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Astros look to take series from Cubs

Apr 8, 2009 - 5:22 AM Chi Cubs (1-1) at Houston (1-1) 8:00 p.m. EDT

HOUSTON (AP) -- The Chicago Cubs may be the two-time defending NL Central Division champions, but that's not because of their play against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park.

Coming off an extra-inning victory, the Astros look to win their third straight home series with the Cubs in Wednesday night's finale.

After losing 4-2 in Monday's season opener, the Astros bounced back with a 3-2, 10-inning victory on Tuesday to even the three-game set.

Jeff Keppinger's broken-bat game-winning single off new Cubs closer Kevin Gregg helped Houston avoid starting 0-2 for a third straight season.

"It was a beautiful game," Astros starting pitcher Wandy Rodriguez said. "We won. That's all we want."

Houston has finished no better than third in the Central the last two seasons, but is 8-4 against Chicago at Minute Maid Park during that span. The Astros went 4-2 versus the Cubs at home in 2008.

Hunter Pence homered and Michael Bourn added an RBI on Tuesday for Houston, which won despite sluggers Ivan Rodriguez, Lance Berkman and Carlos Lee combining to go 2-for-12.

Pence is 2-for-6 in the series and batting .366 with two home runs and 10 RBIs in 11 games versus the Cubs in Houston.

Looking to win their first season-opening series in four years, the Astros must contend with Chicago's Ted Lilly.

The last time Lilly faced Houston, he allowed one hit and struck out nine in seven scoreless innings of the Cubs' 6-1 win over the Astros on Sept.15. That game was relocated from Houston to Milwaukee's Miller Park due to Hurricane Ike.

The left-hander, who is 3-1 with a 2.52 ERA in six starts against Houston, went 17-9 with a 4.09 ERA in 2008. He set career highs for wins and strikeouts (184) and is anxious to build off that success.

"We'll really find out where I am once the season kicks off," Lilly told the Cubs' official Web site. "That counts the most. My goal is to make sure I'm prepared to get off to a good start."

Houston counters with Brian Moehler, who appears ready despite taking a line drive off his right shoulder in a spring training game last month.

"I was lucky, it didn't get bone," Moehler told the Astros' official Web site. "It got more muscle than anything else."

Moehler worked his way into the rotation during 2008, after originally serving as a fill-in for the injured Wandy Rodriguez. He finished 11-8 with a 4.43 ERA in 26 starts and was second on the staff in wins.

The right-hander is 2-2 with a 3.73 ERA in seven starts against Chicago.

One night after leading off with a homer, the Cubs' Alfonso Soriano tied Tuesday's game with a solo shot in the eighth inning.

Soriano is 3-for-10 in the series and batting .341 with six homers and 11 RBIs during a nine-game hitting streak against Houston. He is 5-for-15 with a double against Moehler.

The Cubs could be without catcher and 2008 NL rookie of year Geovany Soto after he left Tuesday's game in the sixth inning with shoulder soreness.

"I overexposed my shoulder on a throw," said Soto, who had 23 home runs and 86 RBIs last season and is 1-for-5 in 2009. "It's the same thing that happened earlier in the spring. But if I just stay on top of my exercises I'll be all right in a couple of days."