HOUSTON—The way Bud Norris has been pitching lately, the Houston Astros figure scoring two runs will be enough when he’s on the mound.So when they scored seven in the first three innings on Monday night, the Astros were pretty confident they were headed for a win. Jason Castro and Chris Johnson each hit three-run homers and Norris threw seven scoreless innings to give the Astros an 8-4 victory over the slumping Cubs. Castro’s home run came in the second inning and Johnson added his in the third, to hand the Cubs their season-high seventh loss in a row.

“It’s kind of comforting knowing Bud’s on the mound, because we know if we get a couple of runs, Bud’s probably going to make that stick,” Johnson said.

Jed Lowrie homered for the second straight game, hitting a solo shot in the seventh inning to give the Astros three homers in a game for the second time in three games. Norris (5-1) allowed five hits with eight strikeouts in seven innings. He has allowed just one earned run in his four-game winning streak.

The 27-year-old, who is in his fourth major league season, believes this is the best stretch of his career.

“I’m definitely in a rhythm right now,” he said. “I’ve been working really well with Castro. Things have been there for me and I just want to keep it going.”

Cubs starter Matt Garza (2-2) allowed five hits and season-high seven runs in three innings – his shortest start of the season.

“I left everything up,” he said. “I was overthrowing everything.”

Cubs manager Dale Sveum was baffled by Garza’s struggles.

“That was not Matt Garza pitching,” he said. “I don’t know; it was strange. It’s not the Matt Garza I’ve seen. seems like he got out of whack somehow.”

Johnson hit a two-out single in the second inning before a walk by J.D. Martinez to set up Castro’s homer, which broke a 0-for-9 streak. His first home run of the season landed several rows up in the lower deck in right field, where a man wearing a Cubs shirt fell backward trying to catch it, to put Houston up 3-0.

It was Castro’s first home run since July 19, 2010, also against the Cubs, and his three RBIs tied a career high set that day.

“It’s been too long, so hopefully we can kind of break that trend,” Castro said.

Lowrie singled in the third and later stole second base and advanced to third on an error by catcher Koyie Hill. He scored on a single with two outs by Carlos Lee to make it 4-0. Brian Bogusevic walked before Johnson’s 429-foot shot to the deepest part of the park in center field pushed Houston’s lead to 7-0.

“We were patient up there,” Johnson said. “We got our pitches and did damage with them.”

The Cubs didn’t score until the ninth inning when reliever Enerio Del Rosario allowed three straight hits, capped by an RBI single by pinch hitter Reed Johnson to make it 8-1. He was replaced by Fernando Abad, who gave up a run-scoring single by David DeJesus.Wilton Lopez replaced Abad with one out before Blake Lalli got his first major league hit with a two-out, two RBI single to make it 8-4. Joe Mather’s flyball to Travis Buck ended the threat. DeJesus walked to start the fifth inning before Norris retired the next eight batters, striking out four. He didn’t allow another man on base until DeJesus singled with two outs in the seventh inning, but he struck out Tony Campana to end the inning. Campana walked in the first and stole second and third base. But the Cubs came away empty when Bryan LaHair struck out to end the inning. Ian Stewart walked with one out in the fourth and reached third on a single by Hill with two outs. He was left stranded when Norris retired pinch-hitter Jeff Baker.

NOTES—Sveum said catcher Wellington Castillo, who has a sprained knee ligament, was doing better on Monday, but wasn’t healthy enough to return to the lineup. … Houston optioned RHP Jordan Lyles to Triple-A Oklahoma City and recalled Del Rosario to take his spot on the roster on Monday. … Astros CF Jordan Schafer missed his second straight game since injuring his lower right leg avoiding a collision Saturday night. But he said before the game that he was OK, and manager Brad Mills expects him back in the lineup Tuesday. … Travis Wood is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday to start against J.A. Happ when these teams play Game 2 of the three-game series.

Question is, are the White Sox playing all that well,or are the Cubs just that gosh awful. Well, the Northsiders are terrible, but did the Sox look good over the weekend since the competition is awful?
Jake Peavy pitched three-hit ball into the seventh inning, Adam Dunn hit his 14th homer and the White Sox beat the Cubs 6-0 Sunday to complete the weekend sweep.Gordon Beckham and Tyler Flowers also went deep as the White Sox matched season highs with three homers in a game and four straight wins. Not bad, considering Paul Konerko sat out his second in a row after being hit near his left eye by a pitch on Friday.For the Cubs, meanwhile, the misery continued. They dropped their sixth straight to match their longest skid this season, and they never regrouped once the White Sox started knocking the ball out of the park.Back-to-back homers by Beckham and Dunn leading off the fourth gave them a 2-0 lead. Flowers made it 3-0 with a drive to start the fifth off Paul Maholm (4-3), giving the White Sox three homers for the second straight game and Peavy (5-1) all the support he needed.The right-hander struck out seven and walked two over 6 1-3 innings. He helped chase Maholm during a two-run seventh, grounding into a force and scoring on a sacrifice fly, and he left to cheers with a runner on first after retiring Ian Stewart on a fly to right in the bottom half.It was a charged weekend in Chicago, with Kerry Wood retiring and Konerko getting hit in the face, not to mention the protests in the city surrounding the NATO Summit.There was heightened security outside Wrigley Field. Inside, it was more of the same.Peavy shook off a rough outing against Detroit and got back to dominating.Maholm got hit hard, allowing five runs and nine hits over 6 1-3 innings after going 4-0 in his previous five starts.He was sailing along until Beckham lined the first pitch of the fourth to the street beyond the left-field bleachers for his fourth homer. Dunn followed with a drive to center on a 2-2 pitch for his second home run in as many games and 43rd against the Cubs. Among active players, only Albert Pujols has more with 53. That shot also gave the White Sox back-to-back homers in consecutive games, with Dayan Viciedo and A.J. Pierzynski turning the trick on Saturday.After Peavy escaped a bases-loaded jam in the bottom half, Flowers added to the lead when he started the fifth with his second homer. He also came around on Peavy’s grounder after leading off the seventh with a double.

