Bucs get rare win over inconsistent Cubs 3-2

 

PITTSBURGH — Ryan Church’s two-run homer put Pittsburgh ahead in the sixth inning, Andy LaRoche added a solo shot and the Pirates bounced back from a poor road trip to beat the Cubs and Ryan Dempster 3-2 on Tuesday night.The Pirates dropped seven games during a season-long 10-game road trip and had lost 10 of 13 overall before withstanding solo homers by Alfonso Soriano and Geovany Soto to win for the first time in their last four home games.The Cubs, coming off a three of four weekend series win over Arizona, fell to 13-14 while failing to break .500 for the first time this season. They had won 10 of their last 14 against Pittsburgh, and Dempster was 3-0 with a 3.73 ERA in five starts against them since 2008.With the Cubs stranding 12 runners, the Pirates won for only the second time in 16 games when they scored three runs or fewer. They are 9-1 when they score four runs or more.Paul Maholm (2-2) got the decision despite allowing the two solo home runs and six other hits over six innings. Evan Meek pitched out of a jam in the seventh before Joel Hanrahan pitched a scoreless eighth. Octavio Dotel, who came in with a 10.61 ERA, finished up for his fourth save in six opportunities after being scored upon in six consecutive appearances.The Pirates trailed 2-1 after Soriano hit his seventh homer — and fifth in four games — in the fourth inning and Soto added a two-out drive in the sixth, his fourth. Soriano, coming off a two-homer game Sunday, went deep for the fourth consecutive game.Dempster (2-2) got the first two batters in the sixth ahead of Garrett Jones’ infield single. Church — starting in center field only because Andrew McCutchen sat out with a sprained right ankle — followed by hitting a line drive off the first row of seats in right field. Church hadn’t homered since Aug. 7.Meek preserved the lead in the seventh by striking out Soriano and Xavier Nady in succession after hitting Marlon Byrd with a pitch and walking Ramirez with one out.

NOTES—Carlos Silva does not need a cortisone injection in his wrist as originally thought and will start Saturday against the Reds. … Pirates C Ryan Doumit batted third for the first time since the 2008 season. He went 0-for-4. … McCutchen started each of the Pirates’ first 25 games. … Soriano’s homer was his 15th against Pittsburgh since 2007. He has four homers in 21 at-bats against Maholm. … The Pirates came in with a major league-worst 6.79 ERA. … LaRoche was in a 3-for-20 slump before he homered with one out in the first.

It’s official, Vinny out as Bulls Coach, search for successor begins.

 

DEERFIELD—In one of the worst kept secrets, the Bulls have officially dismissed Coach Vinny Del Negro after a pair of 41-41 seasons and Playoff births each season in which the Bulls lost in the first round both years, Del Negro was hired two years ago despite having no Coaching experience. He has helped develop Derrick Rose,who became an All Star this season, Joakim Noah, one of the most improved players in the NBA, and Rookie Taj Gibson who made the NBA All Rookie team. An incident after a home loss to Phoenix on March 30 may have sealed Del Negro’s fate,although with the upcoming free agent battle this summer, the Bulls likely could have gone in another direction anyway. After that Suns win over the Bulls, VP of Basketball Operations John Paxson, the man who hired Del Negro, was angry that the Coach played Noah longer than the doctors designated limited minutes. Noah was recovering from painful Planter Fascitis. Paxson by all accounts physically engaged Del Negro in the Coaches Office. Paxson has since apologized. General Manager Gar Forman while saying it was needed for the Bulls to change Coaches, he nonetheless praised Del Negro for his work ethic and like Paxson, said the Bulls are in better shape than they were two years ago. Del Negro made a brief statement in front of the Berto Center, thanking the Bulls Organization,his players and staff,plus Bulls fans.He did not take questions.

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Hawks escape another bad start, rally past Canucks 2-1, even series 1-1.

The Blackhawks have seen their payoff lives flash before them the past two seasons,and Monday night they again got off the deck and rallied past the Vancouver Canucks 4-2 to tie their Stanley Cup Western Conference series at a game apiece with the next two games at General Motors Place. The Canucks came out flying and looked like they were going to blow the Blackhawks out again. Mason Raymond scored to put the visitors ahead 1-0,and they the Hawks picked up not one, but two ‘delay of game’ penalties and Mikeal Samuelsen scored off a great centering pass from Henrik Sedin to make it 2-0. The Canucks nearly scored two others,but just missed. Brent Seabrook got one back for the Hawks a few minutes later and it was 2-0 heading into the first intermission. The scoreless second period was physical,but neither team scored. At last the Hawks tied it with one of their specialties,a shorty as Patrick Sharp scored on a semi breakaway. It then went back and forth until Kris Versteeg put one past a down and out Roberto Luongo with :90 left as the sellout went delirious! Patrick Kane iced it with an empty netter.
NOTES—Last year these teams were also tied 1-1 after two games,but it’s now Vancouver that has grabbed home ice advantage from the Hawks.

