Morning Box Score

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Sep 8, 2010 1:00PM

Astros Serve Cubs Bourn Ultimatum
It was all Michael Bourn as the Astros made short work of the Cubs by the football score of 7-3 last night. Bourn went 3 for 4 with 3 RBI - just a homer short of hitting for the cycle - to pace the 'Stros to victory despite giving the Cubs an early 2-1 lead. But Cubs starter Carlos Silva struggled, allowing six runs over five innings to Houston and falling to 10-6 on the year in his first game in over a month. Said Silva, "I felt very good. I didn't enjoy the result." Neither did Cubs fans. With the series split thus far, the two teams face off in the rubber game tonight before the Cubs hit the road for two weeks (7:05 p.m., CSN+).

Tigers Smack Sox, Snap Streak
The Sox suffered a pair of setbacks last night as starter Freddy Garcia left the game after only two innings with stiffness in his back and then the Sox lost the game 9-1, snapping their winning streak. Lucas Harrell and Carlos Torres gave up seven runs in relief and the Sox only managed a single run - an Omar Vizquel RBI single in the third - in the loss. Despite winning 7 of their last 8, the Sox haven't gained any ground on the Twins, still hanging 4.5 games back of Minnesota in the AL Central. A.J. Pierzynski is holding it together, though: "What can you do? You go out and play as hard as we can. Nobody is giving up. Nobody is panicking." The Sox try to start a new winning streak with John Danks on the mound tonight (6:05 p.m., CSN).