Morning Box Score
By Marcus Gilmer in Miscellaneous on Sep 21, 2009 3:20PM
Cubs Finally Beat The Cards
After a pair of heartbreaking walk-off losses, the Cubs finally managed a win over the rival Cardinals Sunday night, winning 6-3 in 11 innings. Hmmm. Bradley suspended, Cubs win? Anyway. The Cubs overcame (yet another) blown save from Kevin Gregg and benefited from a base-runner interference call in the Cardinal half of the ninth to escape another potential walk-off loss. With the score knotted at 3-3 in the 11th, Jake Fox went deep on a two-run shot to give the Cubs the lead for good. Worth nothing: Fox has more RBIs than Bradley (41 to 40) in half the at-bats. Just sayin'. Carlos Marmol pitched a scoreless 11th to clinch the victory. Zambrano had a pretty decent outing, striking out six over six innings, giving up two runs in the process. The Cubs now travel to Milwaukee where they begin a series with the Brewers tonight at 7:05 p.m. (WCIU).
Royals Edge Sox
Looking like their North Side counterparts, the White Sox wasted an outstanding pitching effort en route to a close 2-1 loss to Kansas City. Sox starter Freddy Garcia allowed two runs and struck out five over eight solid innings. But the Sox bats couldn't produce any run support, going a combined 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position. With the loss, the Sox remain 6.5 games back of first place Detroit and anything less than a 6-0 sweep this week against Minnesota and Detroit will leave them on the outside looking in for the 2009 playoffs. The tussle with the Twins starts tonight at 7:11 p.m. (CSN).
Fire Blow Lead, Tie C-Bus
The Fire got two first-half goals from Peter Lowry but watched that lead evaporate as Columbus' Guillermo Barros Schelotto scored a pair of second half goals to force a 2-2 tie between the Eastern Conference rivals and prevented the Fire from gaining ground on the first-palce Crew in the standings. Still, the Fire are solidly in second place with a month left in the season, putting them in a good position for the playoffs. Their next match is this Saturday, September 26, as they welcome Toronto to Toyota Park.