Astros 4, Cubs 3; Things Break The Astros Way

This is one of those games that the Astros could have easily lost had it not been for some calls that went their way.

Bud Norris pitched okay. I say okay because he gave up three runs, two earned, on six hits and three walks while striking out five. It didn't appear like he had is best stuff today and, to me at least, it seemed like he was a little frustrated on the mound. Still he pitched well enough to keep the Astros in the game and long enough to allow JD Martinez to tie it with a three-run home run that left Wrigley Field.

Jose Cisnero continued to pitch well out of the bullpen. He worked his way around two hits and two walks in two shut-out innings notching his second win of the season. Jose Veras pitched a perfect ninth with a strikeout and collected his 15th save on the season.

In the bottom of the eighth inning Alfonso Soriano doubled to left field with one out in the inning. He was then called out on a pick-off attempt at second base. Replays showed that Soriano may have gotten his hand back to the bag in time but it was close enough that the second base umpire called him out. Later in the inning with the bases loaded and Darwin Barney at the plate, the home plate umpire called a strike on a pitch low and in for what would have been ball far and a Cubs 4-3 lead. Cisnero then got Barney to fly out to center field to end the inning.

The Astros scored the go ahead run in the top of the ninth inning with consecutive bunts. The last one a safety squeeze by Ronny Cedeno that plated Justin Maxwell.

Jose Altuve and Justin Maxwell were the only two Astros to reach base multiple times, each scored one of the Astros four runs.

A lucky win for the Astros; an unlucky one for the Cubs.