NOTES—This was the Sox third series sweep ever(other 1999 at Wrigley and 2008 at U.S.Cellular Field). The Cubs have four series sweeps(1998,2004 and 2008 at Wrigley and 2007 at U.S.Cellular Field. But since that 2008 Cub sweep at Wrigley,the Sox have now won eight straight series between the two teams…..While the Sox have not announced his signing, manager Robin Ventura said veteran INF Orlando Hudson is on his way and that 3B Brent Morel is likely headed to the disabled list because of lower back soreness. A four-time Gold Glove second baseman, Hudson was waived Thursday by San Diego. He will probably see time at third. … Gavin Floyd is scheduled to start Tuesday, with P.J. Walters going for the Twins. … Matt Garza starts Monday for the Cubs against Houston, with Bud Norris taking the mound for the Astros. … Manager Dale Sveum said the Cubs will soon discuss calling up Anthony Rizzo from the minors. It’s not hard to see why, considering he’s batting .353 with 14 homers and 39 RBIs for Triple-A Iowa. “That’s definitely going to be talked about,” manager Dale Sveum said. “He’s done everything he can down there, but when you bring somebody up like that he’s got to play every day so that’s the million dollar question. How do we get him playing time?” … Carlos Marmol (strained right hamstring) and C Steve Clevenger (right oblique) start rehab assignments in Iowa on Monday.

Adam Dunn loves to hit against the Cubs. He had great success against them during his days in the NL. And he really enjoys Wrigley Field.Good thing for the White Sox.Dunn had one of the White Sox’s three homers Saturday night and also walked four times to back strong pitching from John Danks in a 7-4 victory over the Cubs.Dunn’s solo shot in a three-run eighth inning was his 13th of the season and 42nd of his career against the Cubs — only Albert Pujols (53) has more among active players against the team from the North Side.

“I have had it since Day 1. I see the ball pretty well here. The environment makes it pretty fun to play at,” Dunn said of Wrigley Field, where he has now homered 26 times.

Dunn was selective at the plate as the White Sox — playing without star Paul Konerko — beat the Cubs for a second straight game. Dayan Viciedo and A.J. Pierzynski also homered, back-to-back off Ryan Dempster in the third.

“I feel good, I’m not chasing too many pitches like I had all year,” Dunn said. “That’s something I’m continuing to work on.”

Konerko, who’d been hit near the left eye with a pitch Friday and had to leave the game, had a shiner Saturday, but tests revealed no major damage and he hopes to play again Tuesday.Viciedo wasn’t supposed to start any of the three games at Wrigley Field as manager Robin Ventura planned to play Dunn in left field without the DH in a NL park. But when Konerko had to leave Friday’s game in the third inning, Dunn moved to first and Viciedo took over in his familiar left field spot while batting in Konerko’s cleanup slot.

“He’s a pretty confident kid,” Dunn said. “He never gets down on himself. He knows what he is capable of doing. ”

Danks (3-4) got his first win since April 22, allowing three hits in 6 1-3 innings. It was his third career start at Wrigley Field, where he has allowed just two earned runs in 19 1-3 innings and is 2-0.

“This is an exciting game. The energy in the ballpark. This is a game I enjoy throwing in, for sure,” said Danks, who was staked to a 4-0 lead after three innings and retired the first 13 batters he faced.

“We will take all the runs we can get early,” Danks said. “That’s always a key. That allows us to relax and stay aggressive.”

Trailing 7-0 going into the bottom of the ninth, the Cubs got two-run homers from Alfonso Soriano and Joe Mather off Zach Stewart.Viciedo connected on his seventh homer in the third inning to give the Sox a 3-0 lead, right after Dunn drew a two-out walk. The two-run shot just went over leaping center fielder Reed Johnson’s glove and was Viciedo’s fourth homer in his last six games.

Two pitches later, Pierzynski hit a liner to left center that cleared the ivy-covered wall, his sixth of the year.

“I wish we could duplicate this for every game of the season,” Pierzynski said. “It’s a special series and it’s a special place. Once you get on the field, it’s a good atmosphere.”

