Morning Box Score: White Sox Fall Out Of First, Cardinals Embarrass Cubs' Bullpen
By Tim Bearden in News on Jul 22, 2012 2:00PM
The White Sox showed the critics they were among the top teams in the league, leading the American League Central Division going into the All-Star break. Detroit, however, has come back with bats swinging in the second half and now has taken the division lead from the Sox after Saturday's win. The White Sox only managed five hits and one run against the Rick Porcello. Chris Sale pitched a solid game until the fifth inning where he gave up two runs on three hits, and another three runs in the sixth. The Sox pitching ace only gave up one hit in the beginning of the game and was 8-0 with a 1.61 ERA in his last 10 starts. But the Tigers rattled him and the White Sox are now a half-game back the Tigers.
If there was a slaughter rule in MLB, the Cubs could have used it Saturday night. Their bullpen was pummeled for 12 runs in one inning, which matched an 86-year-old club record. Matt Garza started the game in good style giving up only two hits in the first three innings, but didn't return in the fourth. Garza had cramping in his right triceps, which wasn't announced until the sixth inning after x-rays came back negative for an elbow injury. Justin Germano took Garza's spot in the fourth and pitched three solid innings, keeping a pitchers' duel alive until the seventh. Germano then lost control of the game giving up five hits, four runs and two walks. Manny Corpas replaced Germano but wasn't much relief for the Cubs. Corpas gave up another five runs on three hits and was taken out for Rafael Dolis. He gave up two more runs before finally stopping the bleeding striking out pinch hitter Tony Cruz for the fourth out of the inning—Carlos Beltran struck out, but reached base on a wild pitch from Dolis.