Morning Box Score

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Sep 20, 2008 2:30PM

Cards Throttle Cubs
In his first start since throwing a no-hitter last Sunday, Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano...gave up a bunch of runs. Eight, actually, in less than two innings of work, as the Cardinals outdistanced the Cubs 12-6, dropping Z to 14-6 on the year and continuing a second half performance that's almost as volatile as the stock market. As the blowout lingered, several back-ups, including rookies Micah Hoffpauir and Casey McGehee, saw action. Sayeth Lou, "That's a little reminder why you don't count your chickens before they hatch." True, but a Brewers blow-out loss to the Reds cut the Cubs magic number to 1, meaning the Cubs can clinch the NL Central today with either a win or another Brewers loss.

Sox Slam Royals
After dropping three of four games to the Yankees, the White Sox got the cure for any late-season swoon: the Kansas City Royals. And the elixir went down smooth as the Sox won 9-4 and, thanks to a Twins loss, extended their AL Central lead to 2.5 games and cut their magic number to 7. Alexei Ramirez hit his third grand slam of the year, tying a rookie record, while Jim Thome hit his 33rd homer of the year and D-Wise kept up his current tear with two more home runs. Mark Buehrle, pitching on short rest, gave up three runs over six innings and earned his 14th win of the season. Guillen was more upbeat about his team's intensity: "We fight...I told the guys, 'If we go down, we go down fighting.' Regardless of the results, fight every day and play the way we should be playing."