Brewers 5, Cubs 2 more ›

The Sox dug themselves a ginormous first-inning hole but managed to slug their way out of it for a 12-6 win over the Royals. Down 6-0 heading into the bottom of the first, the Sox chipped away, scoring two runs in the first, third, and fourth innings powered by a pair of Paul Konerko two-run homers. Konerko provided the go-ahead run in the sixth but it was Andruw Jones who would put the game out of reach with a grand slam. Konerko, though, was the star, finishing the day with five RBI. After starter Lucas Harrell got rocked in the first inning, the Sox bullpen settled down and held the Royals scoreless, holding up their end. The Sox remain six games behind the Twins and have today off as they prepare for a three-game visit from Minnesota that will be their last shot at making a run at the division title, starting Tuesday night (7:10 p.m., CSN). more ›

The Sox take a step forward one night and then the next they take a step back. After picking up a game on the Twins on Friday, the Sox got routed by the Royals last night 8-2 and subsequently lost that game back to Minnesota. Edwin Jackson struggled on the hill for the Sox, giving up 13 hits and 6 runs to Kansas City while the Sox offense didn't produce much of anything in the way of offense, hitting only 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position and leaving nine men on base. Said A.J. Pierzynski, "Just one of those things. It goes up and down, and we had eight hits tonight, scored a couple of runs. We had some chances, and we just didn't get it done." The Sox hope to bounce back and get it done in the series finale today before the Twins come calling - the Sox last chance to make a run at the division - later this week (1:05 p.m., CSN). more ›

The Sox did what they had to do and got a little help along the way, beating the Royals 4-3 and picking up a game on the Twins in the process. Down 3-1 in the eighth, Alex Rios got the rally started for the Sox with an RBI double to cut the lead to 3-2. And it was then A.J. Pierzynski who followed suit and won the game with a two-run double of his own. J.J. Putz, who pitched a scoreless eighth in relief, got the win while Chris Sale got the save. Mark Buehrle (7 IP, 3R, 7H, 4K) got a no-decision. But we're sure he'll gladly take it as the Sox got the win overall. And now? To win more. Pierzynski said: "Everyone knows what's going on. There's no secrets. Every single person in this clubhouse, every single person in this stadium, every single person in Major League Baseball knows what the situation is. We have to try to win every game. To come from behind in the eighth inning is a huge lift. It was a good team win -- and as big as everyone thought." They hope to get another big win and pick up more ground tonight when Edwin Jackson gets the start (6:10 p.m., WGN). more ›

After getting pushed around - and downright bullied - the last seven games, the Cubs unleashed a barrage of homers on their way to a cathartic 15-3 steamrolling of the Brewers, snapping their seven-game skid and avoiding a second straight series sweep. A Tyler Colvin solo homer opened scoring for the Cubs in the third but the team was down 3-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth. That's when the bats came out. The Cubs actually took advantage of runners on base and a trio of RBI singles from Geovany Soto, Blake DeWitt, and Jeff Baker put the Cubs in the lead and then Aramis Ramirez belted a three-run homer to cap a six-run sixth. But the Cubs weren't done. Making up for all the times they could have used extra runs, Soto and DeWitt also belted three-run homers to put an exclamation point on the rout. Soto (5 RBI) and DeWitt (4 RBI) were the big producers on the day. Meanwhile, on the hill, Ryan Dempster gave up all three runs and pitched six innings to earn his ninth win of the season and the bullpen held, not allowing any additional runs. Whew. The Cubs get a day off to rest and muster the strength for another offensive onslaught when they welcome the Reds to town tomorrow for a weekend set (1:20 p.m., CSN). more ›

The Cubs got a solid start out of rookie pitcher Thomas Diamond but still couldn't muster enough offense for a win, falling to the Brewers 4-3 and extending their losing streak to seven games. Diamond logged 10 strikeouts over six innings - tying Mark Prior for most K's in a Cubs debut - but allowed three runs on seven hits, earning a loss in his first start. The Cubs tried to piece together a few runs on a Derrek Lee RBI single in the first and a Fukudome solo homer in the seventh. In the ninth, Starlin Castro singled in Mike Fontenot but any rally was cut short when a base-running error resulted in Castro being thrown out a second. All of this despite the Cubs equaling the Brewers in hits - 11 - as the team registered a typical 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position, leaving nine men on base. Ryan Dempster is scheduled to get the start today - weather permitting - as the Cubs try to halt their losing streak and avoid a second-straight series sweep (1:20 p.m., WGN). more ›