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Peavy looks like old self as Sox dump Royals 5-1

It took a month for Jake Peavy to show signs of being the pitcher he and the White Sox hoped for.Peavy pitched seven-plus shutout innings in his most impressive start of the season and Alex Rios had three hits and two RBI as the White Sox defeated the Kansas City Royals 5-1 on Monday night.Peavy (1-2) struck out a season-high nine batters using a sharp fastball and left to a standing ovation in the eighth inning. He didn’t allow a hit until Mitch Maier singled with two outs in the fifth.Peavy didn’t surrender another hit until Alberto Callaspo singled and Jason Kendall doubled with two outs in the seventh. Peavy finished the inning by getting Maier to hit a soft liner to shortstop Alexei Ramirez with runners on second and third.Peavy, who only allowed four hits, was acquired in a deadline deal on July 31, 2009, despite being on the disabled list. He was 0-2 with a 7.85 ERA in five starts in April and went winless in a full month for the first time since June of 2006 (0-3, 5.28 ERA). He lowered his ERA to 6.31.Ramirez hit a solo home run and Andruw Jones had two hits and two RBI for the White Sox, who began a seven-game homestand after finishing a 2-4 road trip Sunday.The White Sox came in with the lowest batting average in baseball (.223) and the worst ERA in the AL at 5.30.Scott Podsednik homered against his former team in the ninth inning off reliever Scott Linebrink, snapping a 17-inning scoreless streak for the Royals. They suffered a 1-0 loss to Tampa Bay on Sunday and have not scored a run since the 11th inning of Saturday’s 4-2 victory.Royals starter Gil Meche (0-3) allowed five runs on nine hits in five innings – but his ERA actually lowered from 10.13 to 9.89.Peavy gave up five runs in the first inning of Wednesday’s 6-5 loss at Texas, although he recovered to retire 16 of 18 during one stretch. Peavy, who also lost his previous outing to Tampa Bay, has not dropped three straight starts since July 2007.Ramirez homered on a 2-1 pitch in the third inning for his second of the season. One out later, Pierre reached on an infield single and stole second. Pierre then scored from second on Jones’ single.Jones and Rios added Peavy with an insurance runs in the fifth. With runners on first and second, Jones hit an RBI double down the left-field line. With two outs, Rios singled through the left side of the infield to score Gordon Beckham and Jones to give the White Sox a 5-0 lead.

NOTES—Carlos Quentin was out of the lineup with a sore hamstring. … Podsednik, who played for the White Sox from 2005-07 and in 2009, received a warm reception from the fans before his first at-bat in the first inning. His home run landed nearly in the exact location of his game-winning homer in game two of the 2005 World Series. … Pop star Justin Bieber attended the game and threw out the first pitch..

Cubs pound D-Backs behind Soriano,Byrd,Tracy and Theriot 10-5

 
What began as a poor home stand for the Cubs ended up as a winning one as they continued to hit, got another nice start from Tom Gorzelanny,and they beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 10-5. Revitalized Alfonso Soriano, Marlon Byrd,former D-Back Chad Tracy and Ryan Theriot carried the load of the 15 hit attack, much of which came at the expense of D-Backs starter Edwin Jackson who just two seasons ago was helping Tampa Bay win the A.L.Flag. But the Cubs hit several lazerbeams off Jackson(1-3) who’s fastball appeared to be flat right now. After Gorzelanny(1-3) escaped a two on,one out first inning jam, Theriot got his first of three singles, was forced at second by Kosuke Fukudome(who took third on a single by Derrek Lee. Byrd grounded to third as Fukudome scored. Tracy’s first of four singles sent Lee to second. Soriano then blasted his first of two long balls to make it 4-0 where it stayed until the bottom of the third. Lee led off with a walk, Byrd homered very deep to left center,Tracy singled and Soriano doubled him home for the ‘extra point’ making it 7-0. The D-Backs got two in the top of the fourth when Rusty Ryal homered to left field off Gorzelanny, but Theriot, and Fukudome each singled to start the bottom of the fourth,and Lee lifted a sac fly to CF to make it 8-2. With Daniel Stange on the mound for Arizona in the Cub fifth, Tracy singled and Soriano this time hit a shot down the left field line that stayed fair as it left the ballpark giving him 6 homers of the season and 4 RBI’s on the day. It was 10-2 and stayed that way until later. Gorzelanny left after 7 solid innings of 2 run, 6 hit ball. Justin Berg worked a scoreless eighth inning,but John Grabow got into trouble in the bottom of the ninth on a two run triple by Stephen Drew, and a run scoring single by Justin Upton. But Grabow settled down before Carlos Zambrano(who had begun to warm up)would be needed. Grabow fanned Mark Reynolds and Chris Young to end the game.
NOTES—The Cubs finished 4-3 on the home stand…..Gorzellany’s ten strikeouts were a career high…..Soriano has homered in three straight games, the first to do so since he did it himself May 12-14,2008…..The Cubs open their two City road trip in Pittsburgh Tuesday night with Ryan Dempster(2-1)opposing Paul Maholm(1-2)……Attendance was 38,144.

