Last night's final game between the Twins and Sox started out with a thud when starter Carl Pavano hit the Sox' Paul Konerko in the face with a pitch. In a way, it was symbolic of the way the Twins have punched out any playoff hopes for the Sox. The Sox hung tough but couldn't push back enough and fell to the Twins 8-5, cementing the Twins as the leaders in the AL Central. Konerko would stay in the game and even homer in the third to help cut into the Twins' lead, but the Twins' offense kept pace. Sox starter Mark Buehrle allowed six runs over five innings of work, too many for the Sox to overcome. A.J. Pierzynski and Alexei Ramirez added homers in a three-run sixth for the Sox to cut the lead to 6-5 but the Twins scored off of reliever J.J. Putz in the ninth to ice the game. Now leading the Sox by nine games with 16 to play, it would take a historic collapse by Minnesota to give the Sox any chance at the division title. Still, the Sox will play on, hoping for just such a collapse, welcoming Detroit to town for a weekend series starting tonight (7:10 p.m., WCIU). more ›

The Twins have, for all intents and purposes, pushed the Sox out of the AL Central race after last night's 9-3 drubbing. While the Sox are still mathematically alive, there just appears to be too much ground for the Sox to cover and they're not playing good enough baseball at the moment to do it. Gavin Floyd gave up six runs on nine hits over 5.1 innings, opening the door wide open for the Twins; the Sox offense was never able to recover. Carlos Quentin belted a two-run homer in the sixth but it was far too little and far too late. The Sox now sit eight games out with 17 remaining. A comeback isn't impossible but it is highly unlikely, especially given the Twins' recent hot streak (9-1 over their last 10). The Sox give it one more go tonight (7:10 p.m., CSN). more ›

The Sox' chances at making a run at the AL Central took a major hit last night - perhaps were even snuffed out for good - in a tough 9-3 loss to the Twins. In fact, the Sox proved Benjy right last night as, down 4-3 with the bases loaded in the seventh, Manny Ramirez struck out (as did Paul Konerko) and the bullpen struggled, giving up five runs in the eighth to seal the Sox' fate. And we're not the only ones declaring the Manny Experiment a failure. Ozzie tried to remain optimistic even as the Sox fell seven games back of the Twins, saying, "I don't know if it's impossible, but it's going to be tough. There's still a lot of season to go, but in the meanwhile, we all know how important those next two games are." Gavin Floyd gets the start in game two of the series tonight (7:10 p.m., WCIU). more ›

With the Twins off yesterday, the Sox hoped to make up a game in the race for the AL Central crown. But instead of a win, the Sox again faltered and fell to the Tigers 6-3, dropping six games back of the Twins. What was a seven-game win streak has now given way to a three-game losing streak as the Sox watch their playoff chances fade like Marty McFly's hand on stage at the Enchantment Under The Sea dance. Down 4-0 in the fourth, Alex Rios belted a two-run homer to cut into the Tigers' lead but they couldn't do much more to catch up. The Tigers tagged Sox starter Gavin Floyd for 13 hits, bringing six runs (five earned) over six innings pitched. Said Ozzie of losing more ground to the Twins: "Punch in the nose. But you can't do anything about it. Like I said before we came here, if we expect and we hope that another team beats them, we're crazy." The Sox now only have 22 games left to make up the necessary ground. They catch a break in that they host the Twins for a three-game series next week, but they have to get through a weekend series with the Royals first. Game one of that series is at The Cell tonight (7:10 p.m., CSN). more ›

The White Sox finally showed their fans - and the Twins - some muscle last night, waxing Minnesota 11-0 and, in the process, cutting the Twins' lead to four games and maintaining hope that the AL Central Division crown is still within reach. Paul Konerko led the way for the Sox with a fantastic 5-for-5 performance, driving in four runs on his five hits which included his 31st homer of the year. Mark Teahen, Alexei Ramirez, and A.J. Pierzynski all had two RBI each in the rout. Mark Buehrle threw seven shutout innings for the win. Konerko was cautiously optimistic about the Sox' chances: "We've dug ourselves a hole here again, but there's still time to get back out of it. They had the better series. Tonight was good for us, but they did what they had to do and they won the series, so we can't be happy walking out of here just because we got a win, We've got to get back to work and try cutting into that deficit." They'll start in on that tonight when they begin a weekend series in Kansas City (7:10 p.m., CSN). more ›

The Sox tried their best to keep up with the Twins but again fell to Minnesota, this time losing 7-6, their fourth straight loss, and falling five games back of the Twins in the AL Central. Down 2-0 early, Andruw Jones hit a three-run homer to give the Sox the lead. The Sox took a 5-3 lead in the fifth with a pair of runs, but the Twins mounted their own rally in the sixth to take the lead for good. Gavin Floyd (5.1 IP, 10 H , 7 ER) took the loss for the Sox. With the wildcard out of reach, the division crown is the only chance the Sox will likely have to get into the playoffs. There's still one series left this season between the Sox and Twins, a three-game set in mid-September at The Cell. The Sox turn to Mark Buehrle today to help them stop the skid and salvage something from this series (7:10 p.m., CSN). more ›

