HOUSTON, Sept. 14 (UPI) -- Alfonso Soriano and Aramis Ramirez both homered in the first inning Thursday night, as the Chicago Cubs defeated Houston, 6-2.
The Cubs moved a half game in front of idle Milwaukee for the lead in the National League Central. Chicago now heads to St. Louis for a four-game series against the third-place Cardinals.
Soriano led off the game with his 25th homer of the year. Mike Fontenot then singled, Cliff Floyd walked and Ramirez homered to left.
The first-inning outburst came against Woody Williams (8-15), who also gave up home runs to Floyd and Daryle Ward.
The win went to Steve Trachsel (1-2), who allowed two runs on seven hits in five innings. Trachsel came to the Cubs from Baltimore last month after having played for Chicago for most of the 1990s.
