Yearly Archives: 2010

Chicken Little must have been correct, “The Sky is falling”, blown away by Storm

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Chicago Sky

SEATTLE—The Seattle Storm showed the Sky how much they have improved since a rare loss two months ago at Allstate Arena.Swin Cash had 16 points to lead five players in double figures as the Storm beat the Sky 80-60 Friday night for their 13th consecutive win.Lauren Jackson added 14 points, Svetlana Abrosimova had 13, Sue Bird 11 and Camille Little 10 for Seattle (22-2). Bird also had eight assists as the Storm, who have already clinched the Western Conference title, improved to 13-0 at home.The Storm, who lost 84-75 in Rosemont on May 27 to end Seattle’s 4-0 start and give the Sky its first win after opening 0-4, have won 18 of 19 since then. Seattle is also undefeated since a 72-65 setback at Indiana on June 17.

“They are clicking,” said Fowles, who led the Sky with 13 points. “They’ve put all of the puzzle pieces together. Everyone on that team is a threat, not just Lauren and Sue. You have to guard everybody.”

The Sky (12-14) has lost three of four to drop to last place in the Eastern Conference.Bird hit three 3-pointers in the second quarter as Seattle built a 55-31 lead at halftime. The Storm shot 8 of 14 on 3-pointers in the first half and finshed with 10 3s.Seattle increased the advantage to 27 points in the third and fourth quarters.The Storm are closing in on the best start in WNBA history – 25-2 set by Houston in 1998. The Comets finished that season 27-3 en route to its second of four straight titles in the league’s first four years.Cash scored 10, Jackson eight and Little seven to help give the Storm a 27-13 in the first quarter.Jackson and Cash sat out the fourth quarter as the Storm held on to the large lead. The Sky now have to visit Los Angeles and Phoenix to complete thi9s extended road trip. The Mercury are the only team the Sky has still never beaten.

Sox blast Mariners again for four game sweep

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Seven weeks ago, the — White Sox wondered if they’d ever stop losing. These days, they’re playing as if the winning will never end — especially at home.Ramon Castro homered twice and Paul Konerko went deep for the fourth straight game Thursday night, leading the Sox to its 11th consecutive home victory, 9-5 over the Seattle Mariners.Since June 9, the AL Central-leading White Sox are 33-11 overall and 18-1 at home. Before the surge, they were 24-33 and 9½ games behind Minnesota. They are now 57-44 and 1½ games in front.Carlos Quentin also homered for the White Sox, whose previous home winning streak of at least 11 games came in 1989 — two years before they left old Comiskey Park for U.S. Cellular Field.Konerko’s homer-per-game performance — his only hits of the series — helped the White Sox to their first four-game sweep of Seattle since 1994 and first at home since ’83. the Sox went 9-1 against the Mariners this season, outscoring them 52-21.It’s not surprising when an All-Star such as Konerko produces. Castro? He’s a backup catcher who rarely plays. Still, he’s batting .400 with five home runs and 11 RBI in his last 13 games.It was Castro’s second career two-homer game, the other coming in 2002 when he was with Florida. He also singled during Chicago’s four-run third inning, the three hits tying his personal best.Coming off his worst outing this season — five runs in 1 1/3 innings — Freddy Garcia (10-4) allowed three runs and seven hits in six innings as the White Sox moved 13 games over .500 for the first time in two seasons.Ichiro Suzuki tied a team record with three doubles and also scored three times for Seattle, which is 6-20 in July after ending June with nine wins in 12 games.Casey Kotchman’s RBI double and sacrifice fly gave Seattle a 2-0 lead going into the bottom of the third, but David Pauley (0-3) was hit hard and didn’t make it out of the inning.Singles by Alexei Ramirez and Castro and a walk to Gordon Beckham loaded the bases for Juan Pierre, whose double down the left-field line tied the game. Beckham scored on Omar Vizquel’s single and Pierre came home on a double play.Castro’s first-pitch homer off Chris Seddon in the fourth gave the Sox a 5-2 lead.With one out in the sixth, Kotchman doubled, Franklin Gutierrez singled and Michael Saunders lined an RBI single. Garcia escaped the jam by getting Justin Smoak to pop out and striking out Josh Wilson.In the sixth, Castro homered off Seddon again and Vizquel knocked in a run with his third single to make it 7-3.Ichiro doubled home a run in the seventh off J.J. Putz and scored on a wild pitch. But Konerko and Quentin responded with consecutive homers off Garrett Olson in Chicago’s half.Putz’s 27-appearance scoreless streak, a team record, was snapped.

