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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted at 4:18 p.m., Saturday, September 13, 2008

Baseball: Cubs-Astros games shifted to Milwaukee

Associated Press

CHICAGO — Two games between the Chicago Cubs and Astros that were postponed this weekend in Houston because of Hurricane Ike will now be played in Milwaukee.

The Cubs and Astros will play at 7:05 p.m. CDT on Sunday and 1:05 p.m. on Monday at Miller Park, with Houston being the home team. If the third game of the series is needed, it will be Sept. 29 at Houston.

Chicago leads the NL Central and Houston is in wild-card race. The three-game set that was scheduled to begin Friday night in Houston was called off as the hurricane approached the Texas coast.

"Our preference would be that the tragedy never happened to the state of Texas and we could've played the games on schedule, but once the storm came there didn't seem to be any alternative, and I think the Astros and the commissioner's office worked hand in hand to come up with the best short-term solution they could with all the weather problems we're having all over the country," Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said Saturday.

The Milwaukee Brewers play at Philadelphia on Sunday and are off Monday, making their ballpark available.

In April 2007, the Brewers hosted a series between the Indians and Angels that was moved because of inclement weather.

"Major League Baseball made the decision to move these games to Miller Park and given the lack of other viable options, we will be ready to serve as hosts," Brewers executive vice president Rick Schlesinger said.

The Cubs could have a decided home field advantage in the Brewers' home park that is only 90 miles away. When they play Milwaukee on the road, the Cubs are often cheered by thousands of their own fans.

Houston had hoped to play the games at home, especially after going on a 38-16 run that pulled the Astros within 2½ games of Milwaukee in the wild-card race.

The Cubs hold a six-game lead over Milwaukee in the NL Central.