6, 8, 17, 6, 8, 18. No, that's not a LOST reference and no, those aren't Powerball numbers. Those are the run totals the Cubs have given up the last six games. That's 63 total runs in six freaking games. How many runs have the Cubs scored over that span? 17. They've been out-scored 63-17 over the last six games. more ›

Sox Shut Down Tigers more ›

True story: there were other Chicago sports teams besides the Blackhawks playing last night. more ›

Cubs Blow Lead To Brewers more ›

The Cavs had no problem dispatching the Bulls but the Cubs and Sox were more successful on Sunday, completing series sweeps. more ›

The Blackhawks took a thrilling overtime victory over the Predators, and both the Cubs and White Sox are playing for sweeps in their weekend series. more ›

Cubs Mug Brewers more ›

Yesterday was Jackie Robinson Day in Major League Baseball with teams, managers, and umpires all wearing the number 42 to honor the baseball legend. But neither Chicago team fared too well. more ›

Bulls Beat Up Bobcats, Punch Post-Season Ticket more ›

Cubs Open Home Season With A 'W' more ›

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). more ›

The White Sox fell once more to the rival Minnesota Twins, this time by a score of 8-6, and fell even further behind as any slim playoff hopes are now fading fast, eight games back of Detroit with only 11 to play. John Danks had a rough outing, responsible for seven of Minnesota's runs over six innings pitched. The Sox did their best to keep pace with the Twins, including homers from Alex Rios, Gordon Beckham, and Paul Konerko, but even six runs wasn't enough to stop Minnesota, who have won 8 of their last 10. Meanwhile, the Sox are 3-7 over their last 10, not the way they wanted to finish the '09 season. The Sox see the last of the Twins for '09 tonight at 7:11 p.m. (CSN+). more ›

The slim playoff hopes for the White Sox just got much slimmer after last night's 7-0 trouncing at the hands of the Minnesota Twins. The Sox are now seven games back of Detroit with only 11 games remaining. After the game, Ozzie acknowledge the uphill climb the Sox face: You do the math, we're still in it. But I don't think physically and mentally we're in. You can put all the math and say, 'If we lose here, if we win here, we have a chance because we're not out.' But we look at the ballclub day-in and day-out. You start to put doubts in your mind [about] if this thing is for real." Daniel Hudson, making his first career big league start, pitched five innings, allowing three runs before the bullpen gave way to four more. Not that it mattered, though: the Sox couldn't muster a single run. It was the 13th time this season the Sox have been shut out, which leads the AL. The Sox give it another go against the Twins tonight at 7:11 p.m. (WCIU). more ›

Rookie starter Randy Wells had a rough outing for the Cubs as the Brewers rode a Jody Gerut grand slam to a 7-4 win this afternoon at Wrigley Field. Both teams struck in the first and the Cubs held a 2-1 lead until the top of the fourth when Wells gave up the four-run dinger to Gerut. Mighty Micah Hoffpauir got the Cubs back within striking distance at 5-4 in the bottom of the inning thanks to a two-run double. But the Cubs bullpen couldn't hold. In the seventh, Tom Gorzelanny put two Brewers on and was then relieved by Esmailin Caridad who gave up a two-run double to Mike Rivera. The Brewers bullpen kept the Cubs scoreless for the rest of the game and the Cubs wound up batting 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position. The Cubs are now off to St. Louis for a weekend series, starting tomorrow night at 7:15 p.m. (CSN). more ›

