News
Lee elicits cheers with two-homer game
Astros defeat Cubs to take series from division rivals
By Steve Gartner / MLB.com
07/28/10 6:23 PM ET
HOUSTON -- Carlos Lee has been surprised more than anyone over his struggles this season for the Astros. Since arriving in Houston four seasons ago, Lee had been one of the team's most consistent hitters before his numbers took a significant dip this year.And that lack of production has been noticed by the fans, who have responded to one of the team's highest-paid players with boos.
But those boos turned to loud cheers on Wednesday as Lee resembled the player he's been throughout his career, slugging two home runs in an 8-1 win over the Cubs and giving the Astros the series win.
"I had a good day," Lee said. "I'll take it as a positive day and I'm swinging the bat a little better."
Lee's day started negative with his first two at-bats against Cubs starter Randy Wells. In the first inning with runners on second and third, he grounded out weakly to first to end the threat. In the fourth with runners on first and second, he popped out to second.
Lee wouldn't be denied in his third time to drive in runs, however. After right fielder Hunter Pence had tied the game at 1 with a double, Lee tagged Wells with a homer off the left-field foul pole to give the Astros a 3-1 lead.
Yet he wasn't done. One inning later, he came up with first baseman Lance Berkman on second. Lee then crushed another ball out to left on the first pitch he saw, giving Houston a 5-1 lead.
"It's been so hard for me to get a hit," Lee said. "And now all of a sudden, it's a game where I get two homers. Who knows? You will never figure this game out."
All of this offense was more than enough for starter Bud Norris, who earned his first win since May 13. Through six innings, he allowed no earned runs.
"I felt good," Norris said. "I've been working hard to come out and do that."
Early on, it looked as if Norris was in for a long day. To start the game, he gave up a single to second baseman Ryan Theriot, and shortstop Starlin Castro reached on an error by second baseman Anderson Hernandez. Norris then walked center fielder Tyler Colvin to load the bases. Third baseman Aramis Ramirez hit a sacrifice fly to score Theriot, but that was all the damage the Cubs would do as Norris buckled down, escaping a bases-loaded jam.
"In the first inning, he could have let that inning get away from him," manager Brad Mills said. "That's one of the things that's been a struggle for him to be able to stop it, and he was able to do that."
From there, Norris entered a rhythm and gave up just four hits while recording seven strikeouts. He even brushed off being spiked by Wells while covering first base on a ground ball in the fifth.
Norris looked as if he wasn't going to get much support, though, as the Astros didn't score through five innings. Yet Lee changed a potential no-decision to a win with that one swing.
"He hasn't had the year that he's used to having," Norris said. "When he swings it, he swings it. And that's what he did today."
Steve Gartner is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
