HOUSTON — Geovany Soto didn't get the automatic home run he deserved. Cubs manager Lou Piniella thinks he probably likes it that way.

Soto was credited with an inside-the-park three-run homer in the fourth inning despite replays showing that it should have been an automatic home run in Chicago's 7-2 win over Houston last night.

The ball bounced just to the right of the yellow line on the wall in left-center field.

"It was a home run, but I think he'd probably rather have the inside-the-park home run anyway," Piniella said.

Astros center fielder Michael Bourn scooped it up and threw it home, but Soto scored easily before the throw got there.

"Never in my whole life had I had an inside-the-park home run," Soto said. "I didn't think it was out. It's so big that left-center area I didn't think I hit it over it. I thought double, maybe triple if they misplayed it."

Aramis Ramirez singled and Kosuke Fukudome walked before the hit. Ramirez added an indisputable two-run homer to the back row of the stands in the left field Crawford Boxes in the ninth inning.

Third base umpire Ed Rapuano defended his call.

"The ball hit the yellow line that designates home run, no home run," he said.

When asked if there was any question in his mind when he made the call, he said: "No. I called what I saw."

It was the second straight night that major league umpires botched a home run call. New York Mets first baseman Carlos Delgado was robbed of a three-run homer Sunday night. Delgado's ball was originally ruled a home run but the call was reversed, turning it into a long foul ball. The replay of that play showed it should have been a home run.

Soto's was the first inside-the-park home run for a catcher since Joe Mauer of the Twins hit one against the Angels on July 21, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

The last National League catcher to achieve the feat was Kelly Stinnett for Arizona on Aug. 29, 2005.

It's been almost 49 years since a Cubs catcher hit an inside-the-park homer, dating to Cal Neeman's hit June 17, 1959, against Pittsburgh's Harvey Haddix.

The win is Chicago's ninth in the last 11 and puts the Cubs at 11 games over .500 for the first time since finishing the 2004 season at 16 over.

Dodgers 6, Reds 5: Rookie Blake DeWitt's bases-loaded RBI single with one out in the ninth inning lifted host Los Angeles over Cincinnati, snapping the Reds' six-game winning streak. Russell Martin led off the ninth against David Weathers (1-3) with an infield single up the middle and continued to second when shortstop Paul Janish threw the ball over the head of first baseman Joey Votto and into the dugout. Martin advanced on Jeff Kent's groundout, and Weathers intentionally walked James Loney and Kemp before DeWitt stroked an opposite-field hit to left on a 2-2 pitch to deliver Martin with the winning run.

Nationals 4, Phillies 0: Ryan Zimmerman saved a run or two with a quick stab to stop a double down the left-field line in the first inning, charged a two-hopper barehanded to throw out St. Anthony alum Shane Victorino in the fifth, then made a tough catch look routine when pinch hitter Greg Dobbs hit a foul pop-up in the seventh in host Washington's victory. With the help of his third baseman's flawless defense, Tim Redding (6-3) threw 6 1/3 scoreless innings and the Nationals opened a seven-game homestand with a win.

Rockies 4, Giants 3: Clint Barmes homered and Yorvit Torrealba added a go-ahead two-run double in the sixth, leading host Colorado over San Francisco. Jason Grilli (1-0) got two outs in the sixth to earn his first win as a member of the Rockies. Brian Fuentes pitched around an opening single in the ninth for his sixth save in eight chances.

Cardinals 8, Padres 2: Albert Pujols hit two mighty home runs, and Cesar Izturis and Ryan Ludwick also went yard in leading visiting St. Louis over San Diego. Todd Wellemeyer (5-1) hit an RBI single and held the Padres to two runs in six innings. He walked three and struck out two.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Twins 7, Rangers 6: Howie Clark's single over the head of Josh Hamilton in center field lifted host Minnesota over Texas in a game that saw reliever Bobby Korecky become the first Twins pitcher to get a hit in an American League game since the designated hitter was instituted in 1973. Korecky (1-0) also picked up his first career victory by getting two outs in the top of the 11th with the bases loaded and then pitching a perfect 12th.

Rays 7, Athletics 6: Evan Longoria hit a two-run homer in the 13th inning and visiting Tampa Bay overcame a pair of home runs by Frank Thomas. Tampa Bay's Eric Hinske hit a two-run homer and Jason Hammel (3-2) pitched three scoreless innings for the win in his first appearance since May 7 to help the Rays win for the ninth time in 12 games.