White Sox 6, Cubs 0
The last time I attended a Crosstown Classic game, I vowed I would never go to another. These games are not for those looking for a relaxing day at the ballpark. The atmosphere is far too tense for that to occur, seeing as fights are likely to break out at anytime, anywhere around you. This year, adding to this pumped up bravado, is the introduction of a trophy called the BP Crosstown Cup (talk about bad timing), which is awarded to the team that wins the best out of the six game series. So, I was planning on staying as far away from this game as possible. That is, until my buddy called me up again and said he an extra ticket. So, off to the Cell I went!
Luckily, all the drama this year (or at least this game) occurred on the field and not in the stands. This was the game that troubled Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano had another meltdown after the Sox scored 4 runs on him in the 1st inning. If you didn’t see it, Zambrano stomps on first base, getting the last out of the inning, and then proceeds into the dugout screaming at his teammates, particularly Cubs first baseman Derek Lee. Apparently, Big Z thought that Lee cost him a run when Lee didn’t make a good enough effort at a ball that was smashed right down the first base line. After the two are separated by Cubs manager Lou Piniella, Big Z knocks over a water cooler and exits the dugout through the tunnel back to the lockers. He wouldn’t return to the game. More on the tirade here.
Where I was in the stands, I saw none of this crazy altercation. When Big Z was staring down Derek Lee in the dugout, I did hear a section of the crowd going crazy, but I merely assumed that there was a fight breaking out. So, surely some of the fans had a good view of what was going down. Not I. Instead, I was left dumbfounded when Big Z didn’t return for the 2nd inning. Sure, he gave up 4 runs but that’s no reason to sit out a starter. I was very confused. It wouldn’t be until after the game that I would realize what had happened. The local media sure had a field day with it.
On the mound for the Sox was the 2007 Cy Young winner, Jake Peavy. Peavy was acquired late last season from the San Diego Padres at a time when he was injured and couldn’t provide much help to the rotation. The gamble was for Peavy to shine this season, and even though Peavy had a rough start, the gamble has finally started to pay off for the Sox (even though he got injured in last nights game against the Angels). On that day, Peavy was amazing, pitching 7 straight innings, and allowing only 3 hits while striking out 9 batters!
Along with the great pitching, we saw home runs from Carlos Quentin and the struggling Georgia kid Gordon Beckham. I even have video of Quentin’s home run has it happens! See below (click on the video to make it larger):
Easily, the Sox won that day, bringing their streak to 10 games. The Sox would win the next day as well. Unfortunately, the streak would stop at 11 games, as the Cubs finally managed to scrape a win by during a pitchers duel between Ted Lilly and Gavin Floyd, where the Cubs came out on front defeating the Sox 1 – 0. For a moment there, though, the Sox were the hottest team in baseball. And I was a part of it.