CHICAGO, June 30 (UPI) -- Carlos Beltran snapped a tie a with a two-out, opposite-field home run in the ninth Wednesday as Houston nipped the Chicago Cubs, 3-2.
Brad Lidge tossed two scoreless innings for the win.
Acquired last week in a bid to bolster the Houston offense, Beltran hit a 2-1 pitch from Cubs closer LaTroy Hawkins (1-1) over the wall in left field for his second homer in as many games.
Lidge (2-3), who assumed the closer's role when Octavio Dotel was dealt to Kansas City, struck out Ramon Martinez looking on a 3-2 curve to leave the bases loaded in the eighth, then pitched a perfect ninth.
The late run enabled the Astros to snap a five-game losing streak against the Cubs.
Craig Biggio, who committed a costly error in Tuesday night's 7-5 loss, hit solo homers in the first and seventh innings to give the Astros a 2-1 lead.