What is it about the Minnesota Twins that the Sox just can't seem to get past? While that's an open-ended question, we know specifically that former White Sox slugger Jim Thome was part of the equation last night as his two-run walk-off homer in the bottom of the 10th put the Twins past the Sox 7-6 in dramatic fashion. Down 4-0 early, the Sox bounced back thanks to homers from Paul Konerko and Mark Kotsay in the second and tied the game on an A.J. Pierzynski RBI double in the fourth. After the Twins went up 5-4, it was Alexei Ramirez tying the game up in the ninth with a solo homer and Ramirez gave the Sox the lead with an RBI in the 10th. But it was then Thome's show as he knocked the two-run shot off of reliever Matt Thornton. The Sox had chances to score more - included having the bases loaded in the ninth - and only went 3-for-14 with runners in scoring position. The Sox have lost 3 of 4 to the Twins over the past week and are 4-9 against Minnesota on the year. The loss drops the Sox four games back of Minnesota with the closest they can get being two games back if they take the final two games of the series. Gavin Floyd starts tonight for the Sox who hope to cut back into that lead (7:10 p.m., CSN). more ›

Regina Lofton, the mother of 13-month-old twins Kimora and Kamari Roberson, was charged late yesterday with felony child endangerment resulting in the death of a child in connection with the girls' deaths Thursday night. The charges came after the Cook County Medical Examiner's office ruled the deaths homicides and concluded the girls died from "hyperthermia, environmental exposure and failure to thrive due to maternal neglect." Each girl was underweight - 13 pounds each - at the time of their deaths. more ›

The Sox had a down-right Cubs-like performance, leaving 12 runners on base and failing to score many runs on several opportunities en route to a 6-1 loss to the Twins. The loss drops the Sox into second place in the AL Central, a game behind Minnesota. The Sox hit 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position, loading the bases in three different innings but only squeaking out one run, dooming them to the loss. Gavin Floyd gave up all six runs over 6.2 innings pitched for the Sox. Floyd remained optimistic after the game: "We have six more games with them, and a ton of baseball in between those six. Anything can happen. Just go out there and try and ignore today, look forward to tomorrow." Indeed, the two teams will square off again in a three-game series next week. Until then, though, the Sox host the Tigers in hopes of making up a little ground over the weekend, beginning tonight (7:10 p.m., WCIU). more ›

The White Sox rode timely offense and a good outing from John Danks to a 6-1 win over the Twins to pull even with Minnesota atop the AL Central. Carlos Quentin belted a two-run homer to open up scoring and the Sox also used a three-run fifth to build a lead. Danks was also sharp, striking out seven and allowing only one run over eight innings of work. But the Sox tried to downplay this being a "must-win" at this point in the season. Ozzie said after the win, "I don't want to wake up tomorrow morning and people in Chicago area panicking about it." Of course, the teams have seven games left against each other - including a three-game set next week - so there are still opportunities to make up any lost ground. Still, we have to imagine the Sox would have been sweating just a teeny bit if they had lost this one. But they didn't so... there you are. The Sox try to take the rubber game of the series and take the division lead back later tonight (7:10 p.m., CSN). more ›

The battle for the AL Central is off and running and this morning there's a new first place team as the Minnesota Twins overpowered the White Sox last night 12-6. The Twins jumped on Freddy Garcia for an early 5-0 lead heading into the bottom of the second when Carlos Quentin cut into that lead with a three-run homer. But the Twins were too much, overpowering the Sox and taking a 10-3 lead before the Sox could score again. Garcia only lasted 2.1 innings, giving up six runs on eight hits while the bullpen didn't do much better, giving up another six runs. Paul Konerko remained optimistic after the game, even as the Sox dropped a game behind the Twins in the standings, saying, "You keep battling. There's a lot of battling left. You want to win a series and we can still do that." The Sox hope to keep battling and tie the Twins atop the division with a win tonight when they send John Danks to the mound (7:10 p.m., WGN). more ›

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The Blackhawks kept pace with San Jose for the top spot in the west as they eased past the Colorado Avalanche 5-2. Colin Fraser, Jonathan Toews, and Patrick Sharp all scored to give the 'Hawks a 3-0 lead. After the Avs scored twice - once late in the second and again mid-way through the third - the 'Hawks countered as Fraser scored his second of the game and Kris Vertseeg sunk an empty-net shot. The 'Hawks remained tied with the Sharks - both with 111 points - for the number one seed heading into tomorrow's finale when the 'Hawks close the season out against the rival Detroit Red Wings (2 p.m., CSN). more ›