  

NOTES—The White Sox have seven series sweeps, their most in a season since they took 12 in 2005, when they went on to win the World Series. … Mariners DH Russell Branyan sat out with back spasms as a “precautionary day off,” Don Wakamatsu said. Branyan had played the previous two games after missing most of two weeks…. Wakamatsu also sat 3B Jose Lopez (tight left hamstring), OF Milton Bradley (knee stiffness) and DH Mike Sweeney (sore back), saying all three should play at Minnesota over the weekend. 

Sox rally from 5-1 hole, beat M’s again

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Bobby Jenks just overpowered the heart of Seattle’s lineup, firing fastball after fastball into A.J. Pierzynski’s mitt as the crowd roared.Just another fun night at home for the White Sox. Alex Rios hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the seventh inning, Jenks struck out the side for an electric save and the slugging White Sox rallied to beat the Mariners 6-5 on Wednesday night for their 10th straight win at U.S. Cellular Field. Gordon Beckham, Paul Konerko and Alexei Ramirez went deep for the White Sox, who hit three homers for the second straight day. Konerko’s tying solo shot in the fifth was his third in three games and No. 24 for the season.But Jenks supplied the most impressive power, touching 99 mph as he mowed down Franklin Gutierrez, Russell Branyan and Justin Smoak for his 21st save in 23 chances. Gutierrez and Smoak went down swinging and Branyan looked at a called third strike during Jenks’ 13-pitch ninth.Jenks went through a rough stretch earlier this month, and manager Ozzie Guillen talked about taking him out of the closer’s role for a while to let him regroup.The Sox (56-44) had won three straight and four of six to move 12 games over .500, tying a season high. The AL Central leaders also earned their 17th win in their last 18 home games.Chone Figgins hit a rare homer for slumping Seattle, which has dropped 19 of 25. Ichiro Suzuki went 2 for 5 and scored two runs.Juan Pierre, who reached base three times, started the winning rally with a leadoff walk against Jamey Wright (1-3). He took second with his major league-best 38th steal and moved to third on Ramirez’s sacrifice.Brandon League came in to face Rios, who bounced a single past a drawn-in infield and into left field, making it 6-5. Rios also singled in a run in the first.Matt Thornton (3-3) got Michael Saunders to fly out with the bases loaded to end the seventh. J.J. Putz worked the eighth before Jenks came on for the ninth, much to the delight of the crowd of 25,126.The White Sox overcame a rough outing by Buehrle to improve to 8-1 against Seattle this season. They will go for the four-game sweep Thursday when Freddy Garcia faces Mariners right-hander David Pauley.Figgins went deep in the second inning, increasing Seattle’s lead to 5-1 with a drive to left after Suzuki’s two-out single. It was the first homer for the speedy infielder since Sept. 22 for the Los Angeles Angels against the New York Yankees.The White Sox erased the deficit with the long ball: Beckham’s two-run homer in the second, Ramirez’s leadoff drive in the fifth and Konerko’s shot later in the same inning.Ramirez connected for the second straight day and is 10 for 15 with six RBI in his last four games.Suzuki and Figgins got the Mariners off to a fast start after they were outscored 17-1 in the first two games of the series. Each of them singled and scored in Seattle’s three-run first, with Figgins swiping home after Branyan was picked off first.Jason Vargas allowed five runs and eight hits in 4 1/3 innings for Seattle. He hadn’t allowed more than one homer in a single start this year.Buehrle, who had tossed two consecutive complete games, gave up five runs and nine hits in five innings. Much of the game was played with three umpires after Brian Runge left before the top of the third. He took a foul tip off his mask in the bottom of the first. A White Sox spokesman said he was removed as a precaution and taken to a hospital for observation.Hunter Wendelstedt took over behind the plate after a 10-minute delay and there was no umpire in the middle of the field    

