Morning Box Score

Brewers Edge Cubs
Jeff Samardzija hit his first major league homer last night but also allowed two as the Brewers prevented a Cubs sweep with a 3-2 win over Chicago. Samardzija threw five innings, allowing all three runs on that pair of homers. The Cubs couldn't muster much in the way of offense besides his homer and a Bobby Scales RBI. It's now off to the west coast for the Cubs, where they start a four game series with the San Francisco Giants tonight at 9:15 p.m. (CSN).

Twins Sweep Away Sox
The Sox saw the last shreds of their 2009 playoff hopes swept away by the Minnesota Twins last night, who once again beat the Sox 8-6. With the loss, the Sox now stand nine games out of first with only nine games left to play. It was the Sox fourth straight loss and fifth in their last six games. Mark Buehrle struggled on the mound, lasting only 3.1 innings and surrendering five runs (four earned). The Sox found themselves in an early 5-0 holw but cut the lead to 5-4 thanks in part to the first of Jermaine Dye's two homers of the night, but the Twins scored three runs - chalked up to Sox reliever Carlos Torres - in the seventh to put the game out of reach for the Sox. The Sox get an off day today before the Detroit Tigers come to town Friday.

The Washington Capitals roughed up the Blackhawks last night in preseason hockey, easing past the 'Hawks 6-2. Troy Brouwer and Patrick Sharp had the two Blackhawk goals while goalie Corey Crawford had a rough night in goal.