Alfonso Soriano hit a three run home run that capped a five run first inning, and the Cubs and Carlos Zambrano went on to take the series against Houston as a result. The other two runs in the inning were courtesy of a two RBI double by Jeff Baker.

Zambrano managed to hold down the fort up until the sixth inning. Then, the wheels started coming off. Thanks to an untimely error and home run, Big Z gave up five runs and was pulled without making it through the sixth frame. Having closed the gap to one run, it seemed like Houston would pull off another spectacular comeback. But the Cubs bullpen, led by Sean Marshall, shut down the Astros lineup for 3 1/3 innings.

The Cubs would add some much need insurance in the top of the ninth with a three run frame thanks to Starlin Castro, Darwin Barney, Marlon Byrd, and Aramis Ramirez. The extra runs may not even have happened, had Marlon Byrd not hustled down the line on a bunt attempt, causing an overthrow by Astros reliever Wilton Lopez.

The Cubs are off on Thursday, but will next travel to Colorado to take on the Rockies, who currently lead the NL West.