The Morning After: Sox Sizzle, Cubs Squeak Past M's

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Jun 25, 2010 3:00PM

Sox Sweep, Streak Stands At Nine
Nine straight wins. Three straight series sweeps. 13 wins in 14 games. There's no team in Major League Baseball hotter than the Chicago White Sox. And, don't look now, but after yesterday's 2-0 win over the Atlanta Braves and a Minnesota loss, the Sox are right back in the thick of the playoff race, trailing the division-leading Twins by just 2.5 games. Yesterday's game was a pitcher's duel between Gavin Floyd and Derek Lowe, both pitching seven innings of scoreless ball (Floyd allowed only two hits while striking out nine). But with two outs in the bottom of the eighth, it was Paul Konerko playing hero for the Sox, belting his 18th homer of the year, a two-run shot, to give the Sox the lead for good. J.J. Putz and Bobby Jenks each hurled scoreless innings to secure the win. Along with their spot in the standings, Ozzie says the mentality of the white-hot starting rotation has changed as well: "The way we're pitching right now, we expect to win. We're not hoping anymore. Every time we go out there, everyone knows at the start of the game we're going to have a chance." The Sox now welcome in the Crosstown rival Cubs for the conclusion of their annual rivalry as they look to extend their winning streak to double-digits.

Cubs Oust M's In Extras
The Cubs avoided a Pacific Northwest sweep, squeaking by the Mariners 3-2 in 13 innings. Mike Fontenot and Chad Tracy had RBI for the Cubs throughout the game but the Mariners kept pace. Ted Lilly had a solid start, allowing just one run over six innings of work but youngster Andrew Cashner was given the blown save when he allowed the Mariners to tie the game in the seventh. The long game exhausted the Cubs' bullpen as six different pitchers followed Lilly but only Cashner gave up a run. It was Marlon Byrd delivering the game-winner, singling in Alfonso Soriano in the top of the 13th. The Cubs, though, are just taking things one game at a time while their South Side counterparts keep streaking. Said Lilly after the game, "No sense talking about what will happen in July, August, and September. We're not there. We need to win tomorrow. After tomorrow, we need to win Saturday. That's the only way to go about it to be successful, because it's such a long year." That long year continues as the Cubs hit The Cell this afternoon

Crosstown Series Resumes
It'll be Jake Peavy versus Carlos Zambrano as the Crosstown rivalry resumes this afternoon on the South Side (3:05 p.m., Cubs: CSN, Sox: WGN).