CHICAGO — No matter how big their lead, the Houston Astros never think they have enough runs at Wrigley Field. Almost an afterthought when he hit it, Craig Biggio's solo homer turned out to be the game-winner Wednesday as the Astros held on for a 4-3 victory against the Cubs.

        It was Houston's second one-run win in as many days.

        “All of the games that we played this year against each other have been real close,” said Biggio, whose seventh-inning home run gave Houston a 4-0 lead. “It's never over here until the last out is made.”

        And sure enough, the Cubs rallied, just like they did Tuesday, when they trailed by five runs and lost 5-4.

        Sammy Sosa hit a two-run single with two outs in the eighth, and pinch-hitter Angel Echevarria drove in another run off of rookie Ricky Stone in the ninth.

        But Stone, in his first major league save opportunity, struck out Mark Bellhorn to preserve the victory.

        “It turned out to be a big one,” Houston manager Jimy Williams said of Biggio's homer. “He's got a lot of big hits for us this year.”

        Wade Miller (10-3) got a big victory, his career-best seventh straight decision. He allowed two runs and five hits in 7 2-3 innings, struck out six and walked four.

        Carlos Zambrano (2-4) allowed four runs — two earned — and four hits in seven innings. He struck out seven and walked three.

        “Miller pitched great,” Sosa said. “Pitching has been the key in this series.”

        With the way Miller was pitching early, it didn't look as if the Astros would need much offense. He allowed only five runners in the first seven innings.

        The Cubs had runners in scoring position once, and Miller retired 15 of 16 batters at one point.

        “They were kidding me all day that I had to go a complete game because (Octavio Dotel and Billy Wagner) were sitting out,” Miller said. “It was good to go out there and pitch into the eighth inning.”

        But Miller tired in the eighth, walking pinch-hitter Roosevelt Brown walked with two outs. Bellhorn singled and Bill Mueller walked, loading the bases.

        That brought up Sosa, whose two-run single up the middle cut Houston's lead to 4-2. Pedro Borbon relieved Miller and quickly snuffed out the rally by striking out Fred McGriff.

        “I didn't bear down when I needed to and let it get away,” Miller said. “Luckily the bullpen saved me again.”

        With Wagner getting the afternoon off after working four of the previous five games, Stone was brought in for the ninth and got two quick outs. But Alex Gonzalez singled and took second on a wild pitch. Pinch-hitter Chris Stynes then drew a walk, bringing up Echevarria.

        Echevarria lined one to shallow right, the ball dropping just in front of Richard Hidalgo for an RBI single. Stone then struck Bellhorn out with four pitches.

        “We haven't given up,” Sosa said. “It doesn't matter what the score is, we're always trying to come back. We've got to start thinking about it a little earlier.”

        Zambrano only had one rough inning, but the Astros took advantage of it.

        With the Cubs trailing 1-0 in the third, Zambrano loaded the bases with walks to Jose Vizcaino, Lance Berkman and Jeff Bagwell. Daryle Ward followed with an RBI single.

        One out later, Zambrano struck out Geoff Blum and should have been out of the inning. But the ball glanced off the top of catcher Joe Girardi's glove and rolled all the way to the backstop, scoring a run and allowing Blum to take first.

        “Unfortunately, they got ahead of us,” Cubs interim manager Bruce Kimm said, “and we couldn't quite catch up.”

        Notes: Stone's appearance was his 61st of the season, tying Charley Kerfeld's club record for a rookie. ... Astros SS Julio Lugo will miss the rest of the season after having surgery Wednesday on his broken left forearm. Lugo was hit by Kerry Wood on Monday night. ... Sosa extended his hitting streak to nine games. ... Miller has never had a major league shutout. ... The Astros have won five straight on the road.

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