Dempster, who hasn’t won in a span of 16 starts dating to last Aug. 11, gave up seven hits and four runs with three walks and three strikeouts in six innings as the Cubs dropped to a season-worst 10 games under .500 with their fifth straight loss. This one came before 40,228 fans.

“Just didn’t pitch well enough to win,” Dempster said. “A loss is a loss. I don’t really care who is watching. I don’t like losing anytime. If there was one person in the stands or there was 40,000 people, to me it means the same thing and that’s a loss. I don’t take any one loss different than the others.”

Danks was spotless before Soriano doubled with one out in the fifth. Danks also walked Joe Mather before Koyie Hill lined out to end the inning. Pinch-hitter Tony Campana and Johnson singled to open the sixth, but the rally died when Starlin Castro hit into a double play.

“Four innings of perfect ball, so we’re making it pretty easy on some pitchers who have been coming in struggling,” Cubs manager Dale Sveum said. “We’re making them look pretty good. Pitch counts and all that, we’re just making quick outs and not really getting good pitches to drive.”

That’s what happens with a bad lineup in the first place. The White Sox opened the scoring when Alejandro De Aza singled to start the game, stole second and after a walk to Dunn scored on Viciedo’s RBI single. Alexei Ramirez had an RBI single in the eighth to make it 6-0 and the White Sox subsequently loaded the bases. Reliever Blake Parker then went to a 3-0 count on De Aza before he had to leave with a tight right hamstring and Michael Bowden threw ball four, forcing in the seventh run.

NOTES—The White Sox have won 17 of the last 23 against the Cubs.The domination started with the final three meetings (at U.S.Cellular Field)in 2008 and throughout the past 4+ seasons…..Viciedo now has 10 RBIs in his last six games…..C Koyie Hill, who had been playing Double-A in the Reds’ organization hoping for another shot at the majors, got just that when the Cubs reacquired him and then put him in the lineup Saturday night. Starting catcher Geovany Soto went on the DL after knee surgery and backup Wellington Castillo has a sprained knee ligament….The White Sox go for the sweep Sunday sending out Jake Peavy (4-1) to face Paul Maholm (4-2).

On a wild day at Wrigley Field when Kerry Wood retired, Paul Konerko got hit in the face with a pitch and manager Dale Sveum was ejected, the White Sox added to their recent success against the Cubs.Gordon Beckham hit a tiebreaking homer in the eighth inning and the White Sox beat the Cubs 3-2 Friday, their 16th win in the last 22 interleague games against their crosstown rivals.

“I think that was more than the typical game. It seemed like there was a lot of stuff going on,” Beckham said.

Beckham’s solo shot and a two-run drive by Konerko in the first were the only runs allowed by Cubs starter Jeff Samardzija (4-2).Konerko sustained a laceration above his left eye and swelling when he was hit by Samardzija’s pitch in the third inning and had to leave the game. He was to have more tests to determine the extent of the injury and his status for the remainder of the series.

“You never want that for anybody that you’re playing with or anybody on their team. You never want to see anybody hit in the head. It was pretty scary. He walked off, so we figured he was OK,” Beckham said.

White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski said he went to the clubhouse to check on Konerko.

“I saw him before he left,” Pierzynski said. “His eye was pretty swelled up, but he was pretty cognizant, didn’t say he was dizzy or anything. I’ve seen him get hit before and go to first. I was a little scared when he didn’t get right up, but he seemed fine and we’ll see how he feels tomorrow.”

Samardzija, who came to the plate to check on Konerko, said he wasn’t trying to hit the White Sox star.

“It’s unfortunate. There’re a lot of superstars that put up big numbers, get paid a lot of money and Paulie’s one of those guys who is a superstar and does it the right way. There’s not too many of those guys out there. He’s not about show or about himself,” Samardzija said.

“Paulie’s a good guy and that ball got away and unfortunately hit him up high. If I could take it back, I would. The only thing that makes me OK about it is he’s a tough guy. I hope he’ll be all right.”

White Sox starter Phil Humber threw high behind Cubs cleanup hitter Bryan LaHair in the fourth, prompting a warning from plate umpire Tim Timmons.Sveum, ejected in the fifth for arguing a call at second base, reiterated the Cubs weren’t trying to hit Konerko, especially since it was a splitter from Samardzija. And he said if Humber’s pitch was indeed retaliation, he would have appreciated it being thrown much lower.

“That one just got away from me and just one of those things that happens during a game,” Humber said.

Wood, who began his major league career with the Cubs in 1998 and struck out 20 Houston Astros batters in his fifth major league start, took the mound to rousing cheers after word got out that he intended to retire after the game. When he struck out Dayan Viciedo on three pitches — the only batter Wood faced — he was taken out as teammates congratulated him on the mound and Dunn doffed his batting helmet and clapped from first base.The 34-year-old Wood, hampered by injuries this season and throughout his career, left to a standing ovation and was hugged by his son as he reached the dugout. Moments later, Wood emerged for a curtain call, waving his cap to fans as James Russell threw warmup pitches.Wood played slightly more than 13 seasons in the big leagues, most of them with the Cubs.

