Morning Box Score: Big Z Slides Out of Jams at Wrigley, Quentin Powers Sox
By Chuck Sudo in News on Jul 23, 2011 2:00PM
If the White Sox could play the rest of the AL Central the way they do Cleveland, they'd be running away with the division right now. Carlos Quentin hit his 20th home run, a three-run shot, Gavin Floyd mesmerized Indians hitters for 7-2/3 innings of shutout ball and Sergio Santos nailed down his 19th save of the season. It all added up to the White Sox improving their season record against the Indians to 5-1. The Sox are 7-18 against the rest of the AL Central. That explains the Sox' disappointing season in a nutshell.
The Cubs responded to Mike Quade's Wednesday rant that they play with "freaking intensity." Alfonso Soriano and Aramis Ramirez homered, and Carlos Zambrano showed some guile in getting out of two bases loaded jams as the Cubs beat Houston to maintain their stranglehold on fifth place in the NL Central. Sarcasm aside, Zambrano found himself in those bases-loaded jams early yet only gave up one run on a double play ball from Clint Barnes in the second inning. From there, Zambrano settled down and went 6 innings for the win, allowing Astros hitters to spray the field with hits while not scoring runs. Sean Marshall got the save as Quade once again burned through his bullpen.