NOTES—With the trade deadline coming up on Saturday, Guillen brought a homemade sign to his pregame meeting with reporters. It read: “Don’t ask me about trades. I don’t know. Ask KW,” referring to general manager Kenny Williams. Guillen grinned as he showed off the sign….Mariners INF Jose Lopez, who left Tuesday’s game with a tight left hamstring, was held out and is day to day.    

　   

  

 

C.Lee still kicks Cubs’ butts. Astros win 6-1

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HOUSTON—Cub killer Carlos Lee hit two home runs, including the go-ahead homer in the sixth inning, and the Astros went on to an 8-1 win over the Cubs.Bagwell, the former Houston All-Star, was named hitting coach July 11 after Sean Berry was fired. Lee is hitting .239 this season with 14 home runs and 52 RBI and Wednesday was his first multihomer game in almost three years.The game was tied at 1 before Lee connected for his 13th homer of the year, a two-run shot to left field. His second one, also to left field, scored Lance Berkman and pushed the lead to 5-1 in the seventh inning.Astros starter Bud Norris (3-7) allowed four hits, an unearned run and struck out seven in six innings for his first win since May 13.Hunter Pence added three hits and drove in a pair of runs for Houston.The Astros had managed just one hit before the sixth inning. Berkman walked before Pence hit a double that landed in the left field corner and scored Berkman to tie it 1-1.Then came Lee’s homer that scored Pence and gave Houston the lead.Randy Wells (5-8) had pitched 19 consecutive scoreless innings before Pence’s RBI. Wells allowed five hits and three runs in 5 2/3 innings. He was replaced by James Russell, who got one out.Ryan Theriot singled to lead off the first inning before Starlin Castro reached on an error. Norris walked Tyler Colvin to load the bases before a sacrifice fly by Aramis Ramirez scored Theriot and made it 1-0.Wells didn’t allow a hit until a single by Pence with one out in the fourth inning. He got out of that inning unscathed by retiring Lee before Chris Johnson grounded into a force out and rookie Jason Castro struck out.Jason Bourgeois hit his first career triple in the eighth inning and scored on a single by Angel Sanchez to make it 6-1. Pence stretched the lead to 7-1 with a run-scoring single later in that inning and Berkman also scored in the eighth on a wild pitch.Norris was hobbled for a couple of minutes in the fifth inning when he jumped and landed on first base awkwardly while making a tag. His right foot seemed to be bothering him, but he remained in the game after talking to team trainers for a bit.Johnson, a rookie, singled in the seventh inning to extend his hitting streak to 12 games.Lou Piniella rested starters Derrek Lee, Marlon Byrd and Alfonso Soriano on Wednesday, but Soriano pinch hit in the ninth inning.
NOTES—Carlos Zambrano will travel to Denver on Thursday and join the team Friday before the series with the Rockies. Lou Piniella said Zambrano will address the team in a meeting before Friday’s game in his return after a dugout argument with Derrek Lee more than a month ago. Lee said he’s looking forward to Zambrano’s return. “It will be good to put it behind us,” he said. “I really don’t think it’s going to be a big issue. We’ll welcome him back and move on.” He hopes that Zambrano apologizes to the team. “We’re looking forward to the apology,” he said. “I think that’s what needs to happen.” ….Geovany Soto was out of the lineup for the second straight day after leaving Monday’s game in the sixth inning after fouling a ball off his left foot. He has a bruised foot, but Piniella said he should be ready to play Friday…..Houston RHP Jeff Fulchino, on the disabled list with right elbow tendinitis, gave up two hits in a scoreless inning in his second rehabilitation appearance for Triple-A Round Rock on Wednesday….Geoff Blum, on the disabled list after arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow, could begin a rehabilitation assignment on Sunday.