“It’s time,” he said afterward.

Konerko’s 19th career homer in 66 games against the Cubs came one out after a first-inning single by Beckham and made it 2-0.But the Cubs responded in the bottom half. David DeJesus led off with a fly-ball double into the ivy in left field and Tony Campana had a bunt single when Humber slipped down trying to field it. Campana then stole second before Starlin Castro’s long sacrifice fly made it 2-1 and sent Campana to third. Humber then struck out LaHair and got Alfonso Soriano to fly out.The Cubs tied it in the seventh when Ian Stewart led off with a single and one out later Darwin Barney doubled to finish Humber after just 66 pitches. Matt Thornton (2-3) came in and Samardzija bounced his first pitch through the left side for an RBI single to tie the game and put runners at first and third. DeJesus popped out and so did Campana on a bunt attempt, ending the inning.Samardzija allowed six hits and three runs in 7 1-3 innings with two walks and eight strikeouts.Humber gave up five hits and two runs in 6 1-3 innings. He is 0-2 with three no-decisions since pitching a perfect game against Seattle on April 21.Addison Reed got his fourth save in four chances with a scoreless ninth that included a double by Barney when White Sox right fielder Alex Rios lost his two-out fly in the sun.

NOTES—White Sox 3B Brent Morel was a late scratch with a sore back that has bothered him off and on this season. He was replaced by Eduardo Escobar….Cubs C Geovany Soto will have surgery on a torn meniscus in his left knee and will miss three to four weeks….The Cubs called up catcher Blake Lalli from Triple-A Iowa and optioned struggling right-hander Chris Volstad (0-6) to their top farm club.

Roy Halladay earned his first victory in a month to help the Philadelphia Phillies keep rolling.Halladay threw eight strong innings for his first win since April 16 and the Phillies held on for an 8-7 victory against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday night. Philadelphia has won five straight and six of seven and is over .500 for the first time since its Opening Day victory.

“It took us awhile to get back to .500,” Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. “Now we have to stay there and move on.”

Halladay (4-3) had lost three consecutive decisions to match a career high, but held the Cubs to three runs and scattered seven hits. The two-time Cy Young Award winner has allowed three earned runs or fewer in eight of his nine starts this season.Welington Castillo’s stroked a two-out, three-run double in the ninth against Phillies reliever Jake Diekman to close the gap to two runs. Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon came on and allowed an RBI single to Darwin Barney, but got Reed Johnson on a grounder to third for his 11th save of the season. While Halladay ended his modest skid, Cubs starter Chris Volstad (0-6) suffered his 19th consecutive start without a victory. He lasted only two innings, allowing four runs, six hits and three walks. Volstad threw 58 pitches, a total Halladay didn’t reach until there was one out in the sixth.Carlos Ruiz continued his strong start to the season with three RBI and his sixth career four-hit game to raise his batting average to .363. Ruiz leads NL catchers with 27 RBI and is 9 for 14 over his last four games. He even stole his first base of the season on the back end of a double steal in the first.

“I feel great,” said Ruiz. “When you feel great at home plate, you’re going to have a lot of good at-bats. I feel relaxed and I see the ball well.”

“To me he’s the best catcher in the National League and we’ve said that for years,” Halladay said. “Unfortunately, you’ve got to hit to get that notoriety and he’s doing that now. Hopefully people take notice.”

Jimmy Rollins had two hits, a walk and scored three runs. Hunter Pence added a two-run single.The Phillies have struggled offensively to start the season without two of their best hitters all season. Chase Utley is out with patella tendonitis and Ryan Howard is recovering from a torn Achilles tendon.

“If we can play good enough without them–our lineup and our defense is going to get much better,” said Manuel.

The Cubs may have lost three straight, but Volstad hasn’t won since July 10, 2011. He has gone 0-11 during his drought with a 5.40 ERA. His ERA rose to 7.46 for this season and it could have been worse — the Phillies stranded five runners during his two innings.In addition to the bases-clearing double, Castillo homered and drove in a career-high four runs.Volstad’s run support has been the lowest in baseball during his skid among pitchers with at least 15 starts, but his results have been increasingly poor in recent outings. He has allowed 15 runs over his past 17 innings, with 19 hits, eight walks and only four strikeouts.Halladay had lost five of his previous six games against the Cubs before dominating on Thursday. He even chipped in with two hits and a run at the plate for his third career multi-hit game.Starlin Castro hit a solo home run and drove in two runs for the Cubs. David DeJesus had two hits and a run, extending his hitting streak to nine games.

NOTES—Phillies 2B Chase Utley reported no problems after taking grounders for the first time this season before Wednesday’s game. Utley has spent the entire season on the disabled list because of patella tendinitis in his right knee. No timetable has been established for his return….Geovany Soto was a late scratch from the Cubs’ lineup due left knee inflammation and was replaced by Castillo. Soto is listed as day-to-day….Before the game, the Cubs selected the contract of right-hander Blake Parker from Triple-A Iowa and optioned lefty Scott Maine to Iowa. Parker was 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA in the minors and converted all five of his save opportunities. He made his debut in Thursday’s game, striking out Ty Wigginton to begin his big-league career, but allowed three unearned runs on his own throwing error in the eighth….Phillies 3B Placido Polanco sat out with a bruised left knee. He left Wednesday’s game after fouling a pitch off his leg, something he has done several times over the past week.

