Tempers Flare as Cubs Defeat Astros

Aramis Ramirez hit a three-run homer, Moises Alou also homered and the Chicago Cubs beat the Houston Astros, 11-6, Sunday in the conclusion of a three-game series involving the Central Division rivals.

Astro starter Roy Oswalt, Cub starter Kerry Wood and Manager Dusty Baker were ejected from the game after the right-handers plunked four players.

“I was a little disappointed in Roy,” said Cub catcher Michael Barrett, hit in the back by Oswalt in the third inning after he yielded the homer to Ramirez. “I thought he was better than that. We’re going to see him again.”

Both benches emptied as Barrett jawed at Oswalt and approached the mound, but no punches were thrown and the field was cleared. Warnings were issued to both teams.

Wood, returning from a five-game suspension for arguing with an umpire, was ejected in the bottom of the fifth for hitting Jeff Kent with a pitch on the left arm. The right-hander had already hit two other Astros -- Mike Lamb and Carlos Beltran.

Plate umpire Bill Hohn threw Wood out of the game, and the two argued. Baker came out to argue the ejection and also was ejected by Hohn. The Cubs were leading, 10-2, and Wood finished two outs short of earning his eighth win.

Wood denied trying to throw at Kent, saying he simply lost control of the pitch.

“Considering that I’m two outs away from the easiest win of my career, obviously I’m not trying to hit the guy,” Wood said. “If I was going to hit somebody, I would have got him a lot better than that.”

Wood got more than enough offensive help in his short outing. He gave up two runs and five hits in 4 1/3 innings.

John Leicester (4-0) got the win for the Cubs, giving up three runs and four hits in 3 2/3 innings.

The Cubs (67-56) took two of three from the Astros (61-62) in a key series as both teams remained in the thick of the wild-card race. They open a four-game series Thursday at Wrigley Field.