Chicago Cubs first baseman Jeff Baker is tagged out by Houston Astros shortstop Jed Lowrie while trying to steal second base at Minute Maid Park on May 22, 2012 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON (AP) – J.D. Martinez hit the go-ahead RBI single in the sixth inning and Jose Altuve had a solo homer to give the Houston Astros a 2-1 win over the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night.
The loss extends Chicago’s losing skid to a season-long eight games.
The hit by Martinez was the first for Houston since the first inning, but Justin Maxwell and Carlos Lee both drew two-out walks before it to set up the score.
Houston starter J.A. Happ (4-3) allowed five hits and a run in six innings for the win. Closer Brett Myers pitched a perfect ninth for his 11th save.
Alfonso Soriano led off the fourth inning with a solo shot to left-center field that tied it at 1-1. The home run marked the first time in four games that Chicago had scored before the ninth inning.
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