CUBS 6, ASTROS 2
Steve Trachsel earned his first win with the Cubs in eight years and Chicago hit four home runs to regain the NL Central lead by beating the Houston Astros 6-2 on Thursday night.
Alfonso Soriano, Aramis Ramirez, Daryle Ward and Cliff Floyd all homered for Chicago, which moved a half-game ahead of idle Milwaukee in the division race. The Cubs open a four-game series at third-place St. Louis on Friday night.
Trachsel (1-2) gave up two solo homers and seven hits in five innings for his first win since the Cubs acquired him from Baltimore on Aug. 31.
The 36-year-old right-hander pitched for the Cubs from 1993-99, and his last win with them came on Oct. 3, 1999. The 2,906-day gap between victories is the third-longest in team history.
Kerry Wood and two other relievers combined for four scoreless innings of one-hit ball.
Carlos Lee and Mark Loretta homered for the Astros.
The Cubs staked Trachsel to a 4-0 lead in the first inning.
Soriano hit Williams’ second pitch off the brick facade in left field, his 40th career leadoff homer. Soriano has eight leadoff home runs this season, tying the Cubs record set by Rick Monday in 1976.
Mike Fontenot followed with a single, and Floyd walked before Ramirez hit a three-run shot to left.
