Alexei Ramirez’s soaring fly ball was either going to land in the glove of Cleveland left fielder Ben Francisco to end the game or clear the fence and tie it up with two outs in the 10th.

The way things have been going for the Chicago White Sox lately, it was the latter.

Ramirez’s high fly was a game-tying homer off Indians closer Joe Borowski. And the White Sox pulled out a 3-2 victory moments later when pinch-hitter DeWayne Wise singled, stole second and scored the game-winner on Orlando Cabrera’s RBI single.

“Everybody did their part,” Cabrera said.

“A very good moment,” Ramirez said through a translator. “I knew I hit it hard, but I hit it so high I really wasn’t sure, so I just kept running. Until he jumped and it had landed, I didn’t really know, wasn’t sure.”

Francisco initially thought he had a play.

“I went to the wall and I thought the ball was going to come right down to me,” Francisco said. “And it blew over the fence.”

Adam Russell (1-0) got his first major league win with one-third of an inning, striking out Franklin Gutierrez with two on in the top of the 10th.

Casey Blake had given Cleveland a 2-1 lead with a long homer to left off Matt Thornton in the top of the 10th, but the Indians faltered again in their disappointing season and fell 11 1/2 games behind the first-place White Sox.

“It hurts. Maybe kind of doing it in that fashion stings a little more. But they’re having a pretty special year,” Blake said. “It kind of reminds me of how we were playing last year. It seems like we found a way to win all the time.”

Borowski (1-3) blew his fourth save in 10 chances.

“In the position we’re in trying to play catchup, you can’t afford to let these games get away. … We had an opportunity and I let it slip away,” Borowski said.

Left-handers Cliff Lee of the Indians and John Danks of the White Sox dueled for eight innings and neither got the decision after a strong effort, leaving with the game tied 1-1.

Lee, who entered with an 11-1 record, gave up six hits and a run with one walk and three strikeouts. Danks allowed four hits and a run with a walk and eight strikeouts.

Kelly Shoppach led off the sixth with his sixth homer, ending Danks’ scoreless innings streak at 16 and tying the game 1-1. Danks tied his career high in both innings pitched and strikeouts.

Danks was watching from the clubhouse with reliever Scott Linebrink when Ramirez’s homer went over.

“To see that ball finally get out, it looked like he was going to have a chance to rob it,” Danks said. “It was very dramatic. When it got out, Scott and I jumped up and high fived each other.”

Chicago got to Lee for a run in the second when Ramirez hit a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded following singles by Jermaine Dye and Jim Thome and a walk to Nick Swisher.

The White Sox threatened in the sixth when A.J. Pierzynski and Carlos Quentin singled to start the inning but Dye hit into a double play and the rally fizzled.

“It’s definitely frustrating to lose like that,” Lee said. “It’s a game that we had and we kind of let it get away from us at the end. But we still have a long season to go.”

Derrick Rose grew up a few miles from the United Center. Now he’ll call the arena home.

The Chicago Bulls took Rose with the No. 1 draft pick on Thursday, opting for the point guard who led Memphis to the NCAA championship game over Kansas State forward Michael Beasley.

“It’s been amazing just waking up in the morning, knowing that today is my day and knowing that I’m going to have a chance to be in the first two picks,” Rose said. “Man, it’s been crazy running around, making me feel important. You really don’t want the day to end.”

That the Bulls went with Rose wasn’t a big surprise.

General manager John Paxson had hinted that they were leaning toward the dynamic floor leader who averaged 14.9 points and 4.7 assists while helping Memphis win a record 38 games in his lone season.

“I think he’s a special type of talent,” Paxson said. “I do feel the point guard position is really tough to come by. I think he had the unique strength component and speed component that a lot of point guards in this league don’t have. … He’s 19 years old and we feel like for the next 10, 12 years we’ve got a position covered that is really important to have.”

Not that choosing him over Beasley was easy. Both players probably could have jumped to the NBA from high school if league rules still allowed.

Instead, Beasley delivered one of the best seasons ever by a freshman, becoming just the third to lead the nation in rebounds at 12.4 per game while averaging 26.2 points. He had the second-most rebounds and third-most points by a freshman in NCAA history, helping Kansas State to its first NCAA tournament victory in 20 years.

