INNING 1: Cubs 0, Sox 0
TOP OF THE . . .
CUBS
The top of the lineup with Mark Grudzielanek and Derrek Lee in place of Todd Walker and Michael Barrett took some getting used to.
SOX
By striking out the red-hot Lee and always-dangerous Sammy Sosa, Jon Garland proved he had no pregame jitters facing his old team.
BOTTOM OF THE . . .
CUBS
Even though he walked two batters, Mark Prior showed there was nothing wrong with his fastball or breaking balls-except location.
SOX
The perfect pitcher, Prior? Not when he loaded the bases with two walks. This might not be his day.
INNING 2: Cubs 0, Sox 0
TOP OF THE . . .
CUBS
At least no one struck out, although hitters may have to show more patience against Garland. They were making it too easy for him by swinging early.
SOX
Garland had a 1-2-3 inning and his pitch count was a very thrifty 28 for the first two innings. He even got out his first lefty in Todd Hollandsworth.
BOTTOM OF THE . . .
CUBS
While Prior was not as sharp as usual, his fastball was crisp and a mean breaking ball struck out Miguel Olivo.
SOX
At least Prior’s pitch count had reached 36 by the end of the inning, but leaving the bases loaded in the first still was disturbing.
INNING 3: Cubs 0, Sox 0
TOP OF THE . . .
CUBS
Grudzielanek hit a ball hard, breaking a string of six easy outs for Garland. Batters were getting a good look at his pitches.
SOX
Another harmless inning for Garland, although he was saved by Joe Crede’s diving stop on Grudzielanek’s smash.
BOTTOM OF THE . . .
CUBS
This is what is likable about Prior: He brushed back Frank Thomas with a 1-2 fastball and then struck him out looking on a slow breaking ball.
SOX
Thomas didn’t say anything when he had his head snapped back, but he did argue about the next pitch being too inside for a strikeout.
INNING 4: Cubs 0, Sox 1
TOP OF THE . . .
CUBS
Moises Alou got on base again, albeit through an error, but Sosa and leading RBI man Aramis Ramirez couldn’t drive him home from second base.
SOX
Right fielder Ross Gload was tested. He failed the first one, dropping Alou’s fly ball for an error, but he caught the next two.
BOTTOM OF THE . . .
CUBS
A run on a Prior wild pitch? And that runner got on base with a leadoff walk? It could be time to start worrying.
SOX
Fifty-eight pitches for Prior after his leadoff walk to Lee. Hey, not every run comes on a homer, even for the Sox.
INNING 5: Cubs 4, Sox 1
TOP OF THE . . .
CUBS
Finally. Finally some runs against Garland and finally Grudzielanek showed why he was so valuable with a home run.
SOX
Garland came unraveled at the time he usually does. He and Juan Uribe made errors in what became a nightmarish inning.
BOTTOM OF THE . . .
CUBS
Prior finally breezes, striking out two of his final three hitters. Without his best control, he was still very good.
SOX
Oh-oh, it’s getting late. If there’s any good news, it’s that Prior won’t be around and the Cub bullpen will be.
INNING 6: Cubs 6, Sox 1
TOP OF THE . . .
CUBS
It’s always good to get some insurance runs, and it’s good to see Sosa start a rally with a single.
SOX
Garland stayed around too long, but it could have been worse if Neal Cotts hadn’t escaped with the bases loaded.
BOTTOM OF THE . . .
CUBS
The shadows that crept over home plate started making it tough on hitters. Jon Leicester went through the meat of the Sox order.
SOX
Who is Jon Leicester? Thomas, Carlos Lee and Paul Konerko each flied out, so the cool weather doesn’t do the Sox offense any favors.
INNING 7: Cubs 6, Sox 1
TOP OF THE . . .
CUBS
It would be nice to keep adding runs because the White Sox lead both leagues in runs scored and Prior is gone.
SOX
Finally a 1-2-3 inning for the first time since the third inning. And Cotts is looking like maybe he could return to the rotation.
BOTTOM OF THE . . .
CUBS
Two scoreless innings out of Leicester is huge. He may have given up two hits but got a double play to escape trouble.
SOX
Two hits but no runs after Aaron Rowand hit into a double play.
INNING 8: Cubs 6, Sox 4
TOP OF THE . . .
CUBS
Is there any way Garland can come back into the game? Hits have suddenly become scarce against the left-handed Cotts.
SOX
A second straight 1-2-3 innings for Cotts. And a rarity for the Sox, a great defensive play by a diving Lee in left.
BOTTOM OF THE . . .
CUBS
Leadoff walks come back to haunt. Kyle Farnsworth walked the first two batters and they both scored on Konerko’s homer.
SOX
At last some power, and some hope. That’s 20 consecutive games at U.S. Cellular in which the Sox have hit a homer.
INNING 9: Cubs 7, Sox 4
TOP OF THE . . .
CUBS
A big insurance run at the right time from an unexpected source-a home run by shortstop Ramon Martinez, his second of the year.
SOX
Mike Jackson couldn’t hold the game where it was, giving up Martinez’s homer, after Cotts did such a good job.
BOTTOM OF THE . . .
CUBS
LaTroy Hawkins got the late-inning job done again, and he even had to get the final out of the eighth inning.
SOX
It’s hard to win games when only one hit comes from the 3-4-5 hitters, although they did score two runs.
