Morning Box Score: White Sox Win in 14, Cubs Have Problems in Houston
By Chuck Sudo in News on Aug 17, 2011 1:00PM
With the opening of this series against Cleveland the White Sox play 29 of their final 42 games against AL Central rivals. If this team, which has been hovering around .500 for most of the season, has any aspirations for postseason play, they need to take care of business in their own house. True to form, the Sox were maddening. Riding a 7-5 lead into the eighth inning, Sergio Santos blew a save when he gave up a fielders choice to Shin-Soo Choo that scored Ezequiel Carrera, sending the game into extras. The bullpen held. Matt Thornton and Jesse Crain each pitched two innings of scoreless relief; Crain got out of a bases-loaded jam in the 13th. The Sox finally won the game in the 14th inning when Juan Pierre singled home Gordon Beckham. Pierre was one of the hitting stars of the game, adding a solo homer in the fourth inning. Alejandro De Aza tripled twice, Alexei Ramirez also tripled, and Paul Konerko and Carlos Quentin drove in runs to lift the Sox.
So much for that day of rest Mike Quade gave Carlos Marmol. Marmol gave up a game-winning grand slam to Astros pinch hitter Brian Bogusevic. It was Marmol's eighth blown save of the season and his first since July 31. Give Bogusevic credit: Marmol's slider wasn't working last night and Bogusevic was waiting for a fastball to pull. Tyler Colvin hit a two-run shot for the Cubs. Aramis Ramirez added a solo shot.