For the Sox, on the outside of the playoffs and looking in, every game counts, which makes last night's 4-1 loss to Seattle tough to swallow, especially given a Detroit victory. Adding injury to insult was the exit of Gavin Floyd after only three innings of pitching due to a sore hip. Floyd gave up three runs to the Mariners before leaving. Meanwhile, the Sox offense was handcuffed by Mariners pitcher Ryan Rowland-Smith, who surrendered only a home run to Gordon Beckham in the eighth. With the loss, the Sox find themselves still in third place and once more 6.5 games back of the division-leading Tigers. Said manager Ozzie Guillen after the game, "Every time we win, it's hope. Every time we lose, it's not a good day for us, no matter the score or how we lose, especially when teams we chase win." The Sox try to keep hope alive when they close out this road trip against Seattle today at 5:40 p.m. (CSN). more ›

Cubs Out-slug Brewers more ›

Making themselves the definition of "too little, too late," the Cubs won for the sixth time in seven games last night as they shut down Milwaukee by a 2-0 final. Ryan Dempster pitched brilliantly, allowing only four hits over eight innings and shutting down the Brewers offense. Derek Lee cracked his 33rd homer of the year - a solo shot - in the fourth, giving the Cubs all the offense they would need for the night. A Fukudome sac fly in the eighth gave them a bit of padding which, let's face it, they need given the bullpen's shakiness this season. However, there was no shakiness from Carlos Marmol who converted his 10th straight save opportunity to clinch the win. The Cubs, however, still remain 9.5 games out of first place in their division and 6.5 games out of the Wild Card race with only 20 games remaining. The two teams dance again tonight at 7:05 p.m. (CSN). more ›

Cubs Bounce Back To Top Brewers more ›

Brewers Blast Cubs more ›

White Sox Roll Past Royals more ›

Derek Lee solidified himself as the one Cubs offensive performer worthy of an invitation to the All-Star Game by homering twice and knocking in seven runs as the Cubs raced past the Brewers 9-5. Lee got things started with a three-run homer in the first and was followed up by Jake Fox who hit a solo shot. Mike Cameron hit a two-run shot for the Brewers in the second to cut the Cubs lead in half, but D-Lee responded with a grand slam in the bottom of the fourth as the North Siders blew the game wide-open. Geovanny Soto completed the scoring-only-on-homers night for the Cubs as he belted a solo shot in the fourth as well. Of course, never ones to make things easy, the Cubs pitching staff allowed the Brewers to score runs late, but Lee's offense was enough to pace the team. Ryan Dempster had a good start, allowing four runs (three earned) over 6.2 innings while striking out nine. Aaron Heilman allowed a run in the eighth but the bullpen, which included appearances from Sean Marshall and Carlos Marmol, held the Brewers. Don't look now, but the Cubs are only 2.5 out of first. The two teams tangle again this afternoon at 1:20 p.m. (CSN). more ›

The Chicago Blackhawks concluded the regular season with 3-0 shutout victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday. 'Hawks goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin was in top form, denying all 37 shot attempts by Detroit. Andrew Ladd and Jonathan Toews both scored in the first period to provide early offense for Chicago, and Dave Bolland added a power-play goal in the third to make the the Blackhawks' lead insurmountable. Chicago finishes the season with 104 points, good for sixth best in the league, and will be hosting the Calgary Flames in the first round of the playoffs. The Blackhawks won all four contests versus the Flames in the regular season and will look to continue their dominance when the puck drops at 7:30 on Thursday. more ›

The Cubs dropped their last regular season game 3-1 on Sunday and helped the Milwaukee Brewers win the wild card In an effort to shake off any rust from their recent rests, most of the starters saw action today but only Ronny Cedeno produced a run. It was pitcher by committee as the Cubs trotted seven different pitchers to the mound, none throwing longer than two innings, and Bob Howry earning the loss. A two-run Ryan Braun homer in the eighth put the Brewers ahead for good. more ›

Ted Lilly proved why he's in the Cubs' postseason rotation as he dominated the Brewers yesterday as the Cubs topped the Brewers 7-3. Lilly gave up one run on two hits while striking out four over six innings. Offensively, the Cubs came to life as Daryle Ward and Fukudome both went deep and Mike Fontenot had three RBIs as a lineup of Cubs back-ups scattered 11 hits. more ›