CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Houston Astros' late charge toward a playoff spot hit an unexpected snag Monday when starting shortstop Julio Lugo suffered a broken left forearm after being hit by Chicago Cubs righthander Kerry Wood.

Lugo was hit by Wood -- one of the hardest throwers in the major leagues -- in the third inning of the Astros' 9-6 win. He immediately left the game and following the contest the team revealed that their leadoff hitter will be sidelined 6-to-8 weeks.

The 26-year-old Lugo is among the streakiest players in the game and was in the middle of one of his hot stretches when he suffered the injury. He had eight hits in his last 15 at-bats and his added offensive production since the All-Star break has helped the Astros get back into the thick of both the National League Central and wild card races.

For the season, Lugo is hitting .261 with eight homers and 35 RBI. He has scored 45 runs and stolen nine bases. He also has played well defensively, committing just eight errors in 87 games.

To fill Lugo's roster spot, the Astros recalled shortstop Adam Everett from Class AAA New Orleans of the Pacific Coast League. Everett was hitting .275 with two homers and 25 RBI for the Zephyrs but batted just .182 with three RBI in 44 at-bats with Houston earlier this season.

The Astros are 28-13 in their last 41 games and within three games of first-place St. Louis in the Central Division. Houston is 4 1/2 games behind Los Angeles for the wild card.