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Pence, Astros face Cubs in series finale

May 21, 2008 - 1:51 PM Chicago Cubs (28-18) at Houston (26-21) 8:05 pm EDT

HOUSTON (Ticker) - Lance Berkman is getting all the attention, but Hunter Pence is having quite a season as well.

Pence looks to continue his hot stretch on Wednesday when the Houston Astros face the Chicago Cubs in the finale of a three-game series.

Pence hit a grand slam in the fourth inning and helped the Astros snap a four-game losing streak to the Cubs with a 4-2 victory on Tuesday.

Berkman has gotten all the headlines for his torrid stretch in which he hit .545 (36-for-66) during a 17-game hitting streak. However, Pence has been nearly as good.

Pence, who had his 16-game hitting streak snapped on Monday, has 18 RBI in his last 18 games. The second-year center fielder will face Sean Gallagher, who is making his third career start.

Gallagher (1-0, 4.40 ERA) earned his first career win by allowing one run and four hits in six innings of a 7-4 victory over Pittsburgh on Friday.

Shawn Chacon (0-0, 4.14) takes the hill for Houston. Chacon set a major-league record by receiving a no-decision in his ninth straight start on Friday.

Chacon was rocked for eight runs - five earned - and six hits in a season-low 3 1/3 innings of a 16-8 loss to Texas. Chacon was let off the hook by an Astros' rally.