The Houston Astros held the Chicago Cubs to just 6 hits during their 4-0 shutout win on Wednesday evening from Wrigley Field.

Houston took the lead for good in the top of the 2nd inning after Hunter Pence hit a 2-out double off Chicago starter Ryan Dempster.

Dave Newhan then walked to put runners at 1st & 2nd with 2 outs for Humberto Quintero.

Quintero hit an RBI single to score Pence from 2nd base, which gave the Astros a 1-0 lead.

With 2 outs & Newhan on 2nd base, Randy Wolf struck out swinging to end the inning.

The Cubs had a chance to tie the game in the bottom of the 3rd inning after Ronny Cedeno hit a lead-off single against Astros starter Randy Wolf.

Ryan Dempster then laid down a sac bunt, which advanced Cedeno to 2nd base with just 1 out for Alfonso Soriano.

Soriano hit an outfield flyout before Ryan Theriot’s groundout to Miguel Tejada at shortstop ended the scoring threat.

Chicago then yet had another chance to tie the game in the bottom of the 4th inning after Derrek Lee drew a lead-off walk from Wolf.

3 batters later, Mark DeRosa singled to put runners at 1st & 2nd with 2 outs for Reed Johnson.

Johnson struck out looking to end the scoring threat.

The Astros then added onto their lead in the top of the 5th inning after Michael Bourn hit a 2-out single off Dempster.

Ty Wigginton then followed with a 2-run homer (22nd of season) to give Houston a 3-0 lead.

The Astros threatned to score even more runs after Miguel Tejada hit a 2-out single, which was followed by a Lance Berkman walk.

Geoff Blum then struck out to end the inning.

The Cubs had another chance to end the shutout in the bottom of the 5th inning after Ronny Cedeno drew a lead-off walk from Wolf.

Ryan Dempster then laid down a sac bunt to advanvce Cedeno to 2nd base with just 1 out for Alfonso Soriano.

Soriano then singled, but Cedeno was gunned down at 3rd base by Astros left fielder Ty Wigginton.

Houston then had a chance to add onto their lead in the top of the 7th inning after Randy Wolf hit a lead-off single against Dempster.

Michael Bourn then walked, which put runners at 1st & 2nd with nobody out for Ty Wigginton.

Wigginton struck out before Miguel Tejada hit into a doubleplay which ended the scoring threat.

The Astros’ 4th & final run came on a 9th inning steal from Dave Newhan with 2 outs.

Randy Wolf (9-11) gets the win for the Astros after pitching 9 shutout innings & striking out 8 Cubs. It is Wolf’s 1st complete game shutout win since April 24th, 2004 when he pitched a 4-hitter as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies against the now-defunct Montreal Expos franchise.

Ryan Dempster (15-6) takes the loss for the Cubs in his 2nd attempt to win a career-high 16 games after allowing 3 runs on 8 hits in 7 innings of work.

The slumping Cubs will now try to end their 5-game losing streak at the Great American Ball Park during a 3-game weekend series against the Reds which begins on Friday night in Cincinnati.

Game 1 will feature Cubs southpaw Ted Lilly (13-8, 4.23) against Reds righthander Bronson Arroyo (13-10, 4.97).

Lilly will be looking to win his 3rd consecutive road start, but hopes to do it against a Reds team that he has already lost to 3 times this season.

His most recent loss to Cincinnati was on August 20th, as he allowed just 2 runs on 2 hits in 7 innings during the Cubs’ 2-1 loss.

Arroyo was at his best in August, as he went 4-2 in 6 starts with a 2.61 ERA. Cincinnati has also won each of Arroyo’s last 3 starts, which includes an August 20th win over the Cubs after allowing just 1 run on 3 hits in 7 innings of work.

Signing off for now,