Morning Box Score

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Aug 21, 2010 2:00PM

Cubs So Close, Yet So Far
The Cubs keep playing and keep finding new ways to lose. One strike away from a win, the Cubs wound up losers to the Braves 5-3, their fifth straight loss and eighth in ten games. Aramis Ramirez had helped the Cubs build the slim lead with a solo homer in the fourth and an RBI double in the sixth. Meanwhile, Ryan Dempster pitched eight strong innings, striking out seven and allowing two runs. But it all came undone in the ninth when Carlos Marmol walked the bases loaded and, one strike away from getting out of the jam and getting the W, gave up a bases-clearing triple to Rick Ankiel. A brilliant Cubs meltdown in a season full of them. Former Cub Derrek Lee went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in his first game against the Cubs since being traded earlier this week. The Cubs try to snap their current losing streak this afternoon (3:10 p.m., FOX).

The White Sox and Royals were rained out and will play a doubleheader today. But because of MLB's idiotic TV rules, no game start during the 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. window during which FOX is broadcasting their afternoon game. So game one of the DH will begin at 6:10 p.m. (WGN) and game two will begin not too long after that game ends, probably around 10 p.m. or so, and be televised by CSN.