INNING 1
Cubs 0, Sox 0
TOP OF THE . . .
CUBS
It’s just going to take some time to measure that new kid, Felix Diaz, and see what kind of stuff he has. That’s what first innings are for.
SOX
What more could you want. Diaz struck out the last two batters on slow, nasty pitches, plus he threw first-pitch strikes to all three hitters.
BOTTOM OF THE . . .
CUBS
Carlos Zambrano should be over any jitters after getting through a shaky inning with the help of a baserunning blunder by Juan Uribe (thank you).
SOX
A hit and a walk, but nothing on the scoreboard. It looks a little like Friday when Mark Prior loaded the bases in the first without a run.
INNING 2
Cubs 0, Sox 0
TOP OF THE . . .
CUBS
Well, at least no one struck out this inning and Aramis Ramirez did draw a walk. Derrek Lee and Sammy Sosa even hit flies into the outfield.
SOX
The kid may be doing it on adrenalin, but he showed no outward signs of nervousness. Even after he walked a batter, he got two easy popups.
BOTTOM OF THE . . .
CUBS
Zambrano is like a magician, getting out of impossible spots and making it look easy. Two times in a row, he got soft grounders to get out of trouble.
SOX
Oh no. Five baserunners in two innings and no runs. Three hits, two walks and no runs. Wasted opportunities have a way of haunting you later.
INNING 3
Cubs 0, Sox 5
TOP OF THE . . .
CUBS
Ramon Martinez finally broke the ice with a base hit and Dusty Baker tried to get something going with a hit-and-run. It didn’t work, but it seemed like a good idea.
SOX
Sure, the Cubs got a hit but it was a broken-bat single. And Mark Grudzielanek flied into a double play on a hit-and-run try.
BOTTOM OF THE . . .
CUBS
Zambrano hasn’t had a game like this, like exactly two months. He gave up more runs in one inning than he has in any of his last 10 games.
SOX
Finally some runs. Zambrano ran out of luck in a big way, giving up a homer to Paul Konerko after walking Frank Thomas and Carlos Lee.
INNING 4
Cubs 2, Sox 5
TOP OF THE . . .
CUBS
It was good to come back with a couple of runs, especially with Corey Patterson getting a double in his return as the No. 2 hitter.
SOX
Diaz bent but didn’t break, leaving two batters on even though misguided Cubs fans were trying vocally to act like they were in control of the crowd.
BOTTOM OF THE . . .
CUBS
Zambrano settled down and stopped the bleeding, and it was good thing because no team wants to get too far behind the White Sox offense.
SOX
Zambrano won’t be able to last much longer. Even with a quick inning his pitch count is above 90, which only gives him another inning or two.
INNING 5
Cubs 3, Sox 5
TOP OF THE . . .
CUBS
Patterson’s second hit, a homer, could show that he just now is getting comfortable this season. It’s a good sign that every out was to the outfield.
SOX
Diaz made it through the fifth inning, which is a major-league high for him. He pitched 4 1/3 innings in each of his last two tries.
BOTTOM OF THE . . .
CUBS
Zambrano is finding his rhythm with his second straight scoreless inning. He even struck out the last two hitters.
SOX
There has been a runner on base in every inning but only one inning with runs. Konerko walked to lead off the fifth but was stranded there.
INNING 6
Cubs 3, Sox 5
TOP OF THE . . .
CUBS
Diaz had no strikeouts after the first inning, which should be a good sign because he had averaged more then seven a game in the minor leagues.
SOX
A breeze of an inning for Diaz with three popups. He retired seven of the previous eight batters, all of them on fly balls.
BOTTOM OF THE . . .
CUBS
Zambrano hit Frank Thomas and all the Sox fans got riled up. But it was obvious Zambrano was getting wild and tired after more than 120 pitches.
SOX
Just like the old days–Thomas had reached base four straight times and only one of them was a hit. But a runner stayed at first for the third straight inning.
INNING 7
Cubs 3, Sox 6
TOP OF THE . . .
CUBS
Seven straight outs against a rookie pitcher and a Cliff Politte. Diaz walked only one batter, which shows hitters should have been more patient.
SOX
What more could you ask for than six innings, six hits, three runs and only one walk from Diaz. Maybe there’s a challenge now for that fifth starter spot.
BOTTOM OF THE . . .
CUBS
Maybe reliever Francis Beltran is getting tired. Six of the last 11 batters have reached base against him, including three this inning.
SOX
A big insurance run on Jose Valentin’s homer, but it should have been more. Two other hits were wasted as Timo Perez was thrown out at home.
INNING 8
Cubs 3, Sox 6
TOP OF THE . . .
CUBS
Moises Alou singled for the first hit since the fifth inning, but it was with two outs and Sammy Sosa couldn’t drive him home.
SOX
Politte did his job out of the bullpen with 1 1/3 perfect innings. After Damaso Marte had a strikeout and allowed a hit, Shingo Takatsu had to get the final out.
BOTTOM OF THE . . .
CUBS
Encouraging. Beltran looked much better and struck out the final two hitters, Thomas and Lee, on swinging strikes.
SOX
With Takatsu pitching, more runs weren’t necessary. It was good to have the first 1-2-3 inning just so he could finish his work.
INNING 9
Cubs 3, Sox 6
TOP OF THE . . .
CUBS
How does anyone hit those pitches Takatsu throws? Fast and slow, in and out, he made it look easy against guys like Ramirez and Lee.
SOX
The crowd was on its feet for the final out, a Lee grounder to second base. Takatsu also struck out Todd Hollandsworth on a blooper that was 67 m.p.h.
