A 25-year-old babysitter received second-degree burns in a fire started by one of her charges in the South Side neighborhood of Roseland, Chicago Breaking News reports.
There are no box scores to link to today as none of Chicago's teams were in action last night. However, there's plenty of sports news to go around.
Jayla Ray, a two-year-old of the 1100 block of San Francisco Avenue, died of smoke inhalation after a fire on Friday night in the East Garfield Park neighborhood on the West Side, officials reported to the Chicago Tribune.
Even a Cubs fan such as myself has to hand it to the White Sox: this "Well, if we can't be in the playoffs so we might as well completely screw up the playoff picture for someone else" attitude is pretty addictive. The White Sox downed Detroit 5-1 last night, forcing the Tigers into a tie with the Minnesota Twins heading into the last day of the season. Adding a little fun to the festivities, if the Twins and Tigers finished tied, the Twins host a playoff which will have to be played Tuesday because of the Vikings-Packers Monday Night Football game at the Metrodome. Anything that messes even the slightest bit with Bud Selig is totally awesome with us. Okay, but there was a game last night, too. Freddy Garcia looked sharp, pitching seven-plus innings, striking out seven, and giving up only a single run. Carlos Quentin had a two-run homer and Alex Rios also had a great night, knocking in three runs. The Sox wrap up 2009 against the Tigers today at 12:05 p.m. (WGN).
These days, when people refer to Scarlet, the popular Boystown bar, as “smokin’-hot” they’re referring to the bar’s posh new interior, and not to the fire that destroyed the establishment in February of this year. Nearly a 100 firefighters responded to the early-morning blaze which leveled the bar and the residences that occupied the second and third floors of the building. Neighboring gay bars and clubs rallied around owner Paul Cannella and his employees by hosting a series of fundraisers to help those suddenly out of job, and some cases, out of home. Fast-forward to a few months later, and Cannella is ready to re-launch Scarlet, a bar often described as “Wicker Park comes to Boystown,” in late September. “After the fire, my initial reaction was to rebuild it exactly the same as it was and to get the doors open as fast as possible. But as more time went by, we were able to think things through and take the best of the best of the bar and incorporate it into the new Scarlet,” says Cannella, 39, a Lincoln Park resident.
D.C. United only got two shots on goal against the Chicago Fire in yesterday's match, but they made the most of those opportunities, scoring the game's only goal en route to a 1-0 victory over the Fire. The Fire had six shots on goal but couldn't convert any of them into points on the scoreboard. The Fire, who remain in second place in the MLS's Eastern Conference, get a breather next week before their September 12 at Real Salt Lake.
A masterful performance from Rich Harden helped the Cubs beat the San Diego Padres on Wednesday, 7-1. Harden hurled seven scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and three free passes. The Friars' Mat Latos didn't have the same success, as Chicago was able to post five runs in the first four frames. Those five runs included ribbies from Koyie Hill, Derrek Lee, Kosuke Fukudome and Aramis Ramirez, and were supplemented by solo shots from Ramirez and Milton Bradley in the sixth. In addition to his flash of power, Bradley demonstrated his patience at the plate, drawing three walks as he reached safely in all five of his plate appearances. Sean Marshall allowed the lone San Diego score in the ninth, but the Cubs' big lead made it a non-issue. After salvaging the final game of the series, the Cubs move on to L.A. for a 9:10 start with the Dodgers tonight.
The Oakland Athletics walked off with a 3-2 victory over the White Sox on Sunday, as Chicago fell just short of the series sweep. Scott Posednik tripled home Mark Kotsay in the sixth to score the game's first run, and Jim Thome followed with a bases-loaded sac fly to extend Chicago's lead to two. Starter John Danks gave one back in the seventh after six scoreless frames and then left a runner on second base for Octavio Dotel in the eighth. Dotel got Kurt Suzuki to pop up for out number two, but the next batter, Scott Hairston, tied the game with an RBI double. The Sox failed to add to their tally in the top of the ninth but found themselves only an out away from extra innings when Mark Ellis took Bobby Jenks deep on a 1-0 fastball to clinch it for the A's. The late-inning loss cost the Sox an opportunity to gain ground on Detroit, who remain 2.5 games ahead. Next up, a home stint starting with the Kansas City Royals at 7:11 tonight.
