Morning Box Score: Cubs Fight Back, Beat Nationals; Sox Curl Up in Ball Against Twins
By Chuck Sudo in News on Jul 8, 2011 2:30PM
Cubs fans: it wouldn't be held against you if you switched channels after Washington put up seven runs against Matt Garza in the third inning. If you did, you missed a furious comeback. Garza only lasted two innings before Mike Quade turned to his bullpen, which managed to hold the Nationals to two runs the rest of the way. Meanwhile, the Cubs put six on the board, tied up the game in the seventh and eighth innings before Darwin Barney's RBI single in the ninth won the game for the Cubs. The comeback was a team affair. Carlos Pena hit a two-run home run, Blake DeWitt cranked out a pinch-hit, three-run shot and Aramis Ramirez had a two-run double. That's the kind of win that can give a team some momentum. And the Cubs can use all they can heading into Pittsburgh.
To paraphrase Dennis Green, the White Sox are who we thought they were. What they are is a middle of the road team that screams "Not in the face!!" whenever they play the Minnesota Twins. The Sox remained winless against the Twins this season as they dinked and dunked singles against Phillip Humber. Humber, who's been one of the starting rotation's stalwarts, gave up season highs in runs and hits while lasting only 3-2/3 innings. If it weren't for Mark Teahan's two-run shot, the Sox would have been shut out. Worse than not being able to beat the Twins, the White Sox are now 7-14 against AL Central opponents. How hard is it to put together a team that can compete against your division rivals, Kenny Williams?