 

Cubs blanked by Myers, Berkman slam blows it open for Astros

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HOUSTON —Brett Myers pitched a complete game, Lance Berkman hit his first grand slam since 2008 and the Houston Astros beat the Cubs 6-1 on Tuesday night.It is the 10th career complete game for Myers (8-6) and his first since May. He allowed four hits and struck out a career high-tying 12 batters.Berkman’s fifth career grand slam came in Houston’s six-run seventh inning with the team leading 2-0. The shot, his first since Aug. 12, 2008, sailed over the bullpen and landed in the stands behind it in right-center field.Myers extended his club record for consecutive starts of at least six innings to begin a season to 21 with his performance.Ted Lilly left after 5 with the game scorless.Losing pitcher Andrew Cashner gave up all Houston runs,including the slam to Berkman.Tyler Colvin homered off Myers in the 9th for the only Cub run.

Sox blow away pitiful M’s 11-0, stay in first place

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Alexei Ramirez, Andruw Jones and Paul Konerko homered, powering Gavin Floyd and the White Sox to an 11-0 victory over the woeful Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night. Ramirez finished with three hits and three RBI and Jones also drove in three for the White Sox, who led 8-0 after three innings. A.J. Pierzynski hit a two-out, two-run single in a four-run first against Ryan Rowland-Smith.Ramirez, who also singled in a run in the first, is 8 for 12 with five RBI in his last three games, including six hits in consecutive games against Seattle.The Mariners have lost 18 of their last 24 games and are 6-18 in July. They were shut out for the seventh time and are last in the majors in several offensive categories.Floyd (6-8) allowed four hits in seven innings, improving to 4-2 with a sparkling 1.04 ERA in his last 10 starts. The 6-foot-6 right-hander hasn’t surrendered more than two earned runs in a game since he lasted just 2 2/3 innings in a 9-5 loss to Texas on June 2.With the trade deadline coming up Saturday, the AL Central-leading White Sox made another strong argument to stay the course. They have won nine straight home games, their longest such streak since 2008, and 16 of 17 overall at U.S. Cellular Field.Rowland-Smith (1-10) allowed all 11 runs and 11 hits in five innings, putting his rotation spot in jeopardy with another lackluster outing.Ramirez hit a two-run drive and Konerko connected for his second in two games in a three-run second. Jones hit a three-run shot in the fifth for his 14th homer and career No. 402. Gordon Beckham and Dayan Viciedo had two doubles apiece for the White Sox, who finished with 12 hits.The Mariners welcomed back designated hitter Russell Branyan, who was sidelined with back spasms, but played without center fielder Franklin Gutierrez and lost third baseman Jose Lopez to a tight left hamstring in the second inning. Manager Don Wakamatsu said Gutierrez was away from the ballpark to deal with a family issue and should be able to rejoin the team on Wednesday. Lopez is day to day. Michael Saunders, who normally plays left field, moved over to center and misplayed Viciedo’s RBI double in the first, capping Chicago’s fast start.

  

NOTES—Mariners DH Mike Sweeney (lower back) took himself out of a Triple-A rehab game Monday but was feeling better Tuesday, according to Wakamatsu. … The White Sox announced that former slugger Frank Thomas has agreed to become a team ambassador. The Big Hurt will make appearances for the organization and join its speakers bureau, which includes Carlton Fisk, Minnie Minoso, Ron Kittle, Bill Melton and Bill Skowron. … Mariners RHP Shawn Kelley (elbow inflammation) tossed 46 pitches during a bullpen session and could throw a simulated game on Friday. 

