The Chicago Cubs rookie served up five runs over four-plus innings as the Houston Astros romped, 9-2, on Tuesday night.

Chris Burke had a career-high four hits, including a solo homer, and Lance Berkman and Preston Wilson each drove in three runs to back Andy Pettitte and power the Astros in front of 40,563 at Wrigley Field.

Marshall (3-5) was making his second straight start against the Astros. Did they figure him out?

"It was pretty much just me tonight," Marshall said. "I fell behind hitters. I found trouble when I did that."

The 23-year-old lefty is now winless in his last five games. He gave up seven hits and four walks in the abbreviated start.

"Sean had a tough day today," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. "He wasn't as sharp as we'd seen him. He had trouble controlling his fastball and his curveball, and they hit a changeup out of the park. Everything was up."

Marshall is now tied with Pittsburgh's Paul Maholm for most starts by a rookie this season, and he entered the game ranked third in innings pitched and fourth in strikeouts among rookies. Marshall has gone 71 innings and fanned 48.

He's smart enough to know he has a lot of work to do.

"I fell behind guys, asking for a little bit of trouble," Marshall said. "My command was a little off tonight. I think it could've been a mechanical thing I was doing. Hopefully, I can make the adjustments on the side and figure out what I was doing."

In his previous start against Houston, Marshall gave up one run on four hits over seven innings. Maybe they were more patient this time?

"I let them get real patient up there by throwing a bunch of first-pitch balls," Marshall said.

"Without giving them too much credit, I don't think Sean had his best stuff today," Cubs catcher Michael Barrett said. "I think it was a combination of [the Astros] seeing him once and him not making his pitches like he has in the past."

Pettitte (6-7), meanwhile, was on cruise control. The veteran gave up five hits and one walk over seven innings and struck out five, as the Cubs dropped to 7-13 against left-handed starters.

"He was a totally different pitcher from the third inning on," Barrett said. "When you give a veteran pitcher that many runs, they have a different mentality and tend to relax."

The Cubs avoided being shut out for the eighth time this season when Phil Nevin led off the seventh with his third home run for the Cubs. Nevin is two home runs shy of 200 in his career.

The loss ended Chicago's brief winning streak at three games. The Cubs have not won four in a row since last July 8-15, when they won five straight.

"We'll just have to start a new streak tomorrow," Baker said.

What's even more strange is the Cubs' inability to gain any kind of home-field advantage. They've been outhomered at home 40-18, and dropped to 12-15.

"A lot of the teams that come in and out-slug us have more guys who can slug," Baker said. "We've got to figure out a way to outhit them in this ballpark."

"It's frustrating," Barrett said. "This, to me, is the best place in the world to play baseball. More frustrating than anything is when you feel like you don't get the job done. People come out to support you, and its frustrating when you don't feel like you're getting it done."

Burke gave the Astros the lead in the first with his second home run off a 1-1 pitch from Marshall.

In the Houston second, Craig Biggio walked and Burke reached on an infield hit. Jason Lane hit an RBI single, and one batter later, Wilson hit an RBI single to go ahead 3-0.

Burke singled to open the fifth and Lane walked, with both scoring on Berkman's double into the gap in right center. Wilson added a two-out RBI single in the seventh off rookie Angel Guzman.

This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.