• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Cubs look to even series after extra-inning loss

Aug 7, 2007 - 1:41 PM Chicago Cubs (58-53) at Houston (49-63) 8:05 pm EDT

HOUSTON (Ticker) -- After losing yet another extra-inning affair, the Chicago Cubs aim to bounce back Tuesday when they visit the Houston Astros.

The Cubs fell to 1-7 in extra-inning games on Monday, dropping a 2-1 decision in the opener of this three-game series.

Eric Munson hit the game-winning single off reliever Michael Wuertz in the bottom of the 10th inning to hand Chicago the loss one day after Cubs All-Star outfielder Alfonso Soriano went down with a hamstring injury while running to third base during a game against the New York Mets.

The loss dropped the Cubs to 2-4 in August after they went 17-9 in July. Despite the setback, the Cubs are just 1 1/2 games behind the first-place Milwaukee Brewers (60-53) in the National League Central Division.

Sean Marshall (5-5, 3.86 ERA) will start for the Cubs on Tuesday. The lefthander will be looking to rebound after his worst start of the season, when he lasted just 2 2/3 innings and surrendered seven runs in a 10-6 loss to Philadelphia on Thursday.

Minute Maid Park is just the place for Marshall to get back on track. He is 1-1 with a 0.64 ERA in two career starts in Houston.

The Astros counter with Woody Williams (5-12, 5.37), who also looks to bounce back from his worst outing of the campaign. The veteran righthander yielded season highs of seven runs and 13 hits in five innings against the Atlanta Braves on Thursday.