People will come to Iowa for reasons they can’t even fathom. Or maybe just to work on their curve ball. Field of Dreams' new owners are pretty sure if they build it, people will come.
Couple Buys Field of Dreams
Morning Box Score: Rangers Outshine White Sox 7-4
The Sox took an early lead, but once the Rangers got hot, there was no keeping up.
Afternoon Box Score: Cubs Rally to Win, Sox Pound the Royals
Cubs put in a lackluster defensive performance, but still managed to pull out a win. Lillibridge hit a three-run homer in the Sox win.
Morning Box Score: Cubs Are on a Roll, Sox Squeak Out a Win
The Sox won at home after losing seven straight at U.S. Cellular. The Cubs have won 10 of their last 13 games.
Morning Box Score: Sox Fall to Royals, Braves Stomp Cubs
The White Sox struggled on defense, and Zambrano put in a shabby performance for the Cubs.
Afternoon Box Score: Cards Sweep Cubs, Tigers Top Sox
The St. Louis Cardinals completed the series sweep of the Cubs, with the help of yet another walk-off homer by Albert Pujols -- his fourth of the series. At the top of the tenth inning, Pujols' slammer put the Cards ahead. This was the sixth straight loss for the Cubs, and it ended Cubs closer Carlos Marmol's franchise record scoreless inning streak at 25 1/3 innings.
White Sox Sign Ramirez to New Deal
Looks like Jerry Reinsdorf hasn't asked Kenny Williams for the checkbook back yet. Reports surfaced yesterday that the White Sox and shortstop Alexei Ramirez have agreed on a four-year, $32.5 million contract extension, locking up the Silver Slugger, should-have-been Gold Glove winner and an integral piece of the team's future.
Ozzie Would Consider Ryno For Staff
Just because the Cubs chose to hire Mike Quade as their new manager doesn't mean Cubs legend and minor league manager Ryne Sandberg won't be in a Chicago dugout come spring. White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen stated recently on WSCR-AM that Ryno would make his short list to replace Joey Cora as bench coach should Cora land the Milwaukee Brewers manage job. When filling other recent vacancies on his staff, Guillen has considered the likes of Rene Lachemann, Jerry Royster and Pat Corrales.
The New "Chi-Tonw"
No "Morning Box Score" today, readers, but take a look at this gem. From the city that gave us the "Chi-Tonw" tattoos comes news of a Northwest Side White Sox fan who had the White Sox logo accidentally tattooed backward on her thigh.
Morning Box Score: Sox, Cubs Close Out Season
White Sox 6, Indians 5: Alexei Ramirez had a home run and three RBI to help the Pale Hose close out an 88-74 campaign and earn Ozzie Guillen his 600th victory as Sox manager. Edwin Jackson went 5-2/3 innings to earn his fourth win since coming to the Sox in a trade with Arizona. Before the game, Paul Konerko and AJ Pierzynski ran out to their positions in the field to standing ovations from the crowd; both are in free agent years.
Morning Box Score
It was the Casey Coleman show last night as the youngster threw seven scoreless innings and doubled in a run as the Cubs dispensed Houston 2-0. Coleman scattered six hits and struck out only two across the seven innings of work but he shut down Houston as the Cubs continued to roll under interim manager Mike Quade. Carlos Marmol pitcheda thankfully drama-free ninth for his 38th save of the season. The Cubs have won 4 of 5 and look to play out the season on a high note when they take on the 'Stros in game two of the weekend series later this evening (6:05 p.m., WGN).
Morning Box Score
An RBI single in the top of the ninth by Brad Snyder broke a scoreless tie in a pitcher's duel as the Cubs beat the Padres 1-0 in the series finale. Tom Gorzelanny was sharp, pitching six scoreless innings (which only earned him the dreaded 'no-decision'). The Cubs' bullpen was even sharper, allowing no hits and no walks as the Cubs played spoiler for Padres who are still trying to make their way into the post-season. With the series done, the Cubs now move to Houston where they'll close out the season with a three-game set this weekend against the Astros starting tonight (7:05 p.m., CSN).
Morning Box Score
Freddy Garcia pitched seven solid innings, allowing just two runs, as the Sox claimed a 5-2 victory from the visiting Red Sox; the win put Garcia's 2010 record at 12-6. Down 1-0, A.J. Pierzynski tied the game at 1-1 with solo homer in the bottom of the fourth. The Sox then used a series of singles and an intentional walk to move runners around the bases in bringing in three runs in the seventh inning to pull ahead for good. An RBI on a Juan Pierre double play put an exclamation point on the night. Ozzie had nothing but good things to say about Garcia after the game: "A lot of people talk about [John] Danks and [Gavin] Floyd, all those guys. The best pitcher we had every five days was Freddy." Speaking of Danks, he gets his final start of the year tonight as the Battle of the Sox draws to a close (7:10 p.m., WCIU).
Morning Box Score
The Battle of the Sox took a turn for the dramatic at U.S. Cellular Field last night as the White Sox rallied past the Red Sox for a 5-4 walk off win. The lost was extra hard on the Red Sox as before the game even finished other action officially eliminated them from playoff contention. The BoSox took an early 3-0 lead but Carlos Quentin's two-run homer in the fourth brought the Pale House to within 3-2. After a David Ortiz homer extended Boston's lead in the sixth, the White Sox scored in the seventh and eighth innings to tie it up at 4-4. That's when Juan Pierre came through for the Sox, singling to get on base and, with two outs, stealing both second and third base before pinch-hitter Dayan Viciedo delivered the game-winning single. Edwin Jackson gave up all the Red Sox' runs over seven innings, striking out six but it was Chris Sale getting the win with two innings of relief work. With the series tied 1-1, the White Sox try to take an edge later tonight (7:10 p.m., WCIU).
