Morning Box Score
By Marcus Gilmer in News on Sep 20, 2009 4:00PM
Peavy, Quentin Power Sox Past Royals
A day after being shellacked 11-0 by the Kansas City Royals, the White Sox finally got a start out of there high-profile trade acquisition and exploded for 13 runs of their own to blow out the Royals 13-3. Jake Peavy, making his first start for the Sox and coming off a rehab stint, pitched good enough, giving up three runs over five innings. It wasn't a mind-blowing performance, but it was effective enough and White Sox fans can breath a sigh of relief. Meanwhile, the offense exploded for the Pale Hose, led by Carlos Quentin's fifth inning grand slam, which broke a 3-3 tie. The Sox exploded again in the eighth for six runs while the bullpen shut down the Royals offense. Said Peavy of his first performance in Sox black, "I did some things well, and I did some things not so well. I have a long way to go to be where I want to be...I'm used to having more arm strength and having a little more giddy-up. It will all come in time. I'm not so sure how it will come along this year, because I'm so far behind, but it felt good to get out there and compete." The teams close out the series today at 1:05 p.m. (CSN) before the Sox start a crucial six game, seven day stretch against the Twins and Tigers - believe it or not, the Sox are still in striking distance, 5.5 games back of the Tigers.
Cubs Lose Another Walk-Off Heartbreaker
Having to watch the Cubs languish in futility is one thing but having to watch them do it while losing back-to-back games against the rival Cardinals seems unusually cruel this year, as the Cubs dropped another one game, this time 2-1. Once more, the Cubs got a great performance out of a starter - Ryan Dempster, who struck out six and gave up one run over eight innings - but couldn't put the Cards away. And that lone run came off of a Brendan Ryan homer that was tipped over the wall by outfielder Bobby "Digital" Scales as he attempted to snag the deep fly. Said Scales, "I caught the ball," Scales said. "The fence jarred it loose. That's all there is to it, really. The fence jarred it loose. What are you going to do?" Down 1-0, the Cubs tied the game in the ninth courtesy of a Jeff Baker sac fly, but the Cards were able to bring a man around on closer Carlos Marmol, securing a 2-1 win when ex-Cub Mark DeRosa scored on another hit by Brendan Ryan. The series mercifully comes to a close tonight at 7:05 p.m. (ESPN).
College Football
bounced back from last week's rough loss to Michigan to defeat the Spartans of Michigan State 33-30. QB Jimmy Clausen threw for 300 yards and a pair of TDs. On the bad news front, receiver Michael Floyd went down with what is probably a broken collarbone.