Yanks, Hughes clobber Buehrle, take two of three from Sox

NEW YORK—Mark Teixeira tied a career high with four hits and Robinson Cano had a three-run homer, backing another dominant performance by Phil Hughes in the New York Yankees‘ 12-3 rout of the White Sox on Sunday.Teixeira continued his emergence from an April slump with a two-run double and three singles that raised his average to .189. Nick Swisher added a two-run shot and Brett Gardner hit a rare homer to help the Yankees take two of three.Hughes (3-0) stymied the White Sox, limiting them to four hits over seven innings. Hughes, who won the No. 5 starter job this spring, had not allowed more than three hits in any of his first three starts. He struck out six while walking one.Gardner started in center field because UIC Alum Curtis Granderson went on the 15-day disabled list before the game with a strained left groin. Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Granderson could be out for a month.Relief pitcher Mark Melancon was called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He pitched two innings and gave up a long three-run homer to Paul Konerko, his 12th of the season.Alex Rodriguez was given the day off, but Girardi said it was just a rest and there was nothing wrong with the slugger, who came out for a pinch runner Saturday in the ninth inning.The speedy Gardner gave the Yankees their first run when his two-out grounder in the second deflected off the glove of a lunging Konerko at first base and spun away from second baseman Gordon Beckham. The infield single scored Cano, who led off with a double.In the fourth, Gardner hit first homer since June 26, 2009, at the Mets, a span of 167 at-bats. It came a batter after Mark Kotsay caught Marcus Thames’ drive near the top of the right-field wall.The Yankees added three runs against struggling Mark Buehrle (2-4) in the fifth. After Teixeira and Swisher singled, Cano reached low to pull his ninth homer of the year and make it 5-0.Swisher followed with a two-run drive off Tony Pena in the sixth, and the Yankees added five runs in the seventh.Ozzie Guillen was ejected during Gardner’s at-bat in the seventh after a prolonged argument over balls and strikes with plate umpire Dan Iassogna. It was the second time Guillen has been tossed this season and the 21st time in his career.Guillen told reporters he was up until nearly 3 a.m. watching news of the failed bomb attack that took place just two blocks from the team’s hotel in Times Square on Saturday night.Gardner walked after the ejection and the Yankees loaded the bases when shortstop Alexei Ramirez failed to handle Beckham’s shovel toss on Ramiro Pena’s grounder for an error.Derek Jeter walked to force in a run, and Nick Johnson and Teixeira had two-run doubles to make it 12-0.Buehrle has stumbled at the start of the season. He allowed five runs and 10 hits in 4 2-3 innings, and since throwing seven scoreless innings on opening day he hasn’t allowed less than four runs in any of his next five starts.

NOTES—Beckham is in an 0-for-11 slide with seven strikeouts. … Teixeira has had 18 four-hit games. The last came on Sept. 19, 2009. … Konerko went 6 for 19 with four homers and 10 RBIs on the 2-4 road trip…..The Sox host Kansas City Tuesday night to begin a weeklong home stand.