Extra, Extra
- Tom Dart still isn't saying anything about a mayoral run even as a Rahmbo run becomes more likely.
- Today in "What is wrong with people?" - President Obama is still having to defend his faith.
- Downtown traffic was temporarily disrupted today by a suspicious package.
Morning Box Score
It was a pitcher's duel at Petco Field Monday night, one that the Cubs came up on the winning side of with a 1-0 victory. Carlos Zambrano continued his dominant second half performance this season, allowing three hits over seven innings while striking out five. Not that the game was without drama. In the ninth, Carols "Drama" Marmol recorded two quick outs before, yes, loading the bases. Fortunately, with his back against the wall, Marmol got the Padres' Nick Hundley to fly out to left field, ending the attempted rally and the game. We're beginning to think Marmol does this all on purpose. A Blake DeWitt RBI single in the seventh was the only scoring hit of the game, driving home Alfonso Soriano, but it was enough with Zambrano's dominant performance; Big Z is 7-0 over his last 10 starts, striking out 55 but only giving up 9 runs and this was the third time in four outings he gave up zero earned runs. Where the hell was this Zambrano in April? The Cubs hope they can keep playing spoiler for the in-the-playoff-hunt Padres when the two teams meet again tonight (9:05 p.m., WGN).
Morning Box Score
The Sox completed a sweep on the Left Coast while the Cubs finished a bad season at home with ... another loss.
Morning Box Score
In something of a pitcher's duel, the Sox got their second straight win, downing the Angels 2-1 in their series opener. The Sox fell behind 1-0 early but Paul Konerko evened up the game in the fifth with a solo shot. Then, in the top of the ninth, still tied 1-1, Juan Pierre walked and Omar Vizquel singled to put two on and Alex Rios drove home Pierre with an RBI single to put the Sox up 2-1. Freddy Garcia gave up a run and struck out five over six innings for the Sox but got a no-decision, the win going to Matt Thornton in relief. Ozzie remained upbeat despite the Sox' elimination from playoff contention earlier this week: "Well, everything you do, you take a little pride about it. You didn't make it to where you want to make it, but you want to finish the best you can." The Sox keep playing for pride later tonight against the Angels once more (8:05 p.m., CSN)
Morning Box Score
For the 16th straight game, the Giants held their opponents to under three runs but it didn't matter because they scored, well, none as the Cubs shutout San Francisco 2-0. Randy Wells scattered six hits and struck out six over 7.2 innings for his eighth win of the season and Carlos Marmol came in in the top of the eighth to get the Cubs out of a jam; Marmol slammed the door shut with a 1-2-3 ninth for his 34th save of the year. Offensively, the Cubs got a boost from Kosuke Fukudome who delivered a solo homer in the third and Koyie Hill scored on a wild pitch in the fifth. Interim manager Mike Quade said the Cubs, who are utilizing a large number of youngsters in the season's final month, still have something to play for: "The rally cry right now is, 'Look, we've got 12 left, and give everything we've got for 12. That's not just 22-year-olds [on the team] -- that's 30-year-olds as well. How you get that out of those guys I think depends on how you use them, and I think you'll get it out of them if you use them correctly." And right now, the Cubs are playing spoiler for the Giants who are locked in the throes of their own pennant race. The two teams square off once more this evening (6:05 p.m., CSN).
Morning Box Score
There's an Emmylou Harris song that goes, "But one thing they don't tell you about the Blues/ When you got em/ You keep on falling cause there ain't no bottom." That must be about how the White Sox feel right now as they lost their eighth straight game and the shot at the playoffs seems as distance as the Cubs' right now after last night's 7-2 loss to Oakland. In fact, the loss officially eliminated the Sox from playoff contention last night, all hope of a once-in-a-million-years miracle comeback gone. Mark Buehrle gave up 11 hits and five runs over six innings pitched while reliever Lucas Harrell gave up two more. After the game, Ozzie reflected on the elimination:
Morning Box Score: Sox Skid Rolls On
The Sox hoped a trip to the Left Coast would be the cure for their recent woes but it didn't cure much as starter Gavin Floyd left the game early and the A's would eventually break through for a 3-0 win. After only seven pitches in the first inning, Floyd left the game with tightness in his shoulder and Tony Pena came on for six scoreless innings of relief. But the A's finally notched a trio of runs in the eighth inning off of reliever Scott Linebrink while the Sox offense could only scatter four hits the entire game. Not that they didn't have their chances: they had runners in scoring position in the second, fifth, and sixth innings and even had the bases loaded in the fourth but couldn't push any runs across the plate. The loss drops the Sox to 11 games back of the Twins as their losing streak has now hit seven straight. Said Ozzie, "It was a late night last night. Today it was kind of flat. Today was kind of a lousy game. We had something going on on the bases, with two outs we strike out. If we have to make an excuse, hopefully that's an excuse for the way we played today." The Sox will try to pull out of their tailspin when Mark Buehrle takes the mound tonight (9:05 p.m., WGN).
Morning Box Score
The Cubs got another sweep (and a scare) while the Sox' late-season slide continued.
Morning Box Score
The Cubs extend their winning streak, the Sox lose again, and there was a slew of football to cover.
Morning Box Score
The Cubs got a great start out of Ryan Dempster who worked a little bit for a 2-0 win over the Marlins. More than once did Dempster allow multiple runners on base but each time he was able to work out of the jam. And, of course, Carlos Marmol is never boring in relief and this time was no different, allowing the first two batters on the inning on base before getting the final three outs to the game with a little assistance from Starlin Castro who made a terrific catch. RBI doubles by Alfonso Soriano and Geovany Soto gave the Cubs the offense they needed for the win as the team's winning streak hit four. They'll try to extend that to five games later tonight (6:10 p.m., WGN).

