DeJesus Homers Twice, Cubs Top Astros
CHICAGO (AP) — David DeJesus hit two home runs, Justin Germano breezed through six innings and the Chicago Cubs beat the Houston Astros 7-2 on Wednesday.
Starlin Castro also homered among his three hits for Chicago, which won for just the third time in 15 games. The Cubs avoided falling to a season-worst 26 games under .500.
Astros starter Bud Norris left the game after being hit in the left foot with a line drive in the fourth inning.
DeJesus' third-inning homer was his first in 54 career games at Wrigley Field. And he didn't waste any time notching his second career Wrigley homer, blasting the first pitch of his next at-bat out to center field.
He tied a career best with four hits and drove in three runs, reaching base five times. Astros reliever Chuckie Fick was booed in the sixth for intentionally walking DeJesus with runners on second and third.
Castro hit a two-run shot in the third, his 12th of the season, as Norris failed to win for a 13th consecutive start.
Norris (5-10) allowed six runs on eight hits over 3 1-3 innings and hasn't won since May 21.
Following DeJesus' second homer, Josh Vitters hit a liner up the middle that deflected off Norris' foot toward the third base bag. After two warm-up pitches, Norris bent over, shook his head toward the team trainer and exited the game. He was diagnosed with a left foot contusion.
Germano (2-2) cruised through six innings before getting into trouble in the seventh. He was removed after giving up a single and a walk. James Russell entered in relief and loaded the bases, but escaped the jam giving up just one run.
Germano was charged with two runs on five hits over 6 1-3 innings. He walked one and struck out six, including the side in the fourth.
Scott Moore homered leading off the second for Houston for his second homer in as many days. He had three extra-base hits in Tuesday's 10-1 win.
Jose Altuve had three singles for Houston, but Marwin Gonzalez followed by hitting into a double play all three times.
The Astros, owners of the worst record in baseball, have dropped 26 of their last 29 road games and are 12-48 away from home this season.
Chicago's Brett Jackson tied the game at 1 with a two-out triple in the second inning. The low liner skipped past center fielder Brandon Barnes and Castro trotted home from third.
It was Jackson's first career RBI. He also doubled in the sixth. The 24-year-old has struggled since being called up from Triple-A Iowa on Aug. 5. He was just 4 for 28 with 16 strikeouts before the triple.
Notes: The Cubs fired vice president of player personnel Oneri Fleita. Fleita had been with the organization since 1995. . Astros RHP Francisco Cordero flew to Miami to complete his U.S. Citizenship. Cordero has been on the 15-day disabled list since Aug. 3 with a sprained toe ligament. He was acquired from Toronto on July 20. . After an off-day Thursday, Travis Wood (4-8, 4.52 ERA) pitches the series opener for the Cubs in Cincinnati against the Reds' Bronson Arroyo (8-7, 3.95). . Dallas Keuchel (1-4, 5.29) will start for Houston at home on Friday against Arizona's Wade Miley (12-8, 3.02).
(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
