Bourn is on a tear, and the Astros beat the Cubs 7-3.
The win puts the Astros at 23-14 since August 1. Houston is 17-13 in their last 30 games, good enough to tie them for 4th in all of MLB.
*Nelson Figueroa threw 5IP, 6H/3ER, 5K:3BB to get his 5th win. Those five wins are a career high.
*Jeff Fulchino allowed a hit to the only batter he saw, and then Byrdak, Melancon, and Abad held the Cubs hitless, with Byrdak doing work with 3K in 2IP. Byrdak had not struck out three batters in a game since August 8, 2009, when he did it against the Brewers.
*Big congratulations go to Brett Wallace - who hit his first career homer in the 2nd off Carlos Silva. The homer tied the game 2-2. Of the 153 homers that Silva has allowed, 58 of them have either tied or been a go-ahead homer.
*According to Hit Tracker Online, Wallace's homer was the 9th-longest homer hit at Wrigley this season, at 440 feet, and the 5th-longest by an opponent. It's the 4th-longest homer hit by an Astro this season.
*Michael Bourn was 3x4 with a double, triple, stolen base, and 3RBI, extending his on-base streak to 17 games. It's Bourn's first 3RBI game since July 10, 2009, when he was 2x5 against Washington.
*Two of Bourn's 3RBI came with 2 outs. Of his 34RBI on the season, 17 of those have been with two outs. He's now one RBI off his career high of 35, set last season.
*Jason Castro was 2x4 with two runs scored. He is 11x31 in his last ten games (.355). So how about this - Castro's July OPS: .451; August OPS - .609; September OPS - .917.
*Here's something for you: Castro's 2nd hit of the night was an infield single off of Cubs' reliever Scott Maine. Why is this notable? It's his 4th hit in 39 plate appearances off of lefties, and he has a .111 average against LHP.
*Pitch Count Hero: Michael Bourn (3x4) - 25 pitches in four PAs.
*Pitch Count Punk: Carlos Lee (0x4) and Tommy Manzella (1x4) - 13 pitches in four PAs.
*Man of the Match: Michael Bourn!
*Goat of the Game: Carlos Lee - the only Astros position player to not get on base.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
