Cubs sweep 3-game series against Astros

Derrek Lee broke a streak of 126 at-bats without a home run with a three-run shot in the second inning to help the Chicago Cubs complete a three-game sweep of the Houston Astros with a 7-6 win.

The Cubs have won 15 of their past 19 games and swept the Astros in a three-game series at Wrigley Field for the first time since May 1984.

Ryan Theriot and Angel Pagan also homered for the Cubs, who remain 3 1/2 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central.

The Cubs used five relievers to preserve the victory, who combined for five scoreless innings.

Reliever Michael Wuertz (2-2) earned the victory. He got one out in the seventh with bases loaded and pitched a perfect eighth inning. Bob Howry earned his fifth save.

Mike Lamb homered for the Astros, who have lost six straight on the road.

Astros starter Wandy Rodriguez (6-8) couldn't hold an early 5-0 lead. He allowed six runs on seven hits in the second inning. With one out, Mark DeRosa doubled and scored on Geovany Soto's single. On the next pitch, Pagan hit a two-run homer. It was his fourth of the season. Jason Marquis and Theriot followed with back-to-back singles. Then with two outs, Lee hit a three-run home run into the left-field bleachers, giving the Cubs a 6-5 lead. It was his seventh of the season, his first since June 3 against the Braves.

Rodriguez was coming off an impressive four-hit shutout of the New York Mets on July 6, but left after 3 1-3 innings. The lefty gave up seven runs on nine hits in his shortest outing of the season.

Marquis, who started for the Cubs, didn't last long. Lamb tied the game off Marquis with a solo shot in the third inning. It was Lamb's eighth of the season.

Theriot's leadoff homer in the fourth inning broke a 6-6 tie. It was Theriot's second of the season.

Marquis went four innings and gave up six runs on six hits. Marquis' ERA in his past seven starts is 6.75.

The Astros threatened in the seventh inning, they had runners on second and third with one out. Cubs reliever Will Ohman got Brad Ausmus to line out to third. Then Wuertz came in and walked pinch-hitter Morgan Ensberg to load the bases but ended the inning by striking out Chris Burke.

Hunter Pence doubled off the wall in left in the first inning and scored on Lance Berkman's RBI-single.

The Astros added four runs off Marquis in the second inning. Marquis gave up a leadoff single to Lamb and Luke Scott drove in Lamb with a double. Ausmus followed with an RBI single. After a sacrifice bunt by Rodriguez, Marquis walked Burke, then with two outs and the count full, Berkman doubled to center, scoring Ausmus and Burke, giving the Astros a 5-0 lead.

Notes:@ Before the second inning, Rodriguez pitched 17 consecutive scoreless innings. ... Cubs manager Lou Piniella dropped Alfonso Soriano to fifth in the batting order from the leadoff spot, hoping it would lead to more offense against lefty starters.