Morning Box Score

By Matt Motyka in News on Jun 11, 2009 3:00PM

Tigers Stifle Sox
The White Sox came out on the wrong end of a pitchers’ duel on Wednesday night, losing to the Detroit Tigers, 2-1. John Danks threw 7.1 solid innings for Chicago, permitting only five hits and two runs in his time on the mound. Detroit’s Justin Verlander stole the spotlight, however, as he went the distance, holding the Sox to six hits and one run while punching out nine. Chicago’s lone score came on a solo shot by Jim Thome in the seventh and halved the Tigers’ two-run advantage. In the eighth, Chris Getz made his way to third following a leadoff single, but to no avail. That single, adding to his base knock in the third, made Getz the only Sox player to earn two hits off Verlander on the night. After losing three of the last four to the Tigers, the Sox will look to stop the bleeding in the series finale today at 1:05.

Astros Down Cubs
The Cubs clung to their one-run lead as long as they could Wednesday night, but eventually lost their grip, falling to the Houston Astros 2-1. The one run came courtesy of Geovany Soto, who launched a Wandy Rodriguez fastball over the wall in left center during the second inning. On the hill, starter Carlos Zambrano was spectacular, holding the Astros scoreless through six frames. Houston finally put a run on the board in the seventh with a walk, single and ground-out, but Zambrano rebounded to pitch a perfect eighth and keep the game knotted at one. It all came crashing down for Chicago in the ninth, however, when reliever Angel Guzman loaded the bases with one out, and Houston’s Geoff Blum walked off with a game-winning single. The loss spoiled a three-hit, two-walk performance by Zambrano, who has now allowed only one run since his May 27th ejection. The two teams will settle the series this afternoon at 1:05.