ANAHEIM—The White Sox desperately needed a strong outing from one of their starters. Chris Sale provided it.The 23-year-old left-hander pitched effectively into the sixth inning and the White Sox capitalized on some shoddy defense by the Los Angeles Angels for a 6-1 victory Thursday.After a three-game stretch in which starters John Danks, Jake Peavy and Gavin Floyd gave up a combined 18 earned runs over 14 1/3 innings, Sale (4-2) restored order in his sixth major-league start. He struck out seven and was working on a three-hit shutout in the sixth when he gave up a one-out homer to Albert Pujols and a double to Mark Trumbo and was replaced by Nate Jones.Sale joined lefty Steve Rosenberg (1989) as the only White Sox pitchers to give up three runs or less in each of their first six big league starts since divisional play began in 1969.

“I guess that’s a cool stat, but it’s obviously something I don’t pay attention to at all,” Sale said. “I have a job to do, and that’s to go out and keep my team in the game, keep the other team to fewer runs on the board than the other starter and pitch deep into the game. That’s my main focus.”

A first-round draft pick in 2010, Sale was used exclusively in relief by the White Sox during his two previous seasons in the big leagues. Two of those relief outings were against the Angels, who got to see him again during spring training.

“He did a good job today and was pretty sharp, for the most part,” Angels second baseman Howie Kendrick said. “He got outs and put up zeros, and that’s what you want your starter to do. He’s got a good two-seam fastball, he threw strikes and was able to get guys out with his breaking ball.”

C.J. Wilson (4-4) threw 88 pitches in 3 2/3 innings and tied a career high with six walks. The left-hander was charged with four runs — one earned — and four hits. He also walked six Marlins batters on June 15, 2010, at Miami while pitching for the Texas Rangers.

“I had a little stomach virus today, so I couldn’t really get anything going,” Wilson said. “It was just weird. I almost passed out after the first inning. I didn’t set a good tone, and that’s pretty much my fault. I put the defense to sleep out there — and the bats, too, I guess.”

A.J. Pierzynski delivered a two-out RBI single in the third to open the scoring, after flying out with the bases loaded to end the White Sox first. He was 3 for 5 with two RBI singles, and is 29 for 70 in his last 19 games at Angel Stadium.The Sox tacked on three more in the fourth with the help of two balls that should have been caught and weren’t. Angels center fielder Mike Trout started in right for the first time this season due to the absence of nine-time Gold Glove winner Torii Hunter because of his son’s arrest in Texas, and dropped a routine flyball by Dyan Viciedo with one out in the first.Viciedo ended up at second base on the error, and Wilson walked the next two batters before Adam Dunn chased the left-hander with a two-run single. David Carpenter came in and Konerko hit a popup to short right field, but the ball fell in front of Kendrick after he called off Trout. It was scored as an RBI single.

“It was right in the sun,” Kendrick said. “I made a mistake and had my sunglasses on my hat, and I should have had them on there. But I still have to make that play, regardless. We can’t allow that to happen. We’ve got to make plays and give the team the best opportunity to win. Today we missed some flyballs, and we’ve got to work on that.”

In the fifth, Alexei Ramirez’s chopper fell between Trout and Kendrick for a hit after a leadoff single by Pierzynski. Viciedo followed with a flyball to short center, where Peter Bourjos converged with Trout and Kendrick before making the catch — resulting in a derisive cheer from the crowd of 30,786. Carpenter then fielded Brent Morel’s comebacker and started a double play.Viciedo led off the eighth with his sixth homer and third in a four-game span. Three batters later, three-time Gold Glove winner Vernon Wells scaled the fence in front of the left field bullpen and pulled back Gordon Beckham’s bid for a two-run homer.

NOTES—Trumbo had a career-high four hits….Dunn struck out his first two times up, increasing his major league-worst total to 59, and has at least one in 38 of his first 39 games. He led the majors in strikeouts three consecutive seasons while with Cincinnati (2004-06)…..The Angels had gone 54 consecutive innings without an error before Trout’s first miscue of the season in 17 starts in the outfield.

