Houston Astros 2012: Season ends, rebuild continues in American League

The Houston Astros ended the 2012 season with even more losses than the previous one, which set a franchise record. As a back-to-back 100-loss team, the Astros leave the National League behind and face a tough road ahead in the American League.

Astros vs. Cubs final score: Houston falls in 9th to Chicago, 5-4

The Houston Astros dropped their 2012 season finale to the Chicago Cubs, 5-4, on a Bryan LaHair walkoff single. The Astros finish the year with 107 losses, eclipsing the previous franchise high of 106, which was set last season.

Houston looked like it would avoid setting that record late in the game when Justin Maxwell hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning to tie the game at four. However, reliever Hector Ambriz, who loaded the bases on two walks and a bunt single, allowed a line drive single to LaHair with two outs, which allowed the Cubs to avoid being swept at home to close out the season.

LaHair, who added a second-inning homer to go with his game-winning hit, was the Cubs' top offensive performer of the day. Maxwell, along with catcher Carlos Corporan, led the Astros with two hits apiece.

Starting pitcher Edgar Gonzalez was ineffective for the Astros, allowing four runs on five hits and four walks in just over three innings. Meanwhile, Cubs starter Travis Wood worked around five walks to give up just one run on three hits.

Astros vs. Cubs final score: Houston, Bud Norris shut down Chicago, 3-0

The Houston Astros came away victorious for the third consecutive game on Tuesday night, as right-hander Bud Norris carved up Chicago Cubs hitters in a 3-0 win at Wrigley Field.

Though he has been wildly inconsistent over his young career, the 27-year-old Norris tossed six innings of four-hit ball to earn his seventh victory of the season. Aside from the fact that his final numbers in 2012 will hardly do him any favors, Norris still closed the year on a 13⅓-inning streak where he did not allow a single run and yielded just six hits.

Offensively, catcher Jason Castro led the way with his sixth home run of the season after a second-inning blast off Chicago starter Chris Volstad. Castro's bomb was soon followed by an RBI single from the bat of Tyler Greene that put Houston ahead by two runs, in a game where Chicago batters could only muster four total hits.

Looking to pull off a three-game sweep and conclude a dismal campaign on a high note, Houston will send Edgar Gonzalez to the mound on Wednesday to face Chicago's Travis Wood in the final game of the season.

Astros vs. Cubs: Starting lineups announced

The Houston Astros knocked out the Chicago Cubs on Monday night by a score of 3-0, and will look to repeat the feat on Tuesday as they play their penultimate game of the season. Bud Norris will take the mound for the Astros and face off against Chris Volstad in Game 2 of the series.

First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. CT and the lineups have been announced for both teams as they prepare to take the field at Wrigley.

Here are the announced starting lineups for Tuesday night's game:

Houston Astros:

1. Jose Altuve 2B
2. Scott Moore RF
3. Fernando Martinez LF
4. Matt Dominguez 3B
5. Brett Wallace 1B
6. Jason Castro C
7. Justin Maxwell CF
8. Tyler Greene SS
9. Bud Norris P

Chicago Cubs:

1. David DeJesus RF
2. Darwin Barney 2B
3. Anthony Rizzo 1B
4. Alfonso Soriano LF
5. Starlin Castro SS
6. Luis Valbuena 3B
7. Welington Castillo C
8. Brett Jackson CF
9. Chris Volstad P

Astros vs. Cubs Preview: Bud Norris looks for third straight Houston win

The Houston Astros will look to end their season on a high note and make it two in a row as they take on the Chicago Cubs Tuesday night. Houston opened the three game series with a 3-0 win.

Bud Norris (6-13, 4.82 ERA) takes the mound for Houston, facing Chris Volstad (3-11, 6.64 ERA) for Chicago. Norris is 1-2 with a 5.51 ERA against the Cubs this year, giving up 10 runs on 20 hits over 16⅓ innings in three starts. His lone win came in May, an outing that saw him throw seven scoreless innings. Volstad hasn't fared much better against Houston, as he's 1-1 in two starts with a 4.50 ERA. He won his last outing against Houston, but his first was a 10-1 Houston win Aug. 14.

Game time on Tuesday is 7:05 p.m. CT, with television coverage of the game provided on Fox Sports Houston and CSN+.

Astros vs. Cubs lineups: Houston to send Lucas Harrell to mound in Game 1

The Astros will send right-hander Lucas Harrell out to pitch on Monday night for Game 1 of a three-game set with the Chicago Cubs.