Baseball Box Score: Sox Miss Sweep, Cubs' Garza Makes History
By Angie Wiatrowski in News on Apr 3, 2011 9:30PM
White Sox 1, Indians 7
How the White Sox went from scoring 23 runs in two games to only mustering one tally in the box score is beyond us, but it happened. In hopes of their first 3-0 start in 19 years the Sox took the field in Cleveland looking for a series sweep, and blew it.
Former White Sox Orlando Cabrera hit a two-run home run off John Danks as the Sox fell 7-1 Sunday afternoon. Cabrera put Cleveland ahead 2-1 in the sixth. The Sox also fell victim to the season’s first triple play. In the fourth inning, Cleveland’s Carlos Santana, normally a catcher, made a diving catch at first base of a bunt by Alexei Ramirez. It was the Indians’ first triple play since Asdrubal Cabrera’s in Toronto in May 2008.
The South Sider’s lone run was thanks to an RBI single from Paul Konerko in the third inning. Danks struck out 8 in 6 innings, yielding 2 runs and 6 hits with one walk. The opening weekend slugfest was fun while it lasted.
Cubs 4, Pirates 5
Matt Garza made his debut with the Cubs vs. the Pirates Sunday afternoon and with a bang, despite the 5-4 deficit. Garza left after seven innings, striking out a career-high 12 and giving up 12 hits. Garza's 12 strikeouts were the most by any Cubs pitcher in his debut since at least 1957.
The Cubs and Pirates were pretty much neck and neck the whole game, but the Cubs gained the 4-3 lead on Alfonso Soriano's solo home run leading off the sixth. The Cubs maintained the lead up until the top of the ninth. Carlos Marmol gave up two runs on an infield hit by Pedro Alvarez, giving the Pirates a 5-4 lead that the Cubs just couldn't get back.
It came close at the bottom of the ninth after a single to center by Starlin Castro and Darwin Barney safe on a fielder's choice, sending Castro to third. Hopes rose but quickly fell as Marlon Byrd grounded into a double play to end the game, and the Cubs lost their first series of the season. Let's hope it's not as foreboding as it seems.