Mark DeRosa’s grand slam & Alfonso Soriano’s 3-run homer highlighted an EIGHT run 3rd inning with 2 outs, as the Chicago Cubs beat the Houston Astros 11-4 on Wednesday afternoon from Wrigley Field.

The Cubs were able to take an early lead in the bottom of the 2nd inning after Jim Edmonds hit a 1-out double off Astros starter Brandon Backe.

Mark DeRosa then followed with an RBI double to score Edmonds from 2nd base & give Chicago a 1-0 lead.

2 batters later, Geovany Soto drew a walk to put runners at 1st & 2nd with 2 outs for Jason Marquis, who fouled out to Lance Berkman to end the inning.

Houston then rallied to take their only lead of the game in the top of the 3rd inning, which started with Kaz Matsui’s 2 out ground-rule double off Chicago starter Jason Marquis that Cubs centerfielder Jim Edmonds lost in the sun.

After Hunter Pence walked, Lance Berkman hit an RBI single to score Matsui from 2nd base & tied the game 1-1.

Carlos Lee then tormented the Cubs for the 2nd consecutive day, as his 3-run homer (27th of season) gave Houston a 4-1 lead.

Chicago then put together an amazing 8-run outburst in the bottom of the 3rd inning, which started with Ryan Theriot’s 1-out single off Backe.

2 batters later, Aramis Ramirez & Jim Edmonds drew back-to-back walks which loaded the bases with 2 outs for Mark DeRosa.

DeRosa put the Cubs ahead for good with a grand slam (12th HR of season & 2nd grand slam) to give Chicago a 5-4 lead.

DeRosa also hit a grand slam back on June 30th during the Cubs’ 9-2 win over San Francisco.

Kosuke Fukudome then doubled & Geovany Soto was intentionally walked to bring up Jason Marquis, who hit an RBI double to score Fukudome from 2nd base & give Chicago a 6-4 lead.

Alfonso Soriano then followed with a 3-run homer (21st of season) to give the Cubs a 9-4 lead.

So far in 6 games during the month of August, Soriano is batting 10 for 27 (.370) with 3 home runs & 8 RBI’s with 6 runs scored.

Houston’s final big scoring threat came in the top of the 4th inning after Ty Wigginton hit a lead-off single against Marquis.

2 batters later, Humberto Quintero singled to put runners at 1st & 2nd with just 1 out.

Kaz Matsui then reached on a fielder’s choice with 2 outs to load the bases for Hunter Pence, who flied out to Jim Edmonds in centerfield to end the scoring threat.

The Cubs struck for 2 more runs in the bottom of the 4th inning after Derrek Lee drew a lead-off walk against Backe.

Aramis Ramirez then singled to put runners at 1st & 2nd with no outs.

2 batters later, Mark DeRosa walked to load the bases with 1 out for Kosuke Fukudome.

Fukudome then hit an RBI single to score Lee from 3rd base & give Chicago a 10-4 lead.

Geovany Soto then followed with a sac fly to score Ramirez from 3rd base to score the 11th & final run.

Marquis then combined with relievers Sean Marshall & Jeff Samardzija to shut out the Astros for the final 5 innings & give Chicago their 3rd consecutive series win.

Jason Marquis (7-7) gets his 1st win over his 7 last starts for the Cubs after pitching 6 1/3 innings & allowed 4 runs on 6 hits.

Brandon Backe (6-11) takes the loss for the Astros after allowing 11 runs on 9 hits in just 3 1/3 innings of work in his worst outing of the season.

Chicago improves to 43-16 at Wrigley, which is baseball’s best home record & will resume their 9-game homestand on Friday afternoon against the rival St. Lous Cardinals.

Southpaw Ted Lilly (11-6, 4.35) will be opposed by Cardinals righty Braden Looper (10-9, 4.29) in Game 1.

Lilly has pitched excellent since the All-Star Break, as he holds a 2-0 record in 4 starts with a 1.84 ERA.

Lilly beat St. Louis on May 3rd after pitching 7 innings & giving up 3 runs on 6 hits during the Cubs’ 9-3 win.

Looper has won just once over his last 6 starts & is 6-3 in 10 road starts with a 4.04 ERA.

Looper lost in his only previous start against Chicago on July 4th after allowing 2 runs & 6 hits in 7 innings of work during the Cardinals’ 2-1 loss.

Signing off for now,