After two frustrating days in Washington, DC that produced only a loss and a tie, the Astros returned and hopefully to a happier vibe.
Alas, that was not to be. Before the game, the team learned that hitting coach Sean Berry has a cancerous tumor on his kidney. They also met with new teammate Aaron Boone, who visited the team for the first time since undergoing open heart surgery before the season began.
Then the Chicago Cubs came to town, apparently anxious to get away from booing fans at Wrigley Field (when did that start?).
The Cubs jumped on Astro starter Mike Hampton for four runs in the first inning as Reed Johnson's bases-loaded drive barely eluded Michael Bourn for a bases-clearing triple. Ivan Rodriguez allowed Johnson to score on a passed ball.
The Cubs added two runs later on a second passed ball by Rodriguez, and a Aramis Ramirez homer.
What there was of the Astros rally came too little and too late as Lance Berkman's two-run homer (his seventh of the season) closed the gap to the final 6-3. Rich Harden got the win for the Cubs with 7 IP and 3 ER, one of his best performances of the season.
The Astros record drops to 11-16, 6-1/2 games behind first-place St. Louis and one game behind the fifth-place Pirates, who appear to be ready to compete with the Astros for the NL Central cellar.
Original Story:
http://myteamrivals.typepad.com/astro...
