Cubs 5, Astros 4

Hero: Geovany Soto snapped a 4-4 tie with his 17th home run of the season,off Wilton Lopez (5-2), with two outs in the bottom of the eighth.

Goat: Alfonso Soriano went 0-for-3 and committed his seventh error of the season.

Key Plays: The was, thankfully, no drama on Monday.Carlos Marmol retired the Astros in order in the top of the ninth for his 28th save of the season.

Comments: Starlin Castro was benched by interim manager Mike Quade for a mental error on the basepaths in Sunday's game. Darwin Barney, starting in Castro's place at shortstop, went 2-for-3 and scored twice.

Marlon Byrd hit his 12th home run of the season off Houston starter Wandy Rodriguez with a runner aboard in the third inning.

Next: Carlos Silva (10-5, 3.92 ERA) will make his first start since Aug. 1 on Tuesday (CSN, 7:05 p.m.) when the Cubs (60-78) try for their sixth win in eight games on the current homestand.

Nelson Figueroa (4-2, 2.83) will start for the Astros (64-73). The right-hander is 1-1 with a 1.96 ERA in four starts since rejoining the Houston rotation on Aug. 17. He is 1-5 with a 4.12 ERA in 12 career games (6 starts) against the Cubs.