Randy Wells needed a quality outing for the Cubs Saturday and that’s exactly what he gave them. Wells won for the first time since April and the Cubs clinched the weekend series with the Astros after a 5-1 victory.
Marlon Byrd started the scoring for the Cubs with a long homerun to left in the second inning which gave them a 1-0 lead. Geovany Soto homered in the fifth to push the lead to 2-0. The Astros would cut the lead in half in the sixth thanks to an RBI single by Carlos Lee, but the Cubs would tally three more runs in the eighth putting the game out of reach.
The story Saturday was Randy Wells (2-3). It has been well documented how much Wells has struggled this season so Saturday was exactly what he needed. Wells gave the Cubs six innings and allowed just one run on five hits. Carlos Marmol tried to make the game close putting the first two on in the ninth, but settled down to end the game with no more runs allowed.
Wandy Rodriguez pitched well in a losing effort for Houston Saturday. Rodriguez went seven innings and allowed two runs, the homeruns to Byrd and Soto, on just three hits. The Astros lefty also had seven strikeouts. Rodriguez fell to 6-7 on the season.
The Cubs will go for the sweep Sunday afternoon at Wrigley.