--RHP Brian Moehler doesn't feel extra weight as the club's No. 3 starter after beginning last season as a long reliever.

"I've never looked at four or five, one or two," said Moehler, who was 11-8 with a 4.56 ERA last year. "You still got to go out there and win ballgames. That's what it's all about. It doesn't matter where you are in the rotation. You still want to go out there and pitch well."

Moehler was the Astros' most pleasant surprise last season, and he was 1-2 with the second-best ERA (1.44) in the Grapefruit League this year.

--INF Jeff Keppinger delivered a broken-bat, walk-off single through the left side to push the Astros over the Chicago Cubs 3-2 in the 10th inning.

"I don't think I could have scripted it any better," said Keppinger, a utility infielder the Astros acquired from the Cincinnati Reds on March 31. "It's definitely a good welcoming right there. And I'm glad I could come through for the team."

With the single, he became the first Astro to deliver a walk-off hit in his first at-bat with the club since reliever Jim Crawford had a walk-off double on April 10, 1973, to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 12th inning.

--RHP Doug Brocail, who threw one-third of an inning, earned the victory to even the season-opening three-game series before a crowd of 31,121.

--C Ivan Rodriguez has struck out five times already two games into the season, but he had a leadoff single in the 10th inning and eventually scored the winning run.

--LHP Wandy Rodriguez, the Astros' No. 2 starter, didn't fare in the decision despite an impressive outing. Rodriguez was in line for the victory until Alfonso Soriano homered off LaTroy Hawkins to tie the score at 2-2 in the eighth. The lefty held the Cubs to one run on four hits and three walks with four strikeouts over six innings.

"I felt really good tonight," he said.

MEDICAL WATCH:

RHP Brandon Backe (strained left side muscle) went on the 15-day disabled list March 27. He was scheduled to throw off a mound April 8.

INF Aaron Boone (open-heart surgery on March 26) went on the 15-day disabled list March 27. He was uncertain whether he'd resume his career.

ROTATION:

1. RHP Roy Oswalt

2. LHP Wandy Rodriguez

3. RHP Brian Moehler

4. LHP Mike Hampton

5. RHP Russ Ortiz

BULLPEN:

RHP Jose Valverde (closer)

RHP LaTroy Hawkins

RHP Doug Brocail

LHP Wesley Wright

LHP Tim Byrdak

RHP Chris Sampson

RHP Geoff Geary

LINEUP:

1. 2B Kaz Matsui

2. CF Michael Bourn

3. 1B Lance Berkman

4. LF Carlos Lee

5. SS Miguel Tejada

6. RF Hunter Pence

7. C Ivan Rodriguez

8. 3B Geoff Blum

RESERVES:

C Humberto Quintero

INF Jeff Keppinger

INF Jason Smith

OF/1B Darin Erstad

OF Jason Michaels