Chicago, IL (Best E Casino) - Alfonso Soriano hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the seventh to help give the Chicago Cubs an 11-7 victory over the Houston Astros in the second of three games at Wrigley Field.

Soriano's homer saved the Cubs, who blew a 6-1 lead. The Chicago left fielder finished the day hitting 3-for-5 with four runs batted in and two runs scored. Derrek Lee added four hits, two runs scored and an RBI while Mark DeRosa went 3-for-5, scoring a run and knocking in three.

"Once (Soriano) bats that first time in the leadoff spot, he can be a three hitter, a four hitter, a five hitter," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "The back part of our lineup has done a nice job of presenting opportunities for him. Just a big, big hit, a three-run homer."

The victory gives the Cubs eight wins in their last ten games.

Although Bob Howry (4-4) struggled, giving up two runs on two hits in 1 1/3 innings of work, he received the win after Chicago's five-run outburst in the seventh.

Rich Harden had his worst outing since coming to the Cubs from Oakland. The righty threw 5 2/3 innings, allowing five runs -- four earned -- on eight hits, fanning eight and walking one. In Harden's four Chicago starts prior to Tuesday, he had given up only three runs and 14 hits in 24 1/3 innings.

"Harden was a little tired today," Piniella said. "When I went out and talked to him, it's the first time this year he told me he had enough. But he'll get seven days between starts, so he'll be nice and fresh his next time out."

Darin Erstad led the way for Houston, batting 4-for-4 with an RBI and run scored. Carlos Lee and Geoff Blum added two-run homers, while Ty Wigginton added a solo shot in defeat.

Wandy Rodriguez threw five innings and gave up six runs on nine hits while striking out one and walking two. The loss is Houston's first of August, having won its previous four games.

Chris Sampson (5-4) got the loss after allowing three runs on four hits in just 1 1/3 innings of work.

After the Astros came back to take a 7-6 lead in the top of the seventh, Chicago mounted a comeback of its own. In the home half, Reed Johnson led off with a single and DeRosa doubled, putting runners on second and third. Kosuke Fukudome followed with a sacrifice fly to tie the game.

Later, after pinch-hitter Daryle Ward was intentionally walked and pinch- hitter Geovany Soto struck out, Soriano put the Cubs back on top with a huge three-run blast to left off Doug Brocail, giving Chicago a 10-7 lead. Following a Ryan Theriot walk and stolen base, Derrek Lee drove him in with an RBI single to stretch the lead to four.

The Cubs got off to a quick start in the first. With one out, Theriot walked and Derrek Lee doubled down the left field line to put runners on second and third. Johnson was later hit by a pitch to load the bases for DeRosa, who blooped a double down the right field line, giving Chicago a 2-0 lead.

Houston answered back with one run in the second on Erstad's RBI single, plating Blum, but Chicago opened up a 6-1 advantage in the second. Henry Blanco doubled, then Harden bunted for a single to put runners on the corners. Soriano followed with a run-scoring single to left.

Two batters later, Derrek Lee loaded the bases on a bloop single to right, and the Cubs scored their fourth run as Aramis Ramirez walked to force in a run. Johnson followed with a sacrifice fly, and DeRosa plated another run with a single to left.

Wigginton hit his 11th homer of the season to lead off the fifth, pulling the Astros within four. Houston added another run in the same inning as Kaz Matsui tripled to plate Erstad, who had singled.

Blum closed the gap to 6-5 in the sixth as he blasted a two-run shot -- his 10th of the season -- to right. After Harden allowed two runners to reach base following the homer, Howry came in and got Mark Loretta to ground out to prevent any further damage.

Houston capped its comeback in the seventh. Matsui singled to lead off, and Carlos Lee later hit a go-ahead two-run homer, giving the Astros a 7-6 lead.

Game Notes

Houston leads the season series 6-5...Chicago is 42-16 at home, best in the majors...Cubs closer Kerry Wood was activated from the 15-day disabled list prior to Tuesday's game. He threw one scoreless inning in his first appearance since July 11. Lefty Scott Eyre was designated for assignment to make room for Wood.