.

All 13 runs in the game were allowed by the starters. Rodriguez allowed seven runs, nine hits and two walks while striking out two in 3 1/3 innings.

"I don't think Wandy even felt right in the bullpen warming up," said Ausmus, the Astros' catcher. "They did find some holes with some base hits, but the real damage was the balls he gave up that found the bleachers."

Marquis departed after four innings having allowed six runs, eight hits and three walks while striking out two.

The Astros loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh, but Wuertz got Chris Burke to wave at a 3-2 pitch for the final out of the inning.

Ramirez also did his part to preserve the lead during the threat, making another stellar grab on a liner by Ausmus for the second out. Lamb finished with three hits for Houston, which has lost three straight.

"We couldn't seem to get the clutch hit after the first three innings," Lamb said. "The ball I hit out somehow cut through the wind."