Each inning, as it might have been seen through eyes of not-so-impartial fans. And just like the game, road team swings first.
TOP OF THE 1ST
Cubs: Obviously, the hitters are trying to get to White Sox pitchers right away. That’s the only explanation for jumping on pitches so early in the count.
Sox: Seven. That’s the number of pitches it took Esteban Loaiza to breeze through three outs.
BOTTOM OF THE 1ST
Cubs: What is going on at the South Side ballpark? Mark Prior, Carlos Zambrano and Greg Maddux allow nine baserunners in the first innings of this series.
Sox: Holy batman, Paul Konerko. Two runs off Maddux in the first inning.
TOP OF THE 2ND
Cubs: The best part about the two-run inning was Sammy Sosa’s homer.
Sox: Loaiza has trouble holding onto a lead.
BOTTOM OF THE 2ND
Cubs: How unMaddux-like, a walk in one inning and a homer in the next.
Sox: Miguel Olivo’s liner is the 22nd consecutive game with a home team homer.
TOP OF THE 3RD
Cubs: Sosa ignites the Cubs contingent in the crowd with his second homer. But losing Todd Hollandsworth is not a big blow.
BOTTOM OF THE 3RD
Cubs: Who should be surprised by Perez’s homer off Maddux? He was 6-for-15 with a homer, three walks and two RBIs against him when he was with the Mets.
TOP OF THE 4TH
Sox: Loaiza got off the hook easy last inning and got a little second wind, but the heart of the order is coming up next inning.
BOTTOM OF THE 4TH
Cubs: Michael Wuertz started throwing in the bullpen and it was clear this was not Maddux’s day.
Sox: Even Willie Harris got in on the fun, snapping an 0-for-18 streak with a single.
TOP OF THE 5TH
Cubs: Uh, oh. Loaiza even got Sosa out this time.
Sox: Loaiza got his confidence back.
BOTTOM OF THE 5TH
Cubs: Nightmare. Ramirez made his second error of the game, and Maddux left with 11 hits against him.
Sox: Eleven hits off Maddux must be some kind of world record.
6TH INNING
Sox: Konerko just missed hitting his third homer in three games; maybe he’s saving power for Wrigley Field. Thomas’ ejection could be costly if the Cubs rally.
7TH INNING
Cubs: Kent Mercker pitched a 1-2-3 inning, the first of the day.
TOP OF THE 8TH
Sox: Cliff Politte is becoming a very important part of the bullpen as the man who gets the big outs in the seventh and eighth innings.
BOTTOM OF THE 8TH
Cubs: Good job by Mercker, who struck out three of the four batters he faced. And Kyle Farnsworth got two outs, much better than his blowup Friday.
Sox: Hey, it shouldn’t be too easy for Cubs relievers. Four strikeouts from the final six hitters might only give them confidence for next weekend.
TOP OF THE 9TH
Cubs: Looking back, the four runs in the second and third innings were not enough from six hits and two walks.
Sox: It’s over, with Damaso Marte finishing. Good thing, because the Cubs didn’t get a second look at Shingo Takatsu, who will still be new to them next time.
BOTTOM OF THE 9TH
Cubs: Next week will be another story.
Sox: Next week will be more of the same.
