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Astros return home to face Cubs

May 19, 2008 - 1:38 PM Chicago Cubs (27-17) at Houston (25-20) 7:05 pm EDT

HOUSTON (Ticker) - Considering how the Houston Astros' offense performed on the team's recent road trip, they have to be slightly disappointed about returning home.

After going 7-3 during a 10-game stretch away from home, the Astros open a three-game set against the Chicago Cubs on Monday.

Lance Berkman, who is hitting .545 (36-for-66) with eight homers and 21 RBI during a 17-game hitting streak, collected seven multi-hit games during the trip in which the team hit .297 (106-for-357) and scored less than five runs in a game just twice.

Berkman is also hitting a sparkling .476 this season at Minute Maid Park, where the Astros are 11-6 this season.

However, they'll be lucky to perform that well off Cubs starter Ted Lilly (4-4, 5.33 ERA), who has won each of his last three starts. Despite surrendering four runs and six hits over six frames, the lefthander struck out a season-high 11 in Wednesday's 8-5 home victory over San Diego.

Lilly has turned in back-to-back double-digit strikeout performances after fanning 10 - his previous season high - in a 3-1 win over Arizona on May 9 in his last start.

He'll be opposed by Brian Moehler (1-0, 4.58), who will be making just his third start of the season. The righthander has worked only five innings in both turns, including Wednesday's 6-3 win at San Francisco in which he did not factor into the decision.