One bad inning spoils who bunch for Sox
The Cubs have won this first series with the White Sox, but they would like nothing more than to sweep away their cross-town rivals today.
"We've got to come out ready to play again," said Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez after Saturday's 11-7 victory at Wrigley Field.
The Cubs stunned the White Sox for the second day in a row. On Friday, it was a walk-off homer by Ramirez in the ninth. On Saturday, they did it with a 9-run fourth inning.
Here's how Game 2 of the series played out.
First inning
There's more of a charge in the air than on Friday, and Cubs fans let out a roar early when Kosuke Fukudome, back in his comfortable surroundings in right field, makes a diving catch against leadoff man Orlando Cabrera.
But moments later it's White Sox fans on their feet when Jermaine Dye slams a 2-run homer to left off Jason Marquis. It's Dye's second homer of the series and fourth in three days.
White Sox starter Jose Contreras is shaky, allowing a run and leaving runners at second and third. Eric Patterson, recalled from the minors with Carlos Zambrano going on the disabled list, doubles with one out and scores on a single by Ramirez.
Second inning
Patterson misplays Joe Crede's foul pop in left field that the wind blew back into play, but there's no damage done as Crede strikes out. Cubs coach Mike Quade spent much of the pregame hitting Patterson flyballs to get familiar with the tricky winds.
Third inning
Patterson again tries to get the Cubs' offense going with a one-out single. He steals second after Derrek Lee flies out but is left stranded as Ramirez grounds out.
Marquis, meanwhile, has retired seven of eight since the Dye homer.
Fourth inning
So much for Marquis sailing along. After a one-out single by Nick Swisher, DeWayne Wise goes deep into the left-field bleachers and it's a 4-1 White Sox lead. It's Wise's first home run since 2004, when he was with Atlanta -- that one also coming at Wrigley Field.
Contreras lets the game get completely out of hand as the Cubs tag him with a 9-spot. Jim Edmonds starts and ends the rally with home runs to left. Mike Fontenot follows Edmonds' first blast with a home run and Ramirez rips a 3-run bomb. Edmonds' second home run follows Ramirez's, giving the Cubs two sets of back-to-back homers in the same inning.
At one point the Cubs reel off 6 straight hits. Marquis' single that helped ignite the whole mess came with two strikes after he twice failed to bunt.
In an odd twist to the big inning, Cubs manager Lou Piniella pinch hits Mark DeRosa for Fontenot the second time around. After the game Piniella said he wished he hadn't done that.
Fifth inning
There's no quit in the White Sox. Three of the first four batters reach with hits, but they score just once as Dye grounds into a double play to end the inning.
Sixth inning
The Cubs tack on a run, making it 11-5 on DeRosa's RBI single. Guess Piniella knew what he was doing.
Seventh inning
Another potential big inning for the Cubs is averted thanks to a heads-up play by Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski.
With one out, Marquis chopped a ball to the right side for an infield hit. When the throw by second baseman Alexei Ramirez got away, Marquis made the slightest turn toward second base.
Pierzynski noticed and tagged out Marquis after chasing down the ball. Piniella argued, but replays showed umpire Mike Estabrook made the right call.
Eighth inning
Bringing in Carlos Marmol with an 11-5 lead was supposed to be a chance for the Cubs to see if the right-hander's fit of wildness against Tampa Bay on Thursday was just one bad outing.
Make it two bad outings.
Marmol walked three of the six batters he faced, surrendering a run on a wild pitch that sailed behind the back of Alexei Ramirez.
Piniella said after the game Marmol concerned him.
"It'll be fine, guys," Marmol later assured reporters.
We'll see.
Ninth inning
Bob Howry wasn't great either, giving up 3 singles and forcing Piniella to bring in Kerry Wood with two outs to close out the game. Wood struck out Nick Swisher or it could have got interesting.