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Albert Pujols welcomed his new hitting coach to town with a go-ahead three-run homer and Vernon Wells added a two-run shot to lead the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim to a 7-2 victory against the White Sox on Wednesday night.Jim Eppard was with the Angels for the first time as hitting coach after replacing Mickey Hatcher, who was unceremoniously dumped on Tuesday night by new general manager Jerry DiPoto 1½ months into Hatcher’s 13th season on the job. The team’s offensive struggles led to the firing, including Pujols’ slow start after signing a 10-year, $240 million contract as a free agent.It was an easy transition for Eppard, who is in his 10th season in the organization and nurtured current Angels players Howie Kendrick, Kendrys Morales, Mark Trumbo, Erick Aybar, Peter Bourjos and Bobby Wilson as the hitting coach at Triple-A Salt Lake.Jerome Williams (4-1) won his fourth straight decision, allowing two runs and 10 hits over eight innings with five strikeouts and no walks. Last Friday at Texas, the right-hander relieved C.J. Wilson the night before his scheduled start because of a 56-minute rain delay — then gave up six runs and 11 hits in 6 2-3 innings without getting a decision because the Angels were already trailing in the first inning when he came in.Gavin Floyd (3-4) surrendered seven runs and 10 hits in six innings, including both home runs. The right-hander had allowed just one homer in 40 2-3 innings over his previous six starts after giving up three in his season debut at Texas.Trailing 2-1, the Angels grabbed a 4-2 lead with one swing by Pujols, who drove an 0-1 pitch over the center field fence after Mike Trout and Albert Callaspo opened the inning with singles.It was the 447th career home run and second this season for Pujols, the three-time NL MVP who ended the longest regular-season drought of his career after 33 games and 139 at-bats in the finale of the Angels’ previous homestand. The Halos increased the margin to 7-2 in the sixth with Kendrick’s sacrifice fly and Wells’ sixth home run.The No. 8 hitters for the Angels and White Sox each drove in their team’s first run. Aybar opened the scoring in the second with an RBI double after a two-out walk to Wells, and Dayan Viciedo tied it in the third for the White Sox with a home run into the rock pile in left-center. Alejandro De Aza singled two batters after Viciedo’s fifth homer and scored on Gordon Beckham’s double.

NOTES—The White Sox were in mourning over the death of longtime pregame instructor Kevin Hickey, who died Wednesday at age 56 in Chicago after a lengthy illness. Hickey, who spent six seasons in the majors as a reliever for the Chisox and Baltimore Orioles, had been hospitalized since the day before the season opener in Arlington, Texas. “No one wanted to win more, no one was more optimistic, no one cared more and no one took more pride in his job,” 1B Paul Konerko said. “Ask anyone in our clubhouse, every person who appreciated what Kevin did to help the White Sox win baseball games.” … With Hatcher’s departure, the only coach left from manager Mike Scioscia’s original staff in 2000 is 1B coach Alfredo Griffin. Joe Maddon, Bud Black and Ron Roenicke all left to become managers. … During Hatcher’s watch, the Angels set franchise records in 2009 for average, hits, home runs, runs scored, RBIs and average with runners in scoring position — and won a World Series title in 2002. … All of Floyd’s past six starts against AL West teams have been on the road (1-5, 4.35 ERA). … One of the many Angels employees handing out Bourjos bobbleheads to the fans as they entered the ballpark was Bourjos himself — in full uniform. … It was a rough night on the basepaths for Trout, who was picked off first by Jesse Crain in the seventh and was thrown out by LF Viciedo when he tried to stretch a single into a double in the fifth.

Kyle Kendrick got less than a day to prepare for his first start in a couple weeks, and he thought that was plenty of time.Such is life for the long man on Philadelphia’s pitching staff.Kendrick threw six sparkling innings, Carlos Ruiz hit a tiebreaking solo homer and the Phillies used Hector Luna’s first career grand slam to pull away for a 9-2 victory over the  Cubs on Wednesday night.

“Felt good tonight. Carlos called a good game,” Kendrick said. “I had a good game plan with these guys and it was nice to just be a part of a win.”

Kendrick allowed an earned run and three hits in his first start in 12 days as Philadelphia won its fourth consecutive game to return to .500 for the first time since it beat Atlanta 4-0 on May 3. He also singled and scored the tying run in the fifth.Kendrick was subbing for Vance Worley, who was placed on the disabled list Wednesday with right elbow inflammation. He found out about the start on Tuesday, but said he has found out he was starting as little as a half-hour before a game.

“He did a good job, did a super job,” Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said.

Hunter Pence opened the eighth with a long fly ball off Shawn Camp (2-2) that left fielder Alfonso Soriano caught on the warning track, delighting the Wrigley Field crowd of 38,678. But Ruiz followed with a bit longer drive that reached the bleachers in left for his seventh homer, one more than he had all of last year. Luna then capped Philadelphia’s six-run ninth inning with a drive off Michael Bowden in his first at-bat with the Phillies, who just promoted the backup infielder on Friday.

“The fact of the matter is we have guys pitching in roles they probably shouldn’t be pitching in,” Cubs manager Dale Sveum said. “It’s tough. They’ve never had to do this before and they’re thrown into this mix all of a sudden. It’s not the easiest thing to do.”

Jose Contreras (1-0) pitched a perfect seventh, Antonio Bastardo worked the eighth and Raul Valdes finished the three-hitter.Soriano connected for the second straight day for the Cubs, who have dropped four of six. Matt Garza allowed two runs and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings.

“Just have to get better at finishing guys off,” Garza said. “I left a lot of two strike counts and let them get back into counts.”

