Most experts give the Cubs the edge in the National League wild-card race because of their starting pitching.
They might want to rethink that after the Houston Astros jumped on another Cubs starter Sunday in a 10-3 rout at Wrigley Field.
The loss left the Cubs tied for the wild-card lead with San Diego and San Francisco. Houston, which won three of four games in the series, now lurks only four games behind.
Matt Clement (9-12) was the victim Sunday, allowing four runs before leaving with a strained upper back in the fifth inning. He was only the latest victim of a hammering by red-hot Houston.
When the series started, Cubs pitchers led the major leagues with a 3.66 earned-run average. When it ended, that number was up to 3.80 after they allowed 21 runs in 201 1/43 innings.
“No, they didn’t do very well,” manager Dusty Baker conceded. “We got behind early the last three games, and playing catch-up is hard in this league.”
Clement gave up a run in the first inning, but the Cubs got it back on Corey Patterson’s lead-off home run. Houston scored two more in the second, and by the time the fifth inning was over, the Astros were leading 5-1.
The Cubs cut the deficit to 5-3 on a Moises Alou homer, a Sammy Sosa double and a Mark Grudzielanek RBI grounder, but the roof caved in in the eighth as seven straight Houston batters reached base.
