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Soriano, Cubs look to avenge earlier sweep vs. Astros

Aug 31, 2007 - 2:36 PM Houston (60-74) at Chicago Cubs (68-64) 2:20 pm EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) - After giving themselves some cushion in the National League Central, Alfonso Soriano and the Chicago Cubs look to beat up on the lowly Houston Astros on Friday.

Soriano and Matt Murton hit back-to-back home runs in the sixth inning to lift the Cubs to a 5-4 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday. It was Soriano's first home run since returning from the disabled list on Tuesday.

The win allowed Chicago to pick up a game in the standings on their closest challengers, the Brewers and the resurgent St. Louis Cardinals.

The Cubs, who now lead the Brewers by 2 1/2 games and the Cardinals by three, will now set their sights on the Astros, who swept Chicago in a home series from August 6-8.

Sean Marshall (7-6, 4.04 ERA) will take the mound for the Cubs, who are just 5-4 in their last nine games.

The lefthanded Marshall is unbeaten in his last six starts. He allowed just one run and two hits in six innings of a 6-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks last Friday.

The previous sweep over Chicago did very little for struggling Houston, which fired both manager Phil Garner and general manager Tim Purpura on Monday. Interim manager Cecil Cooper did guide the Astros to a series win over the Cardinals this week amid the changes.

Despite winning their last two games, Houston now turns to Wandy Rodriguez (7-12, 4.67), who will make a dreaded road start. Rodriguez is 1-9 with a 7.80 ERA in 12 road starts this season, dropping his last five outings away from home.

The lefthander, who had been outstanding at home, is coming off a pair of subpar starts at Minute Maid Park, giving up 11 runs over his last 10 1/3 innings.