ASSOCIATED PRESS Waipahu High School graduate Jerome Williams of the Cubs allowed two runs on four hits and a season-high six walks over seven innings in yesterday's win over the Astros, who now lead the National League wild-card race by a game over the Phillies. Williams struck out three in his first win since Sept. 4. Williams is 6-9 with a 4.28 ERA this season.

Williams beats Astros to
tighten wild-card race

CHICAGO » The Houston Astros must like drama.

The offense wasted several scoring opportunities and reliever Mike Gallo gave up a two-run homer to Jeromy Burnitz in the seventh inning, giving the Chicago Cubs a 3-2 victory yesterday that cut Houston's NL wild-card lead to one game over Philadelphia.

Derrek Lee also connected for the Cubs, who took two of three from the Astros.

Waipahu graduate Jerome Williams (6-9) of the Cubs allowed two runs and four hits in seven innings, walking a season-high six and striking out three in his first win since Sept. 4.

"I think we want to take it down to the wire," Houston manager Phil Garner said. "That's the way we've been playing it, so that's what we're going to do. We've just got to buckle down and play good ball now. We're still in control of our destiny."

The Astros have an off day before a two-game series in St. Louis, then finish the season with four home games against the Cubs. The Phillies host the New York Mets for three games before traveling to Washington for their last three.

"(The Phillies) are feeling pretty good about themselves right now. But we still feel good about what we're doing, too," Andy Pettitte said. "We feel like we're strong, we feel like we're going to be able to pull through this and get it done."

Pettitte waited out a third-inning rain delay and pitched a gem, walking none and scattering two hits over six innings. The Astros couldn't give him any support while he was in the game, but they took a 2-1 lead on Willy Taveras' sacrifice fly in the seventh and turned it over to the bullpen, which hadn't given up a run since Wednesday.

But Chad Qualls got in trouble quickly, allowing a leadoff single to Lee. With two outs, Gallo (0-1) relieved. He hadn't allowed a run in 5 1/3 innings spanning eight outings, but Burnitz sent a 2-2 pitch over the wall in left-center for his 24th homer.