The season got off to a rough start right away for the Astros and starter Roy Oswalt on Monday. Leadoff batter Alfonso Soriano smacked a home run to give the Cubs a quick 1-0 lead, and the Astros never recovered.

Oswalt eventually settled down and allowed only three runs in seven innings. He gave the Astros a chance to get back in the game, but they couldn't capitalize.

"My biggest thing after I gave up one or two runs is (to) outlast him (Zambrano)," Oswalt told the Houston Chronicle. "I started to get some quick innings, and I was wanting to get into the ninth inning and maybe keep it where I had it and (see us) come back late in the game."

CUBS 4, ASTROS 2: Alfonso Soriano and Aramis Ramirez smacked solo home runs off Astros starter Roy Oswalt in the first two innings. The Astros, meanwhile, were unable to get much going against Cubs starter Carlos Zambrano, who pitched six innings of five-hit, one-run ball for the victory.