Canucks clobber Hawks, take game one 5-1

A year ago,the Vancouver Canucks took game one from the Blackhawks at General Motors Place,but the Hawks ended up winning that Western Conference Semi Final series in six. The Blackhawks now hope history will repeat itself,only this time with the same second round matchup starting in the United Center,the Canucks put a big time whipping on the Hawks 5-1. After the Hawks put plenty of early pressure on Robert Luongo, it was the Canucks who broke the ice at 13:51 when Christian Ehrhoff slapped a Mason Raymond pass by Antti Niemi. The Hawks shortly after got their second power play,but came up empty as Luongo remained sharp.It looked like the Hawks would get into the first intermission down a goal when all of a sudden with :11 left in the period, Ryan Kessler got a pass from the corner to Raymond who’s screened shot beat a stunned Niemi,and the Canucks took a 2-0 lead into the locker room despite getting outshot 17-13. It got worse in the second period when the Sedin twins stuck just :32 in. Daniel dropped the puck to his brother Henrik,who beat Niemi to make it 3-0. At 10:02, Patrick Kane was penalized for holding the stick,and Kyle Wellwod scored at 10:59. Then to add insult to injury, Michael Grabner got the fifth and final goal Niemi would yield on this night at 16:21, making it 5-0. Predictably, Cristobal Huet replaced Niemi to start the third period. With the help of a pair of minor penalties on Vancouver’s Alexander Edler(his third minor of the game)and Raymond, the Hawks finally broke through against Luongo on the ensuing five on three when Kane pushed one between Luongo’s legs while the goalie was down on all fours at 2:07. It was Kane’s 5th of the current Playoffs.That was it for the Hawks.

NOTES—Game two in Monday night at 8pm…..Attendance was 22,184….The Hawks outshot Vancouver 37-26.

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Soriano’s HR ties it and D.Lee’s two run hit off Howry beat D-Backs

 

Alfonso Soriano homered, Derrek Lee delivered the go-ahead two-run single and the Cubs rallied from three down again to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-5 on Saturday.Soriano’s two-run shot off former Cub Bob Howry in the seventh tied it at 5, and Lee made it 7-5 with a two-run bases-loaded single in the eighth off Juan Gutierrez (0-3). “I’m working hard to make the fans happy,” said Soriano, who’s often booed at home.Not this time, though.Not after his second big homer in the past two days. His drive and Lee’s big hit made a winner of Sean Marshall (1-1), who pitched two scoreless innings before Carlos Marmol escaped a tense ninth with his fourth save in five chances.He caught his right ankle on a small hole throwing his first pitch to Cole Gillespie and walked him to lead off the inning. Justin Upton singled with one out and Mark Reynolds — who hit two solo homers — walked with two out to load the bases, but Marmol struck Adam LaRoche.Early on, about a dozen protesters outside Wrigley Field handed out leaflets blasting Arizona’s new immigration law that makes it a state crime to be in the U.S. illegally and lets police question anyone they suspect of being an illegal immigrant. The protesters were headed to a larger rally in downtown Chicago.Inside the old ballpark, the Diamondbacks were making plenty of noise with their bats before the Cubs rallied.Carlos Silva allowed eight hits over five innings in his shortest outing of the year. His ERA rose from 1.73 to 2.90.Reynolds hit his eighth and ninth homers, tying teammate Kelly Johnson for the league lead. Upton went deep, but Arizona blew a three-run lead for the second straight day, the bullpen again breaking down and the surging Soriano coming up with another big blow. His tying shot off Howry in the seventh came after he hit the go-ahead three-run homer in Friday’s 11-5 win. He also singled and is now 20 for 55 over his last 17 games.Soriano’s homer came after a 3-1 pitch on the outside corner that he thought was ball four. Instead, it was strike two, but no problem.He knocked the ball deep into the left-center bleachers for his fourth homer.Soriano batted .241 a year ago before missing the final month and having knee surgery, but he’s feeling better.In the eighth, Gutierrez walked Ryan Theriot and Kosuke Fukudome to load the bases before Lee, who came in with a .205 average, singled past a diving Reynolds at third to make it 7-5.Arizona starter Dan Haren allowed 10 hits — the most for him since Aug. 30, 2008 — over six innings. Haren also had two hits, leading off the third with a double and scoring the game’s first run.

NOTES—Theriot had two singles to extend his hitting streak to 11 games…..Esmailin Caridad, on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right forearm, could rejoin the Cubs by next weekend “if everything is right,” Lou Piniella said. Caridad was scheduled to pitch Saturday in Arizona and would likely make several appearances for Triple-A Iowa. When he’s activated, he’ll replace one of the Cubs’ younger relievers, Piniella said, meaning Carlos Zambrano will remain in the bullpen for now.

