Cubs Build Big Early Lead, Hold On To Defeat Astros

The Cubs' revamped lineup, made necessary by the minor hamstring injury to Kosuke Fukudome on Sunday, scored four runs in the first two innings and went out to a 5-0 lead after four, thanks primarily to three hits from Starlin Castro. They needed every one of those runs after Ryan Dempster started giving up long balls in the seventh inning -- a homer, a double that nearly was another homer, and then an actual second homer -- that made the lead 5-4. John Grabow, Sean Marshall and Carlos Marmol held the Astros scoreless for the win, although Marmol made it overly exciting in the ninth inning after getting the final out of the eighth. After the first two outs of the ninth inning were registered easily, Marmol gave up a single and a walk, putting the tying and winning runs on base, before striking out Joe Inglett to preserve the victory, which evened up the Cubs' record at 5-5. The two teams will meet again tonight in Houston.