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Cubs even series with Astros behind Ramirez, Marquis

Sep 1, 2007 - 8:55 PM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Aramis Ramirez hit a two-run home run and Jason Marquis outdueled rookie Troy Patton as the Chicago Cubs defeated the Houston Astros, 4-3, on Saturday. The Cubs' victory evened the three-game series between the teams after the Astros won, 6-1, on Friday. Houston had won four straight against Chicago entering the contest. Ramirez broke a 1-1 tie in the sixth inning with his 19th home run of the season off Patton with Derrek Lee aboard. It was Chicago's first home run with a runner on base since Daryle Ward's grand slam against the St. Louis Cardinals on August 18.

"We don't have to hit home runs to win," Ramirez said. "The way the wind has been blowing in this year, it has been hard to hit the ball out. All we have to worry about is scoring runs and playing good baseball." That made a winner of Marquis (11-8), who pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowing two runs and five hits. The righthander struck out five and walked one to improve his record at Wrigley Field to 8-3 this season.

"Marquis pitched well, he came in and threw strikes," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "We got hitting from our big boys, Ramirez and Lee. It was a good way to start the month." Carlos Marmol and Bobby Howry bridged the gap to Ryan Dempster, who allowed Carlos Lee's 27th home run in the ninth before earning his 24th save. Luke Scott put Houston ahead 1-0 in the second inning when he deposited a pitch from Marquis over the center field wall for his 16th homer of the season. The Cubs tied the score in the third inning when Alfonso Soriano walked and Ryan Theriot doubled to center. Astros center fielder Hunter Pence committed a throwing error on the play, allowing Soriano to score the tying run.

"You don't want to give up runs that way," Astros manager Cecil Cooper said. "Good teams like the Cubs will take advantage of plays like that and they did." Scott struck again for Houston in the seventh inning, grounding out to short to score Carlos Lee from third to pull his team within 3-2. The Cubs tacked on an insurance run in the eighth inning on Derrek Lee's 16th home run of the season off Astros reliever Chris Sampson.

"I can't say it felt different today," Lee said. "We have been playing big games and close games for a while. We just need to try and keep the same intensity level everyday." Lee and Ramirez each finished with a pair of hits to pace Chicago's seven-hit attack. In his second career start, Patton (0-2) pitched six innings, allowing three runs - two earned - and three hits. The 21-year-old lefthander walked one and struck out three batters.

"I am pretty pleased with my outing," Patton said. "I have given up too many home runs and I need to keep the ball down and in the ballpark better than I have."