Kerry Wood makes last-pitch effort, but Cubs lose to White Sox
BY TONI GINNETTI tginnetti@suntimes.com May 18, 2012 4:08PM
Kerry Wood of the Cubs is congratulated by teammates after pitching in his final appearance as a Major League pitcher in the eighth inning at Wrigley Field Friday, May 18, 2012, in Chicago. | John J. Kim~Sun-Times
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Updated: May 18, 2012 4:44PM
Even when their seasons are sub-par, the Cubs and White Sox bring drama to their crosstown series.
It happened again Friday at Wrigley Field, with the 3-2 victory for the Sox almost a footnote to it all.
Hours before the game, veteran Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood let it be known he was ending his career, albeit after one more appearance at Wrigley Field.
It came in the eighth inning as he struck out Dayan Viciedo, then walked off to the cheers of fans, his young son Justin greeting him at the steps of the dugout as he waved goodbye.
“It’s just time,” Wood said after the game. “We all have to go some time. We all don’t get to choose the time.
“I definitely didn’t want to go out with my last inning being me throwing my glove in the seats.”
Wood’s manager, Dale Sveum wasn’t there to send him off in the eighth. Sveum was ejected in the fifth inning after arguing over a play at second in which outfielder David DeJesus scrambled for a double, only to be tagged out as Gordon Beckham collided with him making the tag.
First baseman Paul Konerko, whose first inning two-run homer off Jeff Samardzija gave the Sox the lead, also wasn’t around. He was hit in the face by a Samardzija pitch in the third and left with a laceration over his left eye and swelling.
The game was decided in the eighth on Beckham’s solo homer off Samardzija (4-2), with the Cubs leaving the potential tying run at second in the ninth after Darwin Barney doubled.
The victory went to Matt Thornton in relief (2-3), with Addison Reed earning his fourth save.
