MLB: Chicago Cubs 11, Houston 6

HOUSTON, April 9 (UPI) -- Aramis Ramirez went 4-for-6 and drove in four runs Wednesday, helping the Chicago Cubs outslug Houston 11-6.

The teams combined for 27 hits, 16 of them from the Cubs. Chicago built an 8-0 lead through two innings and then survived a Houston attack that included five home runs -- four of them off starter Ted Lilly (1-0).

Mike Fontenot hit a three-run homer in Chicago's four-run second inning and Kosuke Fukudome scored four runs -- one of them on a homer in the ninth.

Ivan Rodriguez had a two-run blast for Houston and Jeff Keppinger, Lance Berkman, Kazuo Matsui and Hunter Pence all had solo shots.

Brian Moehler (0-1) made the start for Houston and wound up throwing just 37 pitches. He allowed eight hits and seven runs over 1 2/3 innings.