SB Nation Chicago - Silva Solid For Five Innings, Cubs Defeat Astros 5-2 In First Game Of Triphttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48877/chicago-fave.png2010-07-26T22:22:04-05:00http://chicago.sbnation.com/rss/stream/13531352010-07-26T22:22:04-05:002010-07-26T22:22:04-05:00Theriot Homers (Yes, Really!) In Cubs Win Over Astros
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/cmWVZDPbF6WZGWPFgXhd1yfCHyU=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828105/large_chicago.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>Houston, TX (Sports Network) – Ryan Theriot hit his first home run of the season and Carlos Silva worked five innings to push Chicago past Houston, 5-2, in the opener of a three-game set.</p>
<p>Theriot finished with a pair of hits and Alfonso Soriano doubled twice, scored a run and drove in a run to lift the Cubs to their third win in four games.</p>
<p>Silva (10-4) went the requisite five frames to grab the win as he yielded a lone run on five hits while walking one and fanning four for Chicago, which improved to 4-6 against Houston this season. Carlos Marmol worked a scoreless ninth inning to preserve the win and earn his 19th save of the season.</p>
<p>Wesley Wright (0-1) absorbed the loss in his second big league start after giving up four runs on eight hits over five innings while walking one and striking out four for the Astros, who have dropped three out of four.</p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/2010/7/26/1589606/theriot-homers-cubs-win-over-astrosAl Yellon2010-07-26T16:55:27-05:002010-07-26T16:55:27-05:00Cubs Face Astros Again, Look To Avenge Last Week's Series Loss
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/cmWVZDPbF6WZGWPFgXhd1yfCHyU=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828105/large_chicago.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>(Sports Network) - <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/743/Carlos_Silva">Carlos Silva</a> tries to bounce back from two miserable outings this evening when the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/teams/CHC">Chicago Cubs</a> begin a three-game series against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/teams/HOU">Houston Astros</a> at Minute Maid Park.</p>
<p>Silva, who won his first eight decisions of the season, lasted just one inning against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/HOU">Astros</a> last Monday, as he was pounded for five runs and seven hits to fall to 9-4 on the year. He wasn't able to get out of the second inning in his previous outing and has given up 11 runs in his last 2 1/3 frames to raise his earned run average to 3.86.</p>
<p>"He's not as sharp as he was earlier, that's for sure," <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/CHC">Cubs</a> manager Lou Piniella said. "We have to get him straightened out.</p>
<p>The 31-year-old righty is 2-1 lifetime against Houston with a 5.40 ERA in eight games, three of which have been starts.</p>
<p>Chicago was denied a sweep in its weekend set with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/teams/STL">St. Louis Cardinals</a>, falling in heartbreaking fashion on Sunday, as <span>Felipe Lopez</span>'s 11th-inning home run propelled the Cards to a 4-3 win.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/696/Ryan_Theriot">Ryan Theriot</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/100/Marlon_Byrd">Marlon Byrd</a> each had two hits and a run driven in for the Cubs, who nonetheless claimed their first series win against a division foe since sweeping Milwaukee from April 23-25, a string of 10 series.</p>
<p>The Cubs had ample opportunity to pull off the sweep, but went 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position. Included was an 0-for-10 performance in their final 10 chances with runners aboard.</p>
<p>Houston, meanwhile, avoided a sweep at the hands of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/teams/CIN">Cincinnati Reds</a> on Sunday, as <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/375/Wandy_Rodriguez">Wandy Rodriguez</a> spun seven innings of one-hit ball and received home run support from <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/347/Hunter_Pence">Hunter Pence</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/33980/Chris_Johnson">Chris Johnson</a> in a 4-0 win.</p>
<p>Rodriguez (8-11) walked two, struck out seven and did not allow a runner past first base in leading Houston to its' first win in six tries against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/CIN">Reds</a> at Minute Maid Park this season.</p>
<p>Trying to keep the Astros in the win column this evening will be left-hander <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/31265/Wesley_Wright">Wesley Wright</a>, who will be making his second start of the season. Wright did not get a decision on Tuesday against the Cubs, but gave up six runs - one earned - and six hits in just 4 2/3 innings of his team's 14-7 setback.</p>
<p>Wright, who has pitched to a 4.40 ERA without earning a decision this season, is 2-0 with a 4.11 ERA in 14 games against the Cubs. Tonight's assignment, though, will be just his second start against the club.</p>
<p>Houston has won six of its nine matchups with the Cubs this season.</p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/2010/7/26/2318415/cubs-face-astros-again-look-to-avenge-last-weeks-series-lossAl Yellon