Running the Bases with Alexandra Shloss: Game # 15 White Sox at Cubs, 5/19/12

Some people just love the Crosstown Classic when the Cubs play the Sox. I hate it. I never go.

The only reason I went this time was because my favorite married couple, TomKat Sherman, were on a little trip from Minnesota and had tickets to the game. I was SOOOOO excited to see them, but very excited to show Katie Wrigley--she had never been.

It was a pain in the neck to get to the field. The stupid NATO summit was in town. There were tons of roads closed. I got to the park much later than I wanted to. There was extra security. Then I got inside and they wouldn't even let the fans go down to the front for batting practice for security reasons. Lame. Katie and Tom were running behind me, so I was on my own for a while.

So with all that said, it was a little surreal to see the White Sox on Wrigley Field. Here's the favorite all-time player Robin Ventura throwing B.P.

The atmosphere was highly charged. First, the atmosphere is always charged when the Cubs play the White Sox. It is emotional and freakish. Second, the day before, Jeff Samardzija had accidentally beaned Paul Konerko in the eye, causing him to leave the game, I believe with a concussion. White Sox fans cried foul, saying it was intentional, but no way would Shark intentionally hit another player in the eye.

But third, the day before Kerry Wood made his last appearance as a Cubs pitcher and retired from the game. I wrote about all of this in a previous blog post: http://baseballgirl23.blogspot.com/2012/05/goodbye-mr-wood.html

But Brent Lillibridge was all smiles.

Steve was too far away to talk to. Wahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!

But yayyyyyy Katie is here!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's TomKat, living it up in the Chi!

So here's Ryan Dempster.

The Sox got to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning. DeAza singled Dunn walked. Viciedo singled and drove them in.

Beckham flied out but I wanted to put him up anyway.

Have I mentioned how excited I am to have TomKat here? I even wore a Twins shirt in their honor. It's a Michael Cuddyer shirt, who was now on the Rockies. Lots of confusion about representation here.

Robin in a Wrigley dugout.

In the top of the third inning, Viciedo hit a two-run homer. AJ also hit a solo homer.

Ryan Dempster tried to help himself. But he fouled out.

James Russell warming

Here's a Michael Bowden moment.

Well, the Cubs kept trying to get runs, but it was not happening.

So we decided to get food.

This was our seventh inning stretch.....

John Danks pitched a heck of a game for the Sox. He pitched almost seven shutout innings.

Nate Jones came on in relief.

One is big and one is little.

Meanwhile, Russell continued warming.

He came on to pitch in the eighth with a 4-0 deficit. The Sox scored two more runs.

Blake Parker came in to relieve him and inherited loaded bases. P.S. Look--it's Koye Hill. He had been released from the Cubs the year before. But with both Geo and Steve on the DL, they needed a Wellington backup. So they found him, wherever he was.