Cubs 14, Astros 6: Ryan Sweeney homered and drove in a career-high six runs while Anthony Rizzo added a home run and four RBIs as Chicago piled up a season-high 14 runs to rout visiting Houston and take two of three in the series.
Cubs starter Jeff Samardzija (5-7) allowed four runs (three earned) on nine hits over seven innings, giving him back-to-back wins for the first time all season.
Chicago roughed up Astros starter Jordan Lyles (4-2), snapping his streak of seven consecutive starts allowing two or fewer runs. The right-hander was tagged for eight runs (five earned) on 10 hits in five innings.
The Cubs scored four in the third, three in the fifth and four in the seventh, and Sweeney was in the middle of each of the big innings. He capped the scoring in the third with an RBI double to center, doubled home a run and scored on Darwin Barney's RBI single in the fifth and blasted a three-run homer in the seventh.
Nate Schierholtz added three hits and two RBIs for the Cubs, who claimed the season series from the Astros for the third straight season. Chris Carter went 4-for-5 with three doubles and a pair of RBIs for Houston.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The Cubs improved to 4-36 when allowing four or more runs. … Carter finished the series 7-for-13, raising his batting average from .216 to .233. … Sweeney's six RBIs matched the most by a Cubs player this season. C Dioner Navarro knocked in six against the Chicago White Sox on May 29.
Houston | Chi. Cubs | |
Jordan Lyles | Player | Jeff Samardzija |
Loss | W/L | Win |
5.0 | IP | 7.0 |
3 | Strikeouts | 5 |
10 | Hits | 9 |
9.00 | ERA | 3.86 |
Houston | Chi. Cubs | |
Chris Carter | Player | Anthony Rizzo |
4 | Hits | 3 |
2 | RBI | 4 |
0 | HR | 1 |
7 | TB | 7 |
.800 | Avg | 1.000 |