HOUSTON, July 18 (UPI) -- Hunter Pence doubled home Miguel Tejada with nobody out in the ninth inning Friday, giving the Houston Astros a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs.

Houston had managed just six hits and one run through eight innings off Ted Lilly, but struck quickly in the ninth to end it.

Tejada opened the inning with a double to right off Bob Howry (3-3) and Pence then hit Howry's first pitch to center for the two-base hit that brought the Astros their third straight win.

Carlos Lee homered for the Astros in the seventh to tie it and Geoff Geary (2-1) threw two perfect innings of relief to get the victory.

Chicago's run came on a fifth-inning homer by Jim Edmonds.

Lilly missed out on his attempt to become the Cubs' third 10-game winner this season. Carlos Zambrano is 10-3 and Ryan Dempster is 10-4.