It was a tough night for Fire fans at Toyota Park as the Fire dropped a heart-breaker to Tigres UANL in the SuperLiga 2009 Final, 1-1 (4-3) on penalty kicks. Patrick Nyarko headed in the first goal of the game for the Fire early on in the 10th minute to give the Fire an early 1-0 edge. Just before the half, in the 43rd minute, Itamar Batista made some impressive moves that led to a goal of his own for Tigres that tied the game at 1-1. After a scoreless second half and stoppage time, the game moved to penalty kicks. Blanco opened the PK scoring for both teams, but Gaston Fernandez evened the count. Neither team scored in the second round of kicks but then both scored in the third round, Chris Rolfe for the Fire and Lucas Ayala for Tigres. Justin Mapp missed in the fourth round of PKs for Chicago and Armando Pulido answered with a goal for Tigres. Daniel Woolard scored for the Fire to start the fifth and final round, but Itamar Batista answered for Tigres, clinching the victory.
A fire on the west side of Joliet destroyed a four-unit condo and left two couples homeless Saturday morning, according to the Herald.
The Ted Lilly-less Cubs got the best of the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday afternoon, winning 5-3. With Lilly sent to the 15-day D.L. due to shoulder inflammation, substitute starter Kevin Hart gave Chicago six innings of five-hit, one-run baseball. The Cubs’ big bats made that one run inconsequential, as Aramis Ramirez, Alfonso Soriano and Milton Bradley each went deep for the North Siders. Bradley’s homer—a pinch-hit solo job in the eighth—seemed superfluous at the time, but provided the Cubs some breathing room when Jonny Gomes launched a two-run homer off Aaron Heilman in the ninth. Kevin Gregg stepped in to record the final out, and the Cubs extended their winning streak to three games. The Cubs will attempt to sweep the series at 1:20 this afternoon.
It's been nearly six months since fire damaged the historic Holy Name Cathedral and while worshipers have found other locations to hold mass, they'll soon be back in their church. Repairs have been ongoing - at a rate of 10 hours a day for six days a week - and the $6 million repair is almost done, mostly covered by insurance. It appears the church will reopen officially on Saturday, August 1. CBS 2 has more on the repair efforts and the expected reopening.
The White Sox held on for a game-two victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday, winning by the score of 4-3. Effective starting pitching from Mark Buehrle and a four-run offensive outburst in the fifth put Chicago on top 4-1 headed into the late innings. That outburst began with a two-run dinger from Jermaine Dye, and after six consecutive Sox’s hits, ended on back-to-back plays at the plate. Chicago’s three-run advantage was safe until the top of the ninth, when closer Bobby Jenks allowed two runs before getting Nick Markakis to ground out, ending the game and preserving the save. It was the tenth win of the season for Mark Buehrle, who appeared to be back in top form after a rocky previous start. The Sox will go for the series sweep when they take the field at 1:05 this afternoon.
All-Star Ted Lilly notched his 100th career win as the Cubs defeated the Cardinals 5-2 on Saturday afternoon. Lilly permitted only four hits and one run over eight innings, alleviating the pressure on Chicago’s bats. The Cardinals’ Brad Thompson did not have the same success, plunking Milton Bradley with the bases loaded in the first inning and then surrendering a two-RBI base knock to Jeff Baker as the Cubs jumped in front 3-0. St. Louis would get one back in the fourth, but Aramis Ramirez and Alfonso Soriano each picked up a run in the fifth to extend The Cubs’ lead to four. Things got interesting in the ninth as Carlos Marmol struggled with his command and a blown call at first base kept the Cardinals’ hopes alive, but Kevin Gregg stepped in to record the final out and preserve the victory. The Cubs and Cards play two today before heading into the break.
For the second time in about a week, multiple cars were set on fire. The latest incident occurred last night in Lincoln Square where four cars were burned in a parking lot in the 5600 block of North Western Avenue. No one was hurt and an investigation is underway. Police say it doesn't appear to be related to last week's incidents of car burnings on the Northwest Side. [CBN]
The White Sox hit Cleveland ace Cliff Lee early and often on their way to a rain-shortened 11-4 drubbing of the Indians. The Sox got off to a quick start, knocking in four runs in the first including a two-run homer from Paul Konerko. Rookie Gordon Beckham went yard in the third and Josh Fields added a solo shot in the fifth as the Sox scored in each of the first six innings except the second and chased Lee after knocking him around for seven runs in just over three innings pitched. As for the Sox, Clayton Richard gave up four runs, struck out six, and got the win. The rain - which forced the game to be called in the top of the seventh - also helped preserve the Sox bullpen as Richard threw all six innings for the Sox. The final game of the series gets underway in Cleveland tonight at 6:05 p.m. (WCIU).