Even a Cubs fan such as myself has to hand it to the White Sox: this "Well, if we can't be in the playoffs so we might as well completely screw up the playoff picture for someone else" attitude is pretty addictive. The White Sox downed Detroit 5-1 last night, forcing the Tigers into a tie with the Minnesota Twins heading into the last day of the season. Adding a little fun to the festivities, if the Twins and Tigers finished tied, the Twins host a playoff which will have to be played Tuesday because of the Vikings-Packers Monday Night Football game at the Metrodome. Anything that messes even the slightest bit with Bud Selig is totally awesome with us. Okay, but there was a game last night, too. Freddy Garcia looked sharp, pitching seven-plus innings, striking out seven, and giving up only a single run. Carlos Quentin had a two-run homer and Alex Rios also had a great night, knocking in three runs. The Sox wrap up 2009 against the Tigers today at 12:05 p.m. (WGN). 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 ›

Given their recent losing streak and struggles, one wouldn't think the White Sox would be able to pull off one of the season's most thrilling rallies. But that's exactly what happened as the Pale Hose - down to their last strike - rallied for four runs in the ninth off Twins closer Joe Nathan to pull off an improbable 4-2 victory. Down 2-0 with two outs and an 0-2 count, Gordon Beckham fought his way back in the at bat and smacked a solo shot that cut the lead to 2-1. Paul Konerko followed and, after also being worked to a two-strike count, also smacked a solo shot to tie the game. Next, Nathan walked Jermaine Dye (replaced on base by Dewayne Wise) and Carlos Quentin before being yanked. Matt Guerrier got the Twins once more a strike away from ending the Sox half of the ninth with an 0-2 count on Alexei Ramirez but Ramirez won that battle with a single that plated Wise and sent Quentin to third. Quentin would score on a wild pitch to the next batter, Alex Rios, putting the Sox up by two runs. In the bottom of the ninth, reliever Bobby Jenks allowed a two-out single but the Twins couldn't replicate the two-out rally as Jenks got the final out to secure the save. Perhaps the most appropriate quote on the ridonkulous win in the most unfriendly setting for the Sox came from ace Mark Buehrle, who said, "Just about the time we played our last game here, I think we figured out how to win." more ›

The Struggles of the Sox continued Tuesday night as the Pale Hose dropped another game to Minnesota, 4-3. John Danks had a decent outing, allowing three runs over seven innings pitched. The offense also managed to produce a few runs to keep the Sox in the game: Alexei Ramirez hit a solo shot in the fifth and Gordon Beckham added a two-run shot in the eighth, but the Twins got the winning run off of the Sox bullpen in the bottom of the ninth. After the game, Beckham voiced the frustration many Sox fans feel: "It's tough because we are losing heartbreakers. It's our third last at-bat or extra-inning loss in a week and a half. But we are still fighting and working as hard as we can to win. We just aren't finding ways to win." The two teams finish up their series today at 12:10 p.m. (WGN). more ›

Rich Harden, fresh off of not being traded, had issues on the mound as Houston topped the Cubs 5-3. Harden struck out nine over five innings but also walked six and gave up five runs, a deficit the Cubs were unable to overcome, in spite of two runs in the fifth and a solo D-Lee homer in the eight. But don't tell Harden the issue was over this weekend's waiver claim. Said Harden after the game, "You can't just ignore [the rumors], but the whole thing was ridiculous and had nothing to do with my performance today. I won't make excuses. I still knew I was starting on Monday and I had to prepare myself, and I got prepared and I just didn't get it done." Houston and the Cubs do it again tonight at 7:05 (WGN). more ›

Mark Buerhle's bid at back-to-back perfection fell a few innings short on Tuesday night as the White Sox were defeated by the Twins 5-3. Buehrle set that Major League record for the most consecutive batters retired with 45, but, unfortunately for the Sox, his transition back to normalcy was not a graceful one, as the Twins tagged Buehrle for five runs by the end of the seventh inning. Chicago, who had scored one earlier on a homer by Jermaine Dye, added two more in a ninth, but could not close the four-run gap. The loss drops the Sox into a second-place tie with the Twins, still two back of the slumping Tigers. The two teams will close out their three-game series tonight at 7:10. more ›

As an encore to last Thursday's perfect game, Mark Buehrle remained unhittable well into Tuesday night's game against the Minnesota Twins. In the process, Buehrle set the MLB record for most consecutive batters retired. By taking another perfect game into the sixth inning, Buehrle ended up retiring 45 consecutive batters without one reaching base, going back to his July 18 start against Baltimore. more ›

Cubs & Cards Split Doubleheader more ›