Crosstown Series 2005, Round Two

The final: White Sox: 5, Cubs 3

Cubs center fielder Corey Patterson continues his good will campaign with Cub fans.

Carlos Zambrano was excellent on a beautiful afternoon. Jose Contreras also had a good outing, giving up only one run. Unfortunately, Zambrano's work was torn down by the Cubs bullpen (gasp!) in the 8th inning. With two outs in the 8th and the Cubs leading 1-0, the White Sox scored four runs, a rally which began when Corey Patterson failed to catch a fly ball from Paul Konerko.

At the bottom of the 8th inning, the bright center of the Cubs universe Derrek Lee started a two run rally, moving the Cubs to a one run deficit. Alas, pinch hitter Jermaine Dye scored a solo insurance run off of LaTroy Hawkins at the top of the 9th. The Cubs tried to rally again at the bottom of the 9th with their fastest runners at 1st and 2nd and two outs, but unlike the White Sox hitters, who thrive on taking the plate with two outs, the Cubs came up short.

In other news, my old home town team the Texas Rangers pounded the Houston Astros 18-6, posting two franchise records in the process: most home runs in a game (8), and most home runs in an inning (4). The Cardinals continue to edge past (?) the Royals. Misery loves company, and in the NL Central, if you're not the Cardinals, you're buying a lot of drinks.