 

Sky drop WNBA one season record fifth to Indiana

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Chicago Sky
INDIANAPOLIS—Briann January had 15 points and made several key plays in the fourth quarter to lead the Fever to a 78-74 win over the Sky on Tuesday night for their fifth straight victory.After starting three of four games to begin the season before suffering a knee injury, January was reinserted into the starting lineup in the Fever’s last game, a 78-73 win over Washington. She had a season-high 19 points and eight assists against the Mystics.Tamika Catchings finished Tuesday night with 16 points and 10 rebounds.The Sky, which trailed by 21 in the first half, got within eight entering the fourth quarter and continued to chip away at the deficit. Sylvia Fowles’ three-point play made it 70-68 with 4:27 left, but January’s jumper pushed the lead back to four.Shay Murphy then hit two free throws for the Sky to make it a two-point game, but January’s 3-pointer stopped the Sky’s momentum again. With Indiana trying to hold a three-point lead in the closing seconds, January had a defensive steal and made a free throw to seal the victory.Indiana (16-7) beat the Sky (12-13) for the fifth time, marking the first time a WNBA team has beaten an opponent five times in the same regular season.Fowles had 18 points and eight rebounds, and Murphy scored 12 for the Sky, who had won four of five entering the game.Catchings and Katie Douglas each scored 10 points in the first half to put Indiana in control. The Fever used a 9-0 run in the second quarter to take their biggest lead, 45-24.The Sky closed to 53-48 on Erin Thorn’s 3-pointer in the third quarter before settling for an eight-point deficit entering the final period.Catchings’ double-double was the 65th of her career, tying her for seventh all-time in league history.The Fever remain one game ahead of Atlanta (16-9) for first place in the Eastern Conference.The Sky,which has never made the WNBA Playoffs, is a combined 0-9 against Division rivals Indiana and New York.

 

Danks beats King Felix, Sox over M’s 6-1

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John Danks is on quite a roll, and right at home facing the American League’s best pitchers.Just ask Felix Hernandez and the Seattle Mariners.Danks pitched eight solid innings to win his fourth consecutive start, helping the White Sox beat Hernandez and the Mariners 6-1 on Monday night.Juan Pierre and Alexei Ramirez each had three hits for the White Sox, who kicked off a seven-game homestand with their season-high eighth consecutive victory at U.S. Cellular Field. It’s their longest home winning streak since a nine-game surge in 2008.Danks (11-7) allowed a run and six hits, improving to 7-2 with a 2.83 ERA in his last nine outings. The left-hander is 3-0 with a 1.14 ERA in three starts against Seattle this season, including 7 2/3 crisp innings in a 4-0 victory at Safeco Field last Tuesday.The White Sox grabbed control with two runs in the sixth. Paul Konerko led off with a towering drive down the left-field line for his 22nd homer and Ramirez added a two-out RBI double that made it 4-1.The AL Central-leading Sox almost had a bigger inning but Ichiro Suzuki robbed Mark Kotsay of a two-run homer, hauling in the drive with a perfectly timed leap at the right-field wall.Suzuki was the lone highlight for Seattle, also collecting two hits at the plate. Jack Wilson delivered an RBI single in the third for the Mariners’ only run.Hernandez (7-7) ran his scoreless streak against the White Sox to 25 2/3 innings before Pierre and Omar Vizquel hit consecutive RBI singles with two out in the third, giving the Sox a 2-1 lead.Mariners center fielder Franklin Gutierrez almost cut down Ramirez when he scored on Pierre’s hit, but his throw was a little off, just a tad up the third-base line. The play allowed Pierre to move to second, setting up Vizquel’s at-bat.That was more than enough for Danks, who is closing in on his career-high 13 wins from last year. Suzuki’s infield hit put runners on first and second in the eighth but Danks got speedy Chone Figgins to hit into an inning-ending double play, pumping his left arm as he bounded off the mound toward the home dugout. Hernandez allowed four runs and nine hits in seven innings. He has pitched at least seven innings in each of his last nine starts.The Mariners have scored nine runs in Hernandez’s seven losses this season.Sergio Santos finished the six-hitter as the Sox improved 6-1 against the Mariners this season.

