The Morning After
By Marcus Gilmer in News on Jul 4, 2010 3:30PM
Cubs Hold Off Reds
Cubs' starter Randy Wells pitched brilliantly yesterday and, for once, the Cubs managed to not screw it up, holding on for a 3-1 win over the Reds. Wells had a no-hitter going into the seventh and wound up giving up just one run over 7.2 innings pitched in the win. The Cubs scored all three runs in the sixth as Alfonso Soriano had an RBI single and Geovany Soto knocked a ground-rule double (as the ball got lost in the ivy) to score two runs. Still, the Cubs underachieved, stranding runners on base every inning including leaving the bases loaded three times. Said Soto in the team's defense: "Every time you get guys in scoring position, you try your best to get them in. Every time you don't do it, it's like, 'Here we go again.' Trust me, we're doing our best out there. Sometimes that's the way it goes. Luckily, today was a good day for us." The Cubs send Ted Lilly to the mound today in an effort to split the series (1:20 p.m., WGN).
Sox Fall Short
The Sox had no problem making contact - they roped 10 hits - but they only mustered a single run in a 3-1 loss to the Rangers. The Rangers batted in two runs off Sox starter John Danks, who pitched six innings and earned the loss, and another off Tony Pena. At the plate, the Sox hit like the Cubs, leaving eight men on base and going 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position. The Sox missed out on a chance to close ground on the teams at the top of the division, remaining two games back of Minnesota and Detroit who are now tied atop the AL Central. They'll try to take the series when the two teams face off in the rubber match tonight (7:05 p.m., CSN).
Fire Doused By Crew
The Fire lost for the first time in six MLS matches, losing to the Columbus Crew 2-1. It was a hectic few final minutes of the first half. Columbus scored in the 43rd minute only to have Frankie Hejduk score on own goal to put the Fire on the board. But a minute after that, Columbus scored again in stoppage time to take the lead. The Fire remain fourth in the Eastern Conference with 17 points. Next up for the Fire is a match at home against Real Salt Lake on Thursday (8:30 p.m., ESPN2).