CHICAGO – Phil Nevin hit a three-run homer and rookie Carlos Marmol allowed one run in six innings to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 4-2 victory against the Houston Astros on Tuesday night.

The Cubs bounced back from an embarrassing 13-7 loss to the New York Mets on Sunday night, when they allowed 11 runs in the sixth inning.

Marmol (3-3) gave up four hits, walked six and struck out six.

Ryan Dempster pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his 15th save in 20 opportunities.

Chris Burke homered for the Astros, who have lost six of eight.

The Cubs were trailing 1-0 in the fourth when Michael Barrett led off with a single. Two outs later, Jacque Jones singled and Nevin then hit a 2-2 fastball from Houston starter Roy Oswalt for his eighth homer of the season.

Nevin was traded to the Cubs from the Texas Rangers on May 31, and has a total of 17 homers this season. He has homered twice in the last two games and has driven in five runs.

Barrett doubled down the line in left in the fifth, scoring Ronny Cedeno and giving the Cubs a 4-1 lead. Barrett is 12-for-26 lifetime against Oswalt.

Oswalt (6-7) has gone six straight starts without a win and has lost his last four decisions, including a loss to St. Louis in relief on July 8.

Marmol escaped trouble when he got Luke Scott to ground out in the sixth inning with runners on second and third.

Burke homered off reliever Scott Williamson in the seventh.

Marmol gave up a leadoff walk to Lance Berkman in the fourth inning and Aubrey Huff followed with a triple to right-center, giving the Astros a 1-0 lead.

Oswalt retired the first eight batters until giving up a two-out single to Marmol in the third inning. It was Marmol’s first major league hit.

Greg Maddux and Roger Clemens are the scheduled starters for Wednesday’s night game.

The 300-game winners will face each other for the third time.