  

NOTES—Kenny Williams hinted that the White Sox talked to the Diamondbacks about Dan Haren before the right-hander was traded to the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday. “Yesterday was a little bit of a surprise because that came together very quickly,” Williams said. “Listen, all I can tell you is my phone is right here on my hip. Things happen fast and you’ve got to be prepared to sometimes give very quick answers and decide whether you’re going to go down that road or not.” … Mariners INF Russell Branyan (back spasms) took batting practice and could return to the lineup on Tuesday. … Mariners 1B Justin Smoak (legs) got the day off. 

 

Silva wins 10th as Cubs beat Astros 5-2

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HOUSTON—Carlos Silva wasn’t happy after losing two straight games. He never lost confidence that he could turn things around.On Monday night he got back on track, yielding five hits and one run with four strikeouts to get his 10th win of the season as the Cubs beat the Astros 5-2.Geovany Soto drove in two runs and Alfonso Soriano had two doubles and an RBI to help in the win.Carlos Marmol allowed one hit in a scoreless ninth inning for his 19th save in 23 opportunities.Soto bruised his left foot and left the game in the middle of the sixth inning after fouling a pitch off of it earlier in the game.Piniella said Soto would be doubtful for Tuesday’s game but they hope he can return on Wednesday.Derrek Lee doubled with one out in the third inning and scored when Marlon Byrd grounded into a force out. Byrd scored when Soriano hit his second double of the game that made it 4-1.Soriano doubled in the second inning after Byrd walked. Soto scored both of them with his double to the corner of left field to give the Cubs a 2-1 lead.Ryan Theriot hit his first home run of the season on a solo shot to left field in the sixth inning that pushed the lead to 5-1. It was his first home run since last June, a span of 700 at bats, which was the longest active streak without a homer in the major league.Michael Bourn doubled before scoring on a single by Lance Berkman that made it 1-0 in the first inning. Hunter Pence drove in a run on a single in the seventh inning to get Houston within 5-2.Chris Johnson singled in the first inning to extend his career-long hitting streak to 10 games. He is the first Houston rookie to reach the mark since Luke Scott did it in 2006. He added a second single in the eighth inning.Converted reliever Wesley Wright (0-1) allowed eight hits and four runs in five innings in his second career major league start. He was replaced by Nelson Figueroa, who gave up three hits and a run in two innings.Koyie Hill replaced Soto after he left with the injury.Justin Berg replaced Silva (10-4) and gave up five hits and a run in 1 2/3 innings.

NOTES—Cubs reliever Andrew Cashner met the team in Houston on Monday after staying home in Chicago on Sunday to recover from a sore throat. He received antibiotics and then took a commercial flight to Houston to join the team before Monday’s game. Piniella said he was feeling better after his day of rest and Cashner faced one batter in the seventh inning, retiring Carlos Lee…..Houston RHP Jeff Fulchino, on the disabled list with right elbow tendinitis, started a rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Round Rock on Monday. He allowed one hit in a scoreless inning…..The Astros still aren’t sure when RHP Brian Moehler will return after he experienced tightness in his strained right hamstring while throwing a simulated game on Friday…..A fan got removed from the park in the ninth inning when he toppled over the railing and onto the field on his stomach trying to reach for a foul ball.