The Cubs grabbed the lead in the fourth, taking advantage of an embarrassing error by Juan Pierre. With one out and none on, Bryan LaHair ended a 14-pitch at-bat with a routine fly ball to left that Pierre dropped. LaHair hustled over to second and Soriano followed with a drive into the first row in left field, making it 2-1.Soriano was still looking for his first homer before he connected in the ninth inning of Tuesday’s 7-6 loss at St. Louis, ending a drought of 119 at-bats.Soriano’s shot was the only mistake by Kendrick, who allowed three hits, struck out four and walked none. The right-hander had pitched just one inning since his previous start at Washington on May 4.

“I just wanted to go as deep as I can, give us a chance to win the game,” he said.

Philadelphia (19-19), which has won five consecutive NL East titles, is off to a slow start due in part to several key injuries. Sluggers Ryan Howard and Chase Utley have yet to play this season, Jim Thome is out with back problems and left-hander Cliff Lee was just activated from the DL last week. Third baseman Placido Polanco left Wednesday’s victory with a bruised left knee and is day to day.Kendrick helped himself in the fifth, dropping a leadoff single into right field. Wearing a red jacket to combat the unseasonably cool conditions, he advanced to third on Pierre’s one-out double and scored on Shane Victorino’s infield hit, tying it at 2.

NOTES—Phillies 1B John Mayberry, Jr. made a diving stop to rob LaHair of a hit in the sixth. … Reliever Joe Savery was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to take Worley’s spot on the roster. Savery has no record and a 4.50 ERA in eight games with the Phillies this season. … The Cubs placed reliever Lendy Castillo on the 15-day disabled list with a left groin strain and recalled LHP Scott Maine from Triple-A Iowa. Castillo’s DL stint is retroactive to May 12. … INF Blake DeWitt, who was cut by the Cubs on May 6, cleared waivers and was outrighted to Iowa. … Philadelphia traded OF Rich Thompson to Tampa Bay for minor league OF Kyle Hudson. … Phillies RHP Roy Halladay (3-3) is scheduled to start the finale of the two-game series on Thursday night. Halladay is 0-3 with a 5.29 ERA in three career starts at Wrigley Field. He will be opposed by RHP Chris Volstad (0-5), who is still searching for his first win with the Cubs.

SoxThree quick swings and the Detroit Tigers wiped out a six-run deficit as if it was nothing.Miguel Cabrera, Ryan Raburn and Austin Jackson all homered in an eight-run sixth inning Tuesday, powering the rally that produced a 10-8 victory over the White Sox.

“It doesn’t matter when, where or how it looks. A win’s a win,” said Raburn, who has 13 of his career 54 homers against the White Sox. “It’s great to come back from six down and pull it out.”

After the Tigers built their lead to 10-6, things got shaky in the bottom of the ninth when the White Sox loaded the bases shortly after closer Jose Valverde had to leave the game with tightness in his lower back.Alexei Ramirez hit a two-run double off Octavio Dotel before Dayan Viciedo hit a fly ball to the right-field fence to end the game.

“His lower back just tightened up, that’s why we had to get him out of there,” manager Jim Leyland said. “Right now it’s lower back tightness. Just got to keep our fingers crossed on Jose. I think it’s all right.”

It was 10-6 when Paul Konerko singled and A.J. Pierzynski doubled with two outs for his fifth hit.Valverde went to a 3-1 count on Alex Rios before a trainer and Leyland went to the mound. And shortly thereafter Valverde headed to the dugout and Dotel got the unexpected call to enter. He finished the walk to Rios, gave up the double to Ramirez and then watched as Brennan Boesch went to the fence to catch Viciedo’s fly ball.

“When [Valverde] was in the game and got a quick two outs, I thought the game was going to be over,” Dotel said. “This game is hard to understand sometimes. You think you’re in, and you’re out. You think you’re out, and you’re in. Just always be ready.”

And it looked like the White Sox were ready to celebrate a victory.Jake Peavy sailed into the sixth with a 6-0 lead before Cabrera hit a two-run homer to the back of the bleachers in left field.A double by Prince Fielder, who had three hits, and a hit batter set up Raburn’s first homer of the season. After Peavy walked Jhonny Peralta, reliever Will Ohman (0-2) hit pinch-hitter Delmon Young and Jackson followed with a three-run homer on an 0-2 count.

“I’ve been in jams all year. I just have to make a pitch to get us out of the inning there and try to leave with a lead,” Peavy said.

“I put Will in a tough situation having to face a couple of righties. … I just don’t know what to say. It was ugly. I let my emotions get the best out of me. I take full responsibility for letting the inning get to where it got and the bullpen had trouble keeping it where it was. It was just a bad loss. … when you get that many runs and you don’t walk away with a team win, it’s disgusting.”

Raburn and Peralta added RBI singles off Nate Jones in the seventh.Pierzynski went 5 for 5 and drove in three runs. Konerko also homered.Alejandro De Aza singled in the bottom of the first and walks to Gordon Beckham and Konerko loaded the bases. Pierzynski hit an RBI single and another run scored on the play when left fielder Don Kelly fumbled the ball for an error.Konerko hit his seventh homer and Viciedo added an RBI single in the third for a 4-0 lead.Detroit starter Max Scherzer labored with 99 pitches in his four-plus innings, allowing eight hits and five earned runs. After singles by Adam Dunn and Konerko in the fifth, Scherzer was relieved by Collin Balester (2-0), who threw a wild pitch and then gave up a two-run single to Pierzynski for the 6-0 lead.But on a windy day no lead is safe in U.S.Cellular Field.

