HOUSTON (AP) -- Henry Rodriguez has a new favorite ballpark.

Rodriguez hit one of Chicago's four home runs in the first inning and later had a grand slam as the Cubs roughed up Jose Lima and the Houston Astros 12-3 Thursday.

	Jon Lieber is congratulated by catcher Joe Girardi after pitching a complete game. Lieber allowed five hits and struck out seven.

"This place is a lot better for hitters than the Astrodome," he said. "All you have to do here is get the ball in the air down the lines and it's a home run. The ball just flies out of here. I love this place."

There have been 46 home runs in 12 games at Enron Field this season. Rodriguez connected three times this week at the park.

In the eighth inning, Rodriguez was hit in the back by a pitch from Doug Henry. The plunking left a red welt.

"I've got a tattoo to remember this one," Rodriguez said. "I don't think he did it on purpose. If he did I'd charge the mound."

The Cubs tied a team record set in 1930 with four homers in an inning. Eric Young and Ricky Gutierrez began the game with home runs, Rodriguez hit a two-run drive and Damon Buford's solo shot made it 5-0.

Rodriguez tagged Lima (1-4) for a grand slam into the upper deck in right field for a 10-0 lead in the fourth. His fifth lifetime slam gave him a career-high six RBI.

"It wasn't pretty," Houston manager Larry Dierker said. "It was almost over before it began. Now we go on the road and we get a chance to see if the ballpark's got us psyched out or if we're just playing this badly. I don't think it's the ballpark."

Lima, 21-10 last season, has lost four consecutive starts. The 12 runs he allowed broke the club record (10) set by pitching coach Vern Ruhle (1980) and tied by Bob Forsch (1989).

"That's not the same Jose Lima I remember," Rodriguez said. "I think he's thinking too much and trying to hit spots. He'll bounce back. I know him and he's a competitor."

Lima set a team record by allowing five home runs, and set another by giving up four homers in the first inning. He gave up 12 runs and 13 hits in five innings.

"I made a lot of mistakes. I don't know what's wrong. It's not the ballpark. It's up here," he said, pointing to his mind.

"I'll be glad to get on the road and get out of this month. This month hasn't been kind to me. But I'm not going to give up on myself. It can't get worse."

Daryle Ward homered for the Astros, who have lost nine of 12 at their new ballpark.

Jon Lieber (2-2) pitched a five-hitter for the eighth complete game of his career. He struck out seven and walked none.

"Jon showed you can get guys out if you make good pitches no matter where you're playing," Chicago manager Don Baylor said. "Our guys really love this ballpark. We've been struggling lately, so taking two of three here is a positive for us."

Young opened the game by lining a 2-0 fastball over the left-field bleachers for his first homer. Gutierrez drove the next pitch over the railroad tracks above left field.

A single by Sammy Sosa set up Rodriguez's home run. Buford connected with two outs.

After Henry hit Rodriguez, Lieber hit Matt Mieske in the bottom of the inning.

"There isn't a paying customer in the ballpark who didn't know (Rodriguez getting hit) was on purpose," Baylor said.

Henry denied he had thrown at Rodriguez. Lieber, too, said his was by accident.

"I was trying to come inside and it got away from me," he said. "I pitched them the same way I always do, I tried to keep my pitches down and stay aggressive."

Lieber retired the first 12 batters. Ken Caminiti reached on first baseman Mark Grace's error to lead off the fifth and Ward followed with a home run.

Grace had a two-run double.

"I'm concerned," Dierker said. "It's just the start of the season but we're really not playing well. We need to do something to get it turned around."

Game notes
The Cubs' four homers in one inning tied the club record set May 12, 1930, against the New York Giants when Cliff Heathcote, Hack Wilson, Charlie Grimm and Clyde Beck did it. ... Lima has allowed 10 home runs, most in the majors. His ERA jumped to 8.42 from 5.88. ... The Cubs went 3-6 on their road trip. ... The Cubs have homered in 11 straight games. ... Rodriguez has 14 career multi-homer games. ... The Cubs outscored the Astros 32-22 in the three-game series. ... Craig Biggio's 16-game hitting streak was snapped.