Cubs fail to sweep Cards who escape 4-3 in eleven on Lopez homer

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The Cubs let another chance to sweep a series and gain important ground go by the wayside.The largest Wrigley Field crowd of the season saw Felipe Lopez take Cub newcomer Brian Schlitter deep in the top of the 11th,and the St.Louis Cardinals salvaged the finale of the three game series 4-3.Ryan Dempster escaped trouble in the top of the first after Ryan Ludwick singled with one out, and Albert Pujols walked. Matt Holiday bounced into a 6-4 force leaving runners at the corners,but when Holliday tried to steal second, Geovany Soto threw on down to second and Ludwick broke for home. The relay back to Soto by Starlin Castro was in plenty of time to nail Holliday and end the inning. The the Cardinals second, Jon Jay hit one to very deep right center field which Marlon Byrd broke back on,but could catch up to and it fell in while Jay easily took third. Skip Schumaker line an RBI single to center.After Yadier Molina fanned and Chris Carpenter bunted Schumaker to second, Brendan Ryan(batting ninth like most pitchers in Tony LaRussa’s lineup) singled to left to put St.Louis ahead 2-0. The Cubs got on the board against Carpenter in the bottom of the fourth when Derrek Lee doubled into the LF corner and one out later scored on a single to center by Byrd. After Dempster got the Redbirds in order in the top of the fifth, the Cubs got to Carpenter in the home half. Soto coaxed a walk on which Carpenter came off the mound arguing with Plate Umpire Bob Davidson,but after LaRussa came out to get between them,things settled down.Carpenter though must have been shook up some since Ryan Theriot clobbered one to right center and when Jay dove for the ball,it bounced past him to the warning track for a game tying triple. Two outs later, Castro lined a single to left center to give the Cubs the lead for the first time 3-2. That lasted until Dempster decided to challenge Pujols with a 3-1 fast ball which he deposited into the LF Bleachers for his 23rd homer of the season. With two gone, Schumaker lined a double into the Cub bullpen but after Molina was intentionally walked, Carpenter lined a single to center field, and Byrd,who wasn’t playing that deep,came up throwing and gunned down Schumaker trying to score and preserving the 3-3 tie.The Cubs got one out singles from Byrd and Alfonso Soriano in the bottom of the sixth,but Soto hit into a 6-4-3 DP to kill that inning. The Cards came close in the top of the 7th. Ryan singled,but was caught stealing. Then with two gone,Ludwick singled just over Theriot’s reach. This time Pujols hit one that Soriano caught right in front of the vines near the curve in the wall,and that would end the night for Dempster who was lifted for pinch hitter Mike Fontenot in the bottom of the 7th in which the Cubs went down in order against Carpenter who was also in his final inning.In the Cards 8th,with two gone against Sean Marshall,Schumaker and Molina lined singles and Aaron Miles(booed loudly by Cubs fans who remember the awful one season of 2009 he had as a Cub)bounced into a 6-4 force to end the inning. Jason Motte started the bottom of the 8th for St.Louis and had a 1-2-3 inning. Carlos Marmol was also perfect in the top of the 9th for the Cubs. Cards closer Ryan Franklin started the bottom of the 9th and the Cubs had a chance when Soriano singled with one out,and after Soto flew out to RF, A wild pitch allowed the winning run to advance to second, but Theriot grounded to Pujols. Brian Schlitter came on for the tenth for the Cubs and after getting Pujols on na grounder to 3B, he gave up singles to Holliday and Jay. Schumaker,who wasn’t retired all night,lined a hard single to CF to load the bases but Schlitter got Molina to to hit into a taylor made 4-6-3 DP to keep the game tied. In the Cub 10th against Franklin, Kosuke Fukudome single to RF in his first at bat of the night. Colvin hit a bouncer to Franklin who’s throw pulled Ryan off the second base bag,but Umpire Alfonso Marquez called Fukudome out,giving the Crads a huge break. Castro was hit by a pitch and after Lee popped out to first, Aramis Ramirez hit a bouncer that handcuffed Schumaker for an error,loading the bases,but Byrd looked at a called third strike. Schlitter(0-1)gave up the winning blow to Lopez before the Cardinals got through the Cub 11th despite a leadoff pinch single by Xavier Nady who was forced by Jeff Baker. As Theroit fanned for the second out, as Baker got his first steal of the season. Fukudome then had to face left hander Dennys Reyes who over-matched the Cubs left handed hitter and made him look awful in fanning him to end the game.
 
NOTES—Attendance was a season high of 41,406…..The Cubs open their road trip in Houston Monday night with Carlos Silva(9-4)trying to bounce back from two bad starts in a row opposing Wesley Wright(0-0).
 
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