Morning Box Score

By Marcus Gilmer in Miscellaneous on Aug 18, 2008 2:00PM

Cubs Hook Fish With Big Seventh
The Cubs exploded for eight runs in the seventh inning and Ryan Dempster pitched six strong innings as the Cubs took the last game of their series with the Marlins, 9-2. Dempster gave up two runs on five hits while also striking out 10 in his outing to earn his 14th win of the season, one short of his career high. Then there was the seventh inning in which Alfonso Soriano and Aramis Ramirez both had two run doubles and Reed Johnson had a bases-clearing double to put the Cubs more than well enough ahead. Now, as Tropical Storm Fay turns toward Florida, the Cubs fly home having won five out of six games on their road trip, and are now 10-1 in their last 11 road games. Sweet Lou was rather simplistic in his thoughts on the road trip: "It was a real nice road trip. You have to be pleased." Indeed. The Cubs are off Monday but welcome the Cincinnati Reds to town on Tuesday.

White Sox, Vazquez Vanquish A's
Not to be outdone by their North Side counterparts, the White Sox provided some offensive fireworks of their own, including an Alexei Ramirez grand slam in the seventh, to whip the A's 13-1. Juan Uribe, Carlos Quentin, and Jermaine Dye added home runs of their own and Javier Vasquez pitched lights out, striking out eight and giving up only one run on four hits over eight very strong innings. The win allowed the Pale Hose to keep pace with the Twins and remain in a tie atop the AL Central. It was a welcome end to a series in a venue where the White Sox have often struggled over the past few years. Ozzie Guillen was happy with the series win and even happier to get back home. "It's good for the ballclub to come here and win two of three, and really have the chance to win three. Every time we come here, we have crazy games, so this is great momentum going back to Chicago." The Sox are back home tonight to begin a series with the Seattle Mariners.