By Greg Halbleib
The CornBelters were rained out at Washington, Pennsylvania to end their road trip. The Belters host the Lake Erie Crushers in a weekend series starting at 6:35 tonight at the Corn Crib.
The Chiefs lost 8-7 in 11 innings at Quad Cities.
The Cardinals held off the Marlins for a 5-4 win behind a homer and three RBIs from Aledmys Diaz off his boyhood friend Jose Fernandez. The series continues tonight in Miami as Mike Leake squares off against Jose Urena.
The Cubs beat the White Sox 3-1 to force a split of the four-game Crosstown Series. Chris Sale fell to 14-4 after returning from his five-game team suspension by giving up just two runs in six innings but suffered the loss. John Lackey earned the win and Aroldis Chapman pitched the final four outs for the save.
The White Sox visit Minnesota for a weekend series as Jose Quintana meets Ricky Nolasco on the mound in tonight’s opener. The Cubs host the Mariners this afternoon with Hisashi Iwakuma facing Jon Lester on the hill.
The Cubs are considering hiring a new Spanish translator for star closer Aroldis Chapman. He struggled to answer questions about a past domestic violence case when he was introduced this week. A Cubs spokesman said coach Henry Blanco will translate for Chapman for now.
Jimmy Walker fired a 5-under-par 65 to take a one-stroke lead after one round of the PGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club in New Jersey.
Illinois Wesleyan men’s basketball gets a head start on practice today to prepare for three exhibition games in Spain in mid-August. The Titans are allowed 10 additional practices to prepare for the trip.
The Minnesota Vikings have given coach Mike Zimmer, an Illinois State alum, a contract extension after going 18-14 in two seasons. The Vikings won the NFC North last year.
