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Cubs fans pelt field after Pierzynski HR By RICK GANO, AP Sports Writer
Sun Jul 2, 7:58 AM ET
CHICAGO - With the Cubs so close to winning, fans littered Wrigley Field with plastic bottles, cups, and other debris Saturday after A.J. Pierzynski hit a two-out, ninth-inning homer to send the White Sox to an 8-6 victory.
The game was delayed nearly five minutes as security and the grounds crew came out to pick up the litter. Most of it fell on the warning track in the outfield, although some items, including a baseball, came out of the stands from behind the Cubs' dugout.
"I guess they can voice their opinions however they want to," Cubs center fielder Juan Pierre said.
"They shouldn't throw anything on the field. It was sad. It was frustrating for us to lose a game and have the fans react like this."
Much of the anger apparently was directed at Cubs closer Ryan Dempster, who retired the first two batters in the ninth with the Cubs leading 6-5. But two straight batters then reached base ahead of Pierzynski's homer.
Shortly after Pierzynski rounded the bases and got in the dugout, items began sailing onto the field. The Cubs are 1-11 in their last 12 homes games.
"It's tough because you never like to see that," Dempster said after blowing his fifth save of the season. "I wish I would have gotten the last out and you never would have seen that. It's tough."
The Cubs, who have lost two straight and four of five to the White
Sox this season, dropped to 29-51.
Pierzynski has been in the center of the rivalry all season, first after he was punched by the Cubs' Michael Barrett on May 20, setting off a brawl.
"You don't want to see anyone throw anything on the field," Pierzynski said.
"You understand when your guy hits a home run and they throw the home run ball back. But you don't expect them to throw cups and throw everything else. ... You fear for Jacque (Jones), you fear for Juan Pierre and you fear for the outfielders and you fear for some fans who aren't doing anything and they might have the opportunity to get hurt."
Cubs fans pelt field after Pierzynski HR By RICK GANO, AP Sports Writer
Sun Jul 2, 7:58 AM ET
CHICAGO - With the Cubs so close to winning, fans littered Wrigley Field with plastic bottles, cups, and other debris Saturday after A.J. Pierzynski hit a two-out, ninth-inning homer to send the White Sox to an 8-6 victory.
The game was delayed nearly five minutes as security and the grounds crew came out to pick up the litter. Most of it fell on the warning track in the outfield, although some items, including a baseball, came out of the stands from behind the Cubs' dugout.
"I guess they can voice their opinions however they want to," Cubs center fielder Juan Pierre said.
"They shouldn't throw anything on the field. It was sad. It was frustrating for us to lose a game and have the fans react like this."
Much of the anger apparently was directed at Cubs closer Ryan Dempster, who retired the first two batters in the ninth with the Cubs leading 6-5. But two straight batters then reached base ahead of Pierzynski's homer.
Shortly after Pierzynski rounded the bases and got in the dugout, items began sailing onto the field. The Cubs are 1-11 in their last 12 homes games.
"It's tough because you never like to see that," Dempster said after blowing his fifth save of the season. "I wish I would have gotten the last out and you never would have seen that. It's tough."
The Cubs, who have lost two straight and four of five to the White
Sox this season, dropped to 29-51.
Pierzynski has been in the center of the rivalry all season, first after he was punched by the Cubs' Michael Barrett on May 20, setting off a brawl.
"You don't want to see anyone throw anything on the field," Pierzynski said.
"You understand when your guy hits a home run and they throw the home run ball back. But you don't expect them to throw cups and throw everything else. ... You fear for Jacque (Jones), you fear for Juan Pierre and you fear for the outfielders and you fear for some fans who aren't doing anything and they might have the opportunity to get hurt."