Chicago baseball was on display on July fourth in both our nation’s capital and the windy city as the cubs battled the Nationals in an extra innings game and The White Sox faced Kansas City. Both games ended 5-4, but only one Chicago team was on the winning side of the scoreboard. Both games also ended in odd fashion from mistakes from the pitchers mound.

The Cubs battled the Nationals in our nations capital on the Fourth of July, but came up short in a 5-4 loss to Washington. The Loss came on a play that rarely ends most Major League Baseball games and is embarrassing, yet a perfect example of how the Cubs season has gone this year. The cubs were able to produce more hits and played well, but to get wins you must play well all 9 innings, and Chicago was unable to do so in the bottom of the 9^thwhen Washington scored the winning run on a wild pitch in the bottom of the tenth inning. The pitch cannot only sum up the game, but the season of the struggling Cubs ball club.

The loss for the Cubs brought their record to 35-51 on the year and brought their away record to 15-25 this season. The cubs were able to get offense. In all, they out hit the Nationals 10-7 at the plate. Their ten hits, however, brought home just 4 runs to the Nats 5. The loss was credited to Cubs pitcher Marcos Mateo.

Washington’s victory moves them to even on the year at 43-43, and they continue to shine at home where they are 25-15. Washington started the game in the first by batting home 2 runs to catch and early lead and added another in the top of the second inning. Pitcher Henry Rodriguez got credited with his 3^rdwin of the season.

The two teams will meet again in Washington on July 5^that 7:05 PM ET. The Cubs will send pitcher Ramon Ortiz to the mound to square off against Washington’s Ross Detwiler.

Back in Chicago, the White sox battled the Kansas City Royals in a close match up that would end in the bottom of the 9^thafter Royals pitcher Aaron Crow balked in the winning run. The game was tight throughout as both teams had 10 hits in the ball game. And were tied until the balk. Crows balk made for the pitchers 2^ndloss of the season.

The White Sox had two homeruns on the day. Ramon Castro hit his 4^thof the season while Adam Dunn produced his 8^thdinger of the year. Pitcher Sergio Santos got credit for his 8^thvictory of the season and helped get the Sox to even on the year at 43-43. Oddly enough, they are also even at home with a 20-20 home record.

The White Sox and Royals will meet again July 5^that 8:10 PM ET when winless Royals pitcher Felipe Paulino will face Sox pitcher Jake Peavy who looks to get his 5^thwin of the year. Peavy has just one loss this season and looks to get the Sox above 500.