 

 

Sox rally past Yanks on A.J.’s two run 2BH

NEW YORK—Andruw Jones came out swinging after a little ump bump. A.J. Pierzynski hit hard, too, and that helped the White Sox slow down the New York Yankees.Jones launched two more home runs off a shaky Javier Vazquez, Pierzynski boomed a go-ahead double in the seventh inning and the White Sox seesawed past the Yankees 7-6 Saturday.The Yankees’ three-game winning streak ended, and they also lost center fielder Curtis Granderson. He strained his left groin while dashing on a hit-and-run single, badly hobbled into third and went to a hospital for an MRI exam.Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Granderson would probably go on the disabled list. Girardi’s first thought when he saw the injury unfold: “He’s out for a while.” Jones and Vazquez both got off to stumbling starts. The White Sox slugger wound up enjoying the sunny afternoon, Vazquez got booed off the mound. Jones was standing in the on-deck circle in the first inning when Gordon Beckham lifted a foul pop toward the seats. Yankees catcher Jorge Posada tossed his mask aside and it hit plate umpire Mark Wegner in the head. Wegner then stumbled a couple of steps and plowed into Jones, knocking him off-balance. All were OK, and the ball landed foul.Wegner was able to kid about it after the game.Scratched from the starting lineup Friday night because of back spasms, Jones recovered nicely. He hit a solo home run moments later, and did it again in the third. That gave Jones seven career homers off Vazquez, his top victim.Jones has 40 career multihomer games, including three this season. He has eight home runs this year and 396 overall, matching Joe Carter for 49th on the career list.Vazquez kept struggling, a year after he drew Cy Young Award consideration for a sharp season in Atlanta. He began this game with a 9.00 ERA, and more than maintained that run-per-inning pace. He gave up single runs in each of the first three innings and was yanked shortly after Mark Kotsay’s two-run homer in the fourth.Kotsay’s homer off Vazquez made it 5-1. Unbeaten White Sox starter John Danks left after five innings, and Nick Swisher’s homer capped a four-run comeback in the sixth that put the Yankees ahead 6-5.The White Sox rallied in the seventh. Paul Konerko doubled with one out and Carlos Quentin drew an intentional walk from David Robertson (0-2) with two outs. Damaso Marte relieved and Pierzynski met him with a double to deep left-center.Scott Linebrink (1-0) won despite allowing Swisher’s two-run homer. Bobby Jenks pitched the ninth for his fifth save.Granderson got a hand when he left in the sixth. He was running from first when Brett Gardner singled up the middle, but hurt himself rounding second and limped most of the way to third.

NOTES—Vazquez was stopped by 1B umpire Jerry Meals when he came out to pitch the third inning. The umpires and Girardi huddled, and Vazquez was forced to change his glove because its two-tone coloring was against Major League Baseball rules. In spring training, Meals was asked by Florida minor league pitcher Taylor Tankersley — who uses the same glove as Vazquez — whether the model was OK. Meals took a picture of the glove and sent it to MLB officials, who ruled it was illegal. Vazquez said he’s used the same glove for three or four years. “I was surprised we weren’t informed of that,” Girardi said…..Vazquez tied a career by allowing three homers…..Alex Rios is away from the team this weekend. He’s with his fiancee for the birth of their child and is expected back Monday…..Mark Buehrle starts Sunday for the White Sox. He’s lost six straight decisions to the Yankees.

Hawks beat cold shooting Bucks to force seventh game

MILWAUKEE—The Bulls may be gone from the NBA Playoffs and may still be waiting to decide when to dismiss Vinny Del Negro as Coach, but the Milwaukee Bucks, Coached by Scott Skiles and with John Salmons-both former Bulls, who were trying to close out the Atlanta Hawks who feature the NBA Sixth Man of the Year and another ex Bull Jamal Crawford.Milwaukee went ice cold at the wrong time(mostly the whole game)and Atlanta forced a seventh game at Phillips Arena Sunday afternoon with an 83-69 win. It was a close first half which was marred by miserable shooting.The Bucks,who led 34-31 at the break,shot just 36% and the Hawks only 32.5%. Carlos Delfino prevented Milwaukee’s shooting percentage from being worse since he was 5-10(including 3-5 from behind the three point line), and Joe Johnson was 4-10 for Atlanta. The Third quarter turned into a disaster for the Bucks as they went stoned cold(3-17 for 17.6%) and got outscored 29-11 to fall behind 60-45 heading into the fourth.In fact, the Hawks built a 58-38 lead before Brandon Jennings nailed a three pointer and Salmons hit four free throws.The fourth quarter was Atlanta’s in which to protect the lead and they did.Crawford led everyone with 24 points, and Johnson added 22 for the Hawks who had five players in double figures even though they only shot 38% for the game. Milwaukee was an awful 33% for the game and only had three in double digits led by Delfino with 20.

NOTES—The loud sold out crowd was 18,717….Milwaukee had 19,15 and 11 in each of the first three quarters.They ended with 24 in the final quarter,but only got over twenty due to garbage time.

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