The Morning After: Blackhawks Even Up Series
By Marcus Gilmer in News on Apr 19, 2010 3:00PM
Blackhawks Even Up With Predators
After Friday night's disappointing Game One loss, the 'Hawks needed a big Game Two. They got it. Two big goals and an Antti Niemi shut-out led the 'Hawks past the Predators 2-0. A scoreless start to the game ended eight minutes into the second period when Dave Bolland netted a power-play goal thanks to some nifty puck passing by Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews to put the 'Hawks up 1-0. In the opening minutes of the third, Kane would be the one finding the back of the net to open up the two-goal lead for Chicago. The 'Hawks out-shout Nashville 33-23 and Niemi stopped every shot he faced to earn the shutout win. The series, tied 1-1, now moves to Nashville for Game Three on Tuesday night (8 p.m., CSN).
Cubs Blow Lead To Astros
It's the theme for the 2010 Cubs: get a great performance out of the starting pitcher only to watch the bullpen blow the lead. And that's what happened in yesterday's 3-2 loss to Houston. Ryan Dempster was outstanding through 7.2 innings yesterday, striking out eight. And at that point, the Cubs held a 2-0 lead thanks to a Marlon Byrd two-run single. But with two outs in the top of the eighth and two men on, Dempster was pulled in favor of closer Carlos Marmol. Marmol gave up a run (credited to Dempster) before ending the inning. But, in the ninth, Marmol blew the save when he gave up the tying run. The game went to extras where, in the top of the tenth, Sean Marshall gave up the winning run to Houston. Next up for the Cubs is a trip to NYC to face a similarly struggling Mets team, starting a four-game series tonight (6:10 p.m., CSN).
Cleveland Sweeps Sox
Gavin Floyd is off to a rough start in 2010. Yesterday, Cleveland lit him up for seven runs over one-plus innings of work, getting all the offense they would need for a 7-4 win by the time he was yanked in the second inning. The Sox scored three times in the top of the fifth but weren't able to produce much more, just a single run in the top of the ninth. It's been a rough roadtrip for the Sox: besides the sweep in Cleveland, they split the series with Toronto for a 2-5 roadtrip mark overall. After an off day today, they'll return to the Cell Tuesday night to face Tampa Bay (7:10 p.m., CSN+).