“This park’s funny. It doesn’t take long. You saw how quickly that eight-spot went up,” Leyland said.” It was pretty unbelievable, you’ve got to be careful here. …It goes out of here in a hurry. They almost got it out of here.”

NOTES—Former major league pitcher Jim Abbott, who played with the White Sox and was a teammate of Robin Ventura’s, threw out the first pitch to the first-rivals play, the White Sox fly to California for a brief two-game series against the Angels…..Detroit finished its nine game-road trip to Seattle, Oakland and Chicago at 4-5.

ST. LOUIS—Mike Matheny was feeling a bit giddy after the St. Louis Cardinals avoided an 0-5 homestand.

“There’s going to be some loud music playing in the clubhouse, and there’s going to be some crazy stuff on the plane, too,” Matheny said after Yadier Molina’s RBI single with two outs in the ninth gave St. Louis a 7-6 victory over the CardsCubs Tuesday. “I can’t tell you how proud I am about just the fight in this team. “That’s going to pay off.”

The Cubs shaded Molina to hit up the middle, and second baseman Darwin Barney could only get his glove partially of a grounder to the right side. Molina noticed the alignment.

“I’m just trying to put a ball in play, hopefully find a hole,” Molina said. “I didn’t try to hit the ball that way, but I just wanted to stay back a little bit more. We really needed this win.”

Although Molina has had numerous big hits through the right side during his career, the Cubs’ data called for a shift, and manager Dale Sveum said he’d do it again.Alfonso Soriano, who hit 26 home runs last year, tied it the score for the fourth time when he hit his first of the season leading off the ninth against Jason Motte (2-1).Matt Carpenter’s second homer in four games off James Russell had put the Cardinals up in the eighth. The Cubs scored three runs in the first, and there were later four ties before the Cardinals won.Matt Holliday also homered on a three-hit day, Allen Craig had three hits and two RBI, and Tyler Greene stopped an 0-for-17 skid with three hits, including a double and triple for St. Louis.

“Today was a good day. It was good for the team to get the win and end this little funk we’ve been in,” Greene said. “You just keep working, keep pushing. You’ve got to believe in it and have confidence in it.”

The NL Central leaders are 9-8 at home after prevailing in a game that was tied at 3, 4, 5 and 6. The four-game losing streak, which began with two defeats against Atlanta, was the franchise’s worst since a seven-game slump June 10-17 last year against three teams.The opposition scored first in all five games.

“We’ll take them anyway we can get them,” Matheny said. “The guys did a great job coming back. Just a great atmosphere.”

The Cardinals won without two of their biggest bats. Lance Berkman was a late lineup scratch because it was a day game after a night game — plus he’s just a .206 career hitter against Maholm with one RBI. Carlos Beltran missed his second straight game with knee soreness.Matheny wasn’t sure whether Beltran would be back Wednesday at San Francisco.Bryan LaHair hit his 10th homer, half of them against the Cardinals, and Reed Johnson contributed his second go-ahead pinch hit in three days with a single in the seventh. The rookie has reached base safely in 32 consecutive games.Holliday singled off Cubs closer Rafael Dolis (2-3) to start the ninth and advanced on David Freese’s one-out groundout. Holliday scored without a play on Molina’s hit.The Cubs have lost 10 of 14 in St. Louis dating to last June 3.The Cardinals capitalized on Kerry Wood’s wildness to tie it in the seventh. Wood has 11 walks in 8 1/3 innings after issuing passes to Rafael Furcal and Holliday, and Craig tied with a one-out single. Craig had an RBI double in the first and has an extra-base hit in eight of his 12 games.Holliday put the Cardinals ahead with his seventh homer in the fifth, a drive to left estimated at 445 feet. He also singled in the first and is 6 for 29 against Paul Maholm, who didn’t allow more than one run in each of his previous four starts but gave up two in the first.Kyle Lohse trailed by a run after his first seven pitches produced three hits, including an RBI single for Starlin Castro. Soriano and Ian Stewart also drove in runs, and the Cubs had 11 swings and no misses while going up 3-0.Lohse retired 14 in a row with the help of a double play before LaHair’s homer.

NOTES—Soriano homered in his 120th at-bat this year. That matched his longest homer drought to start a season, also in 2009…..Matt Garza (2-1, 2.56) pitches for the Cubs on Wednesday at home against the Phillies and Vance Worley (3-2, 3.07)…..Geovany Soto had his third two-hit game of the month Tuesday. He’s 2 for 24 in the other 11 games….Since 1918, no Cubs lefty has gone five straight starts with at least six innings and one or fewer runs allowed. Maholm is among four Cubs lefties to do it five straight starts, and the first since Ken Holtzman in 1969…..Both games were sold out, giving the Cardinals nine sellouts in 17 home games.