The Cubs bats finally came around in the eighth inning on Thursday afternoon as they came behind to beat the White Sox 6-5 and salvage a split in the rain shortened two game series. Things didn’t look good after the top of the eighth inning after Carlos Marmol allowed two big runs to score for the White Sox but in the bottom of the inning, the Cubs tied the game up with back-to-back home runs by Derrek Lee and Geovany Soto. Finally someone steps up and delivers a big hit!
Kevin Gregg actually held the White Sox scoreless in the top of the ninth inning and then it was lead off man Alfonso Soriano delivering the game winning base hit to score Reed Johnson who led off the inning with a single and moved to second on a sacfrafice by Andres Blanco. Soriano then knocked a single to right center field off White Sox pitcher Matt Thornton to score the winning run.
This was exactly the type of win the team needed. A come from behind rally where it got their emotions going and to come out on top was just the icing on top in my opinion. This will hopefully give them a little spring to their step and they will start playing better baseball.
Cubs starter Carlos Zambrano pitched a pretty good game until he ran into trouble in the seventh inning when Alexei Ramirez hit a two run home run to put the White Sox on top by the score of 3-1. Zambrano gave up six hits and three runs in seven innings of action on the mound.
Way to go guys! The bats woke up and finally did some damage! Now will it continue over into the weekend series with the Cleveland Indians who will be in town for a three game series. Welcome back Mark DeRosa and Kerry Wood!
- Cliff
Cubs Blog
Late inning rally wins it for the Cubs!