Cubs 4, Astros 0: Paul Maholm scattered four hits over 8 1/3 solid innings and host Chicago won for the third time in four games.

Maholm (5-6) was in command all afternoon, striking out six while walking one and hitting a batter. He had a two-hit shutout through eight innings before allowing a single and a one-out double in the ninth. Carlos Marmol came on in relief, striking out J.D. Martinez before getting Chris Johnson to line out to third for the final out.

Luis Valbuena put the Cubs in front with a second-inning solo homer against Bud Norris (5-5). Steve Clevenger followed with a two-run shot in the fourth to make it 3-0 and Alfonso Soriano capped the scoring with a solo blast in the sixth.

Norris was responsible for all of the game’s runs, yielding seven hits and a walk while striking out just one.

Bryan LaHair had three of the Cubs’ nine hits.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The start of the game was delayed for 55 minutes due to rain ... Maholm got through the seventh inning on just five pitches ... Chicago’s Tony Campana came on as a pinch runner in the eighth inning and stole his 25th base of the year, most in the major leagues.