It doesn’t get much worse for THE Chicago National League Ballclub.The Cubs had a built in excuse before they laid their latest egg against the red hot White Sox Friday afternoon on the South Side. After all, while the Sox were resting after their thrilling 2-0 win over Atlanta, the Cubs were finishing up a 13 inning win over the Mariners in Seattle and had to catch a late flight from SeaTac to Ohare.The Sox scored fast,and won their tenth straight for the first time since 1976, 6-0 over the fast sinking Northsiders,who all may have been better off jumping into Puget Sound Thursday,rather than returning home,a steaming pile of…..well, you know! After the Cubs went down meekly against the guy they COULD have had(thank you Sam Zell)last year, Jake Peavy in the top of the first, Carlos Zambrano had his latest meltdown in his shortest start since opening day in Atlanta. Zambrano has been suspendedindefinatly after his latest meltdown. He faced former teammate Juan Pierre,who bounced one to the right side. Derrek Lee couldn’t get to it and it skipped to his left ,barely fair down the RF line for a double. Visibly upset that Lee,a multiple gold glove winner couldn’t field the ball, Zambrano(3-6)completely lost his focus and got lit up.After Omar Vizquel flew out to CF, Alex Rios drilled a similar double,only this one past Aramis Ramirez(who was activated off the DL before the game)into the LF corner as Pierre scored the game’s first run.Steaming hot Paul Konerko then lined a single to left to score Rios from second and Carlos Quentin lifted his 12th homer,deep into the LF Bleachers and poof,it was 4-0 and this game was pretty much over. After Zambrano retired Mark Kotsay on a called third strike and A.J.Pierzynski on a grounder to Lee who tossed to the pitcher covering for the last out, those two and a more significant exchange in the dugout which is reminiscent of one Big Z and his then Catcher Michael Barrett had five years ago. Zambrano,no doubt thought Lee should have had Pierre’s double and he went off, tossing a beverage out of the Dugout. When the Cubs took the field in the bottom of the second, Zambrano was long gone,having been ordered to leave the ballpark by Lou Piniella and Tom Gorzelanny relieved him to begin that inning.Gorzelanny worked three no his innings(with one walk)before Gordon Beckham and his .199 batting average lined his second homer,leading off the Sox 5th.It was Beckham’s first long ball since April 11 vs the Twins. One out later, Vizquel reached on Ramirez’s error(on his first chance since coming off the DL earlier in the day),and Piniella went to his scary bullpen, bringing in Jeff Stevens.Beckham’s sac fly in the sixth,produced the sixth Sox run. Peavy(7-5) worked seven innings,giving up three hits, fanning 9 and walking two against the very listless looking Cubs.
NOTES—The Sellout crowd was 39,364……Carlos Silva(8-2, but 4-11 lifetime vs the Sox)opposes Freddy Garcia(8-3, and 4-0 1.25 ERA lifetime vs the Cubs)…..After the game, Piniella admitted he sent Zambrano home after the first inning. GM Jim Hendry took quick action in suspending Zambrano. This must now go through the Players Association……The Cubs will have to play with a 24 man rster while Zambrano is suspended.
LES