Carlos Silva bounced back from consecutive bad outings with a strong start on Monday evening, as he allowed just 1 run on 5 innings during the Chicago Cubs’ 5-2 win over the Houston Astros from Minute Maid Park.

The Cubs had an immediate chance to score in the top of the 1st, as Starlin Castro hit a 1-out double off Astros starter Wesley Wright.

Derrek Lee then hit a sharp lineout to Hunter Pence in right field, but advanced Castro to 3rd base on the play.

That left it up to Aramis Ramirez, who struck out swinging to end the inning.

Houston then took the early lead in their half of the 1st, as Michael Bourn hit a lead-off double against Chicago starter Carlos Silva.

Angel Sanchez grounded out to Starlin Castro at shortstop, but was able to advance Bourn to 3rd on the play.

Lance Berkman then hit an RBI single to center, as Bourn scored from 3rd base to give the Astros a 1-0 lead.

Chicago then rallied to take the lead in the 2nd, as Marlon Byrd drew a lead-off walk from Wright.

Alfonso Soriano hit then hit an opposite-field double to deep right field, which put runners on 2nd & 3rd with nobody out for Geovany Soto.

Soto got it done with a 2-run double that just stayed fair around the left field line, as it scored both Byrd & Soriano to give the Cubs a 2-1 lead.

Ryan Theriot then grounded out to Chris Johnson at 3rd base, as Soto was unable to advance on the play.

After Carlos Silva struck out, Tyler Colvin grounded out to Lance Berkman at 1st to end the inning.

The Astros tried to tie it in the bottom of the 2nd, as Chris Johnson hit a 1-out single off Silva & stole 2nd base during Jason Castro’s at-bat, who struck out swinging.

Michael Bourn then nearly tied it on a fly ball to centerfield, but Marlon Byrd made a nice running catch to end the scoring chance.

The Cubs then extended their lead in the 3rd after Derrek Lee hit a 1-out double to left center off Wright.

Aramis Ramirez then singled to center, which put runners at the corners for Marlon Byrd.

Byrd reached safely on an infield RBI single, as Lee scored from 3rd base to make it a 3-1 game.

Alfonso Soriano kept the inning alive with a 2-out RBI double, as it scored Byrd from 1st to give the Cubs a 4-1 lead.

Geovany Soto then flied out to Carlos Lee in left field to end the inning.

Chicago had a chance to rally in the 4th after Ryan Theriot reached safely on a lead-off single against Wright.

Carlos Silva then laid down a sac bunt, which advanced Theriot to 2nd with just 1 out for Tyler Colvin.

Colvin struck out swinging, which left it up to Starlin Castro.

Castro flied out to Hunter Pence in right field to end the inning.

Houston tried to rally in the 5th after Michael Bourn hit a 2-out single off Silva & stole 2nd base during Angel Sanchez’s at-bat, who drew a walk.

That put runners on 1st & 2nd for Lance Berkman, who grounded out to Starlin Castro at shortstop to end the scoring threat.

The Cubs then added onto their lead in the 6th on Ryan Theriot’s 1-out solo homer (1st of season) off Astros reliever Nelson Figueroa, which ended a streak of 700 at-bats without a home run. (longest streak in the majors)

Tyler Colvin kept the inning alive with a 2-out triple, but Starlin Castro flied out to Carlos Lee in left field to retire the side.

The Astros scored a run in the 7th after Angel Sanchez hit a 2-out single off Cubs reliever Justin Berg.

Lance Berkman then reached safely on a fielder’s choice, which put runners on 1st & 2nd for Hunter Pence.

Lou Piniella then called upon Andrew Cashner to face Carlos Lee, who grounded into a fielder’s choice to end the inning.

Houston had another chance to rally in the 8th after Chris Johnson hit a 1-out single off Chicago reliever Sean Marshall.

2 batters later, pinch-hitter Jason Michaels reached safely on Aramis Ramirez’s throwing error, which put runners on 1st & 2nd with 2 outs for Michael Bourn.

Bourn struck out looking to end the scoring chance.

The Astros had one final chance in the 9th to score after Hunter Pence hit a 2-out double off Cubs reliever Carlos Marmol.

Carlos Lee then struck out swinging to end the game.

Carlos Silva (10-4) gets the win for Chicago after pitching 5 innings & allowing just 1 run on 5 hits while walking one & striking out four.

Wesley Wright (0-1) takes the loss for Houston after allowing 4 runs on 8 innings in 5 innings of work while walking one & striking out four.

Carlos Marmol worked a scoreless 9th inning to earn his 19th save of the season.

The Cubs will look to notch their 2nd straight win in the series against the Astros at 7:05 PM cst on Tuesday, as Ted Lilly (3-8, 3.88) goes against Brett Myers (8-6, 3.24).

Lilly could possibly pitch his final game as a Cub prior to Friday’s trade deadline, as he has allowed just 1 earned run in 13 innings pitched against Houston this season (2 starts) for a stifling 0.69 ERA.

Myers has allowed 2 earned runs or less in each of his last 4 starts, which includes a July 21st win over the Cubs when he allowed just 1 run on 5 hits in 7 innings of work during Houston’s 4-3 win.

Signing off for now,

Matt T for Cubshub.com