Morning Box Score

By Matt Motyka in News on Jul 11, 2009 3:30PM

Cards Clobber Cubs
The Cubs lost ground on the division-leading St. Louis Cardinal Friday afternoon, falling 8-3 in the series opener. Derrek Lee’s third inning homer erased an early three-run deficit, but Albert Pujols reestablished a lead for St. Louis in the fifth with a solo shot to dead center off starter Rich Harden. Aaron Heilman stepped in to relieve Harden in the sixth, but promptly surrendered four more runs on two hits, three walks and a wild pitch, giving the Cards their final margin of victory. Chris Carpenter earned the win for St. Louis and Harden was saddled with the loss for Chicago, dropping him to 5-6 on the season. The Cubs will try to get one back this afternoon behind All-Star southpaw Ted Lilly.

Twins Edge Sox
The series opener between the White Sox and the Twins went to Minnesota on Friday, by the score of 6-4. The Sox found themselves playing catch-up once again after starter John Danks walked the first four batters he faced en route to a four-run opening inning for the Twins. Following the poor start Danks settled in, pitching four-plus scoreless innings as his teammates chiseled away at Minnesota’s lead. RBIs from Jermaine Dye, Chris Getz and Gordon Beckham earned Chicago a 4-4 tie by the end of the sixth, but Joe Mauer put the Twins in front to stay with a base knock off Matt Thornton in the seventh. The Sox will look to retain possession of second place when they play game two against the Twins tonight at 6:10.

AP Photo/David Banks