He is projected to be a prolific scorer, something the Bulls certainly could use, and Paxson had said he would probably make a bigger impact next season.

Yet they saw Rose as a better fit after a disappointing 33-49 season.

The Bulls lacked leadership last season, and they are trying to pick up the tempo under new coach Vinny Del Negro without sacrificing much on defense— areas where Rose could help. They were also thinking long-term with the pick.

“He’s going to make guys better,” Del Negro said. “Guys that have his ability—length, create, finish with contact—are only going to benefit everybody on the team.”

Although Paxson said the Bulls will try to bring him along slowly, Rose believes he’ll be a quick study.

“I think I’ll come in and lead the team,” Rose said. “That’s how I feel.”

Can a 19-year-old rookie do that?

“I think I can be a leader on the court and off the court,” Rose said. “Age doesn’t really matter. It’s about how effective you are, and I think I’m getting better with my leadership skills.”

Rose is just the second guard taken with the first pick since Magic Johnson in 1979, joining Allen Iverson in 1996, and he’s the Bulls’ first No. 1 pick since Elton Brand in 1999. The Bulls went with Arkansas forward Sonny Weems in the second round, taking him with the 39th pick and sending him to Denver in a three-team deal involving several future draft picks that landed Chicago the rights to center Omer Asik from Portland, the 36th selection.

A product of city’s South Side, he had Memphis in position to win the national championship before things ended on a sour note. Rose scored 14 of his team’s 16 points during one stretch as the Tigers built a nine-point lead late in the title game against Kansas, but he missed one of two free throws with 10.8 seconds left. Mario Chalmers then hit the tying 3-pointer, and the Jayhawks won in overtime.

Even so, Rose made a convincing case that he was one of the top players in the draft. He was particularly good during the NCAA tournament, averaging 20.8 points after a solid regular season and now, he’ll try to help his hometown team pick up the pieces after a brutal season.

“Of course there’s pressure,” Rose said. “But I’m used to playing in Chicago. I think that will work to my advantage.”

Rose grew up in the rough Englewood neighborhood and starred at Simeon Career Academy. He’s old enough to remember the end of the championship dynasty but also saw Chicago hit the bottom of the NBA.

The Bulls thought they were on the right track after three straight playoff appearances but derailed as individual agendas took hold last season.

Luol Deng and Ben Gordon turned down five-year contract extensions and Kobe Bryant trade rumors surfaced as the season started. Players bickered with each other and their coaches. Scott Skiles got fired in December, interim coach Jim Boylan was let go at the end of the season, and the Bulls’ coaching search dragged on about two months before they finally hired Del Negro after high-profile flirtations with Mike D’Antoni and Doug Collins.

The team’s luck—and Rose’s career path—took a dramatic turn on May 20.

Rose signed with agents Arn Tellem and B.J. Armstrong, the former Bulls player, and told them he hoped to play for Chicago. That drew laughter, but a few hours later, there were gasps. The Bulls won the draft lottery despite 1.7 percent odds, and a long shot turned into a strong possibility.

Chicago still has issues to address, starting with Deng and Gordon.

They’re restricted free agents, and even if Gordon leaves, the Bulls still have a crowd in the backcourt. Kirk Hinrich and Larry Hughes have large contracts, and Thabo Sefolosha made a case for more playing time last season.

Derrick Rose’s response was as direct as one of his passes.

The best player in the draft? He reiterated it’s Michael Beasley.

“Hands down he is,” Rose said after working out with the Chicago Bulls on Thursday.

The No. 1 pick? It could be Rose.

While he was quick to praise Beasley again, just as he did at the NBA’s pre-draft camp, Rose also made it clear he would love to play for his hometown team.

The Chicago Bulls have the top pick in the draft next week and an important decision to make. Do they go with Beasley, the forward from Kansas State who would give them a scoring presence? Or Rose, the point guard from Chicago who led Memphis to the NCAA championship game?

