The 2012 season for the Chicago Cubs is now only one day away from its completion after the Northsiders dropped Game 161 to the Houston Astros by the score of 3-0. Chicago was held to only four hits by a combination of Houston starter Bud Norris and the Astros bullpen.
Norris allowed all four of those hits over six innings while striking out four and walking two. Houston's bullpen picked up the final three innings and was perfect except for a single walk allowed by closer Wilton Lopez, who picked up his 10th save of the season.
Cubs starter Chris Volstad was solid on the night, allowing five hits and a single earned run over seven innings. Most encouraging for Volstad is that he struck out six batters and walked none, although he did give up a home run to Jason Castro. Houston's second run was driven in by Tyler Greene, who singled in the second inning, but that run was not charged to Volstad.
Houston's final run came in the eighth inning when Jason Bogusevic scored on a wild pitch. The teams will play their final games on Wednesday at Wrigley at 1:20 p.m. CT.