Joliet's Empress Casino, closed since a large fire struck the complex in March, is finally set to reopen tomorrow. Empress marketing coordinator Kevin McMaster told Fox 32, "Everything is coming along great. It's amazing how fast things are coming together. We are crossing our last Ts and dotting our last Is for Thursday." The casino, which has been closed for 97 days, will have a few ceremonies before reopening to the public at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow. [Fox 32]
John Danks gave the White Sox his third straight quality start, but it wasn't enough to deliver a win as the Sox bullpen and bats couldn't hold up their end of the bargain and the Sox fell 5-2. Danks was rough early, giving up three runs in the first two innings, but then settled down and held the Dodgers scoreless for the remainder of his seven innings. But his early stumbles, including a two-run homer given up to LA's James Loney in the second, were too much for the Sox to overcome. Matt Thornton gave up two runs in relief in the eighth to help LA along to victory. Of course, credit is also due to LA's starter, Hiroki Kuroda, who held the Sox to two runs on four hits over 8.2 innings. Paul Konerko provided an offensive spark early for the Sox with a solo homer in the second, but the Sox couldn't get much going after that. Game two of the three game set gets underway tonight at 7:11 p.m. (WCIU).
The Cubs walked off with another win versus the Cleveland Indians and Kerry Wood yesterday, triumphing 6-5 in 13 innings. Cleveland broke a 4-4 deadlock in the top of the 13th when Luis Valbuena hit his second solo shot of the contest, putting the pressure on a Cubs’ offense that had been held scoreless since the sixth. Kosuke Fukudome started the bottom half with his fourth hit of the game, singling to right. He then made a break for second on the third strike to Koyie Hill and advanced all the way to third on an errant throw by Indian’s catcher Kelly Shoppach. A subsequent single by pinch-hitter Andres Blanco plated Fukudome to tie the game, and Aaron Miles’ base knock moved Blanco to within 90 feet of a Cubs’ victory. The game came to an abrupt end when Wood uncorked a wild 1-1 fastball that bounced to the backstop, allowing Blanco to come home with ease for the winning run. Derrek Lee and Micah Hoffpauir provided the Cubs’ early offense, both hitting two-run homers in the middle innings to keep their club in the mix. Starter Ted Lilly turned in six quality innings and seven pitchers later David Patton notched the win. The Cubs will go for the sweep at 1:20 this afternoon.
A blazing train derailment in Rockford, Ill. resulted in one death, power loss and the evacuation of hundreds of residents. The Chicago-bound freight train had 74 of its 114 cars filled with ethanol, according to the Associated Press. As of Saturday morning, five rail cars were still burning, with officials concerned other cars may catch fire. Cars on the train hydroplaned in standing water as it approached a railroad crossing, according to witness reports to the Rockford Register-Star. However a Canadian National Railway Company spokesman said claims the derailment was “caused by a washout of the tracks” were under investigation.
The White Sox had a field day against Manny Parra and the Brewers, scoring six runs in the second inning of a 7-1 victory. Parra coughed up five hits and three walks in that fateful inning, as Jayson Nix, Gordon Beckham, Scott Podsednik and Paul Konerko all drove in runs for the Sox. The outburst ended Parra's day after only five outs, while in the Sox camp starter Jose Contreras pitched eight shutout innings, allowing only two hits and two free passes. Contreras has now thrown sixteen frames since his return to the Bigs, conceding only three hits in that span. Nix, Brian Anderson and Ramon Castro had two hits apiece for Chicago, with the recently aquired Castro adding a solo shot to the Sox's tally in the fifth. The Sox and the Brewers play the rubber game today at 1:05 in Miller Park.
With the Cubs' 2-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Friday Carlos Zambrano notched the 100th win of his career, and did so in impressive fashion. One the mound, the Cubs' ace threw six-and-two-thirds shutout innings, allowing only two hits and striking out seven. At the plate, Zambrano scored the game's winning run on a solo shot to center field. Big Z's big fly gave Chicago a 2-0 lead, adding to Mike Fontenot's RBI walk in the opening inning. That lead shrunk to one when setup man Carlos Marmol surrendered a walk and subsequent RBI triple in the eighth, and closer Kevin Gregg had to escape a first-and-third jam in the ninth to preserve the victory. When the 28-year-old Zambrano was asked about the possibility of reaching 300 wins, Z announced his plans for retirement, stating, "after this contract, I'm done." The Cubs will try to extend their modest winning streak to three games when the step into the box at 6:10 this evening.
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