While Beasley indicated earlier in the week that he would visit Miami, which has the No. 2 pick, Rose had no other trips planned. The workout on Thursday was his first—and perhaps only—one.

“Right now, he’s not scheduled to work out with the Heat,” said Reggie Rose, his older brother. “This might be the last stop, I hope.”

Reggie Rose said they are willing to visit Miami, but, “This might be it.”

If the Bulls are it, that would be just fine with Derrick Rose, who grew up on the city’s South Side and played at Simeon High School before leading Memphis to the NCAA final in his lone season with the Tigers.

Rose averaged 14.9 points and 4.7 assists while leading Memphis to an NCAA Division I record 38 victories and was particularly good during the NCAA tournament. He averaged 20.8 points and dominated Kansas in the championship game until the final seconds of regulation.

Memphis was leading by two when Rose stepped to the line with 10.8 seconds left and a chance to seal the victory. Instead of making it a two-possession game, he made one of two free throws. That gave Kansas a chance to tie it and the Jayhawks’ Mario Chalmers did just that after Memphis couldn’t foul, sending the game into overtime with a 3-pointer that crushed the Tigers.

“It was real tough knowing that I was one of the reasons we lost, not hitting a free throw,” Rose said.

Now, he could be the man who helps the Bulls rebound from their most disappointing season in years. Expected to contend in the Eastern Conference after three straight playoff appearances, Chicago lost 49 games as players bickered with each other and their coaches.

Scott Skiles was fired in December, and interim coach Jim Boylan lost his job at the end of the season. The Bulls finally hired Vinny Del Negro after a two-month coaching search in which they seemed ready to go with Mike D’Antoni and then Doug Collins.

Along the way, Chicago’s luck took a turn for the better when it defied 1.7-percent odds and won the lottery.

“When I signed with (agent) Arn Tellem, we were in a room,” Rose said. “He was like, ‘Which team do you want to play for?’ And he was like, ‘I know your hometown.’ Everybody in the room started laughing because we thought it was impossible. That night when the Bulls got the No. 1 pick, I was looking at the TV like this can’t be true.”

Rose said he never owned a Michael Jordan jersey growing up. He paid closer attention to LeBron James and the two could have something in common in the near future: No. 1 picks who got drafted by the local team.

“I would love to play here,” Rose said. “It’s a dream come true. You get to bring the Bulls back to where they’re supposed to be, hopefully, take it step by step and make progress.”

But if Beasley’s the best player, why should the Bulls take Rose?

“I think I can control the team a little bit more,” Rose said. “I think I’m a leader. And I think I’ll push the players and everyone else to have that attitude.”

If Chicago doesn’t pick him?

“I’ll be hurt a little bit, but my goal is to be playing in the NBA,” Rose said.

Vinny Del Negro has been offered the Chicago Bulls head coaching job, according to a person within the league who is familiar with the situation.

The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because an announcement had not been made Monday.

An official announcement, which could come this week, would end a nearly two-month search that included courtships of Mike D’Antoni and Doug Collins.

Del Negro, the assistant general manager of the Phoenix Suns who has never been a head coach, would take over a team that went from 49 wins to 49 losses this past season and missed the playoffs after making the second round in 2007.

sluggish start cost coach Scott Skiles his job in December, and interim coach Jim Boylan was fired April 17. Former Minnesota coach Dwane Casey and Sacramento assistant Chuck Person also recently interviewed.

Messages left for Del Negro and Bulls GM John Paxson were not immediately returned.

Del Negro, who played collegiately at N.C. State, was drafted in 1988 by Sacramento and also played for San Antonio, Milwaukee, Golden State and Phoenix, averaging 9.9 points in 771 NBA games. He also played in Italy.

The Bulls were poised to make an offer to D’Antoni in early May only to see him jump from the Phoenix Suns to the New York Knicks before hearing chairman Jerry Reinsdorf’s presentation.

Collins, who coached a young Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen in the late 1980s before the championship run, also entered the picture, embracing the idea of a second opportunity in Chicago after the Bulls won the draft lottery and a shot at Derrick Rose or Michael Beasley.

The sides publicly acknowledged interest and said there would be more talks