astros 12, cubs 4
HOUSTON -- A wild-card race that has heavy traffic stacked infront of the Cubs isn't causing manager Dusty Baker to sweat.
"Somebody is going to break," Baker said Monday. "Somebody alwaysdoes.
"I've been in many of these races, man. I've been in a whole bunchof races. I have a pretty good idea how to run this race -- fromplaying to managing to coaching. Right now, we just have to get inposition to run this race. Sometimes it's like running a track meet.It depends on when you make your kick."
The wild-card-leading Houston Astros gave themselves a much-needed kick start Monday night, pounding the Cubs 12-4 at Minute MaidPark to open a crucial three-game series.
The blowout gave the Astros a 71/2-game cushion over the Cubs inthe wild-card standings.
Could this be the same Astros lineup that was shut out inconsecutive games by the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates before the Cubsarrived? After the second shutout, Astros manager Phil Garner had agood feeling about Monday.
"The only good news about it is the odds are we are going to scorea run [Monday]," Garner said.
The Astros did more than score a measly run. They belted four homeruns to give rookie left-hander Wandy Rodriguez (8-5) plenty ofbreathing room against a Cubs lineup that ran out of gas after thefourth inning.
"It takes some steam out of you," Baker said, "when they have asix-run inning."
The Astros put the game away with a six-run fifth inning.Relievers Todd Wellemeyer and Michael Wuertz combined to allow fourhits and five walks as the Astros sent 12 batters to the plate. Itwas the Astros' second-biggest inning this season, trailing only theseven-run inning they had against the Cubs on May 1.
"We were walking people," Baker said. "We're second in the leaguein walks. We have to find a way to get to strike one."
Adam Everett belted the first pitch of the inning for a home runthat gave the Astros a 6-4 lead. Wellemeyer then walked Chris Burke,who hit a three-run homer off starter Glendon Rusch (5-5) in thethird inning. Next up was weak-hitting catcher Humberto Quintero, whosmacked the first pitch from Wellemeyer for a two-run homer.
After a walk, a single and another walk, Wellemeyer was replacedby Wuertz, who promptly walked Lance Berkman on a 3-1 pitch with thebases loaded.
It was that kind of night for the Cubs, who got off to a flashystart.
Todd Walker hit a one-out solo home run in the first inning, and aquick rally topped by Michael Barrett's run-scoring single gave theCubs a 2-0 lead.
Rusch immediately gave back the runs in the first, allowing fivesingles, including run-scoring hits by Morgan Ensberg and Everett.The rally ended the Astros' 18-inning scoring drought.
Rusch, making his first start since June 23, lasted just 32/3innings after allowing five runs and 10 hits.
"They were just blooping him early," Baker said. "After that, theywere just going long ball on us."
Rodriguez, meanwhile, rebounded from his shaky first inning tokeep the Cubs at bay. Matt Murton, batting in the leadoff spotMonday, hit a two-out solo home run in the second inning.
Corey Patterson tripled to the gap in right-center and scored onthe play when second baseman Craig Biggio's throw to third hit him inthe back. That was the last time the Cubs got a runner beyond firstbase until a too-late rally in the ninth left runners stranded atsecond and third.
Now the Cubs need to make a kick in this wild-card race under eventougher circumstances. Left-hander Andy Pettitte, whose 2.62 ERA isfifth-best in NL, and right-hander Roy Oswalt (2.57 ERA, fourth-bestin the NL) are the Astros' next two scheduled starters.
"We have to pick it up," Baker said. "We have to find a wayagainst two very tough pitchers."
The Cubs still control their own wild-card destiny, with ninegames left against the Astros and three each against the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves and wild-card-contending Florida Marlins.
"At this point," Baker said, "you just have to beat everybody."
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