Beltran Beats the Cubs

Carlos Beltran wasted little time showing his new Houston teammates -- and the Chicago Cubs -- what an effect he can have.

“We’re not playing the way we want to, but we will,” Beltran promised Wednesday after his two-out homer in the ninth inning sent the Astros to a 3-2 victory over the Cubs.

“I think it’s my job to go out there and try to have fun and do the best I can to help this club win games. Since I’ve been here, I’ve been doing the little things to help. I’m just happy.”

Beltran’s homer against LaTroy Hawkins came in his fifth game since being traded from Kansas City and was his second in as many games.

After Roger Clemens’ bid for his 11th victory was blown by the Astro bullpen, Beltran won it.

Craig Biggio earlier homered twice for the Astros, atoning for a costly error the previous day.

“Knowing what kind of player he was over there and knowing how he is now -- much stronger, more mature -- he’s just a tremendous player,” Clemens said of Beltran. “He fits in real nice here. It’s a nice bonus for us.”

Brad Lidge (2-3), who worked out of a bases-loaded jam after the Cubs tied the score in the eighth, got the win by getting the final six out. Hawkins (1-1) took the loss.

In his third start against the Cubs this season, Clemens pitched seven solid innings, yielding five hits and leaving with a 2-1 lead.

“I was trying to be as stingy as possible and aggressive when I had to,” Clemens said. “They left guys on base and we left guys on base, and fortunately we were able to pull it out.”

Michael Barrett’s homer against reliever Dan Miceli leading off the bottom of the eighth tied the score, 2-2. After Barrett’s homer, third baseman Morgan Ensberg’s throwing error helped the Cubs load the bases before Lidge struck out Ramon Martinez on a 3-and-2 pitch.