Morning Box Score: Johnson Bunts Cubs Past Cardinals, White Sox Extend Streak To Five
By Tim Bearden in News on Jul 29, 2012 2:45PM
Reed Johnson finally gave the Cardinals the welcome to Chicago that the Cubs had been wanting most of this season and snapped a five-game losing streak against their division rivals. He was brought in to pinch hit for Darwin Barney in the seventh and caught St. Louis off guard with a well placed bunt along between the mound and third base driving in Tony Campana for the winning run. Campana reached second on a stolen base and advanced to third from a Geovany Soto single. Johnson was as quick on his feet as Campana bunting for a single to drive in the winning run. Carlos Marmol, who struggled early this season, claimed his 13th save in 15 attempts giving up only one hit in the ninth and retiring the next three batters. The Cubs remain 17 games below .500, but have managed to maintain a winning record of 17-10 since June 25.
The White Sox are continuing to pull away from the Tigers, winning their fifth straight game beating the Texas Rangers Saturday night. Eduardo Escabar contributed an RBI double for the White Sox before the announcement of him being traded to the Twins for left-hand pitcher Francisco Liriano. Adam Dunn followed Escabar's lead with a two run homer in a three run fifth inning and Philip "Perfect Game" Humber pitched six strong innings giving up only three hits and one run on 100 pitches with four strike-outs. Dunn leads the major leagues with 31 home runs on the season and the White Sox remain in first place continuing their bid for the post-season.