Ramirez's three homers propels Cubs over Astros

Baseball Betting Lines

07/20/2010 - Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Aramis Ramirez recorded his fourth career three-homer game and drove in seven runs, as the Chicago Cubs rallied past the Houston Astros, 14-7, in the second installment of a three-game series at Wrigley Field.

Derrek Lee knocked in three runs and scored three times for the Cubs, who bounced back from an 11-5 loss in the opener of this series on Monday. Geovany Soto hit a solo homer for the victors.

Ryan Dempster went five innings in the start, allowing seven runs -- four earned -- on eight hits. Andrew Cashner (1-3) tossed two innings of scoreless relief to pick up his first win in the majors.

Chicago manager Lou Piniella announced earlier in the day that he will retire at the conclusion of the season. Piniella is in his fourth year as the manager of the Cubs. He guided the team to a winning record in each of his first three years, but the team is just 43-52 this season.

Chris Johnson hit a solo homer, drove in two runs, and scored twice for the Astros, who have dropped three of four.

Wesley Wright lasted 4 2/3 frames in his first major league start, giving up six runs on six hits. Brandon Lyon (5-4) allowed two runs on three hits in one inning of relief to take the loss.

Trailing by six runs, 7-1, Chicago scored five times in the home fifth to get back into the game. Soto singled, moved to third when Ryan Theriot reached on Jeff Keppinger's throwing error, and scored on a passed ball. Starlin Castro knocked in a run when he grounded out. After Derrek Lee walked, Ramirez smacked a three-run homer to left-center to cut the gap to 7-6. Wilton Lopez was called upon from the bullpen two batters later to keep Houston in front.

The Cubs tied the contest in the sixth on Soto's blast to center off Chris Sampson.

Chicago took the lead in the seventh. Lyon started the inning on the mound for the Astros. Starlin Castro doubled off the wall in left-center and crossed the plate on Derrek Lee's double. Alfonso Soriano knocked in Lee with a two-out single for a 9-7 lead.

The Cubs scored five more times in the eighth to account for the final margin. Gary Majewski loaded the bases with one out. Derrek Lee hit a two-run single before Ramirez blasted a three-run homer over the wall in left.

The Astros scored four runs in the second. After Hunter Pence flied out to begin the inning, Carlos Lee doubled and Keppinger walked. Johnson followed with an RBI single. Jason Castro then reached base on Theriot's throwing error, which allowed Keppinger to score and the runners to advance to second and third. Michael Bourn walked to load the bases with two outs. Dempster's control issues continued as he hit Angel Sanchez with a pitch and walked Lance Berkman to plate two more runs. Pence popped out to end the frame.

Houston added two more runs in the top of the fourth to make it 6-0. Sanchez doubled and Berkman walked with two outs. Pence and Carlos Lee followed with back-to-back RBI base hits.

Ramirez hit a solo homer to left in the home fourth to make it a five-run game. Johnson, though, responded with a solo shot of his own in the top of the fifth to make it 7-1.

Game Notes

Houston has won five of eight matchups with Chicago this season, one year after the Cubs took 11 of the 17 matchups between the two clubs....The Cubs optioned pitcher Mitch Atkins to Triple-A Iowa and recalled pitcher Jeff Stevens from the same club...Wright became the first Astro to make their first Major League start for the club since Lopez started for Houston on September 29, 2009 at Philadelphia. Tuesday was Wright's 127th major league appearance.

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El Duque expected to throw Tuesday

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.

Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.

El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.

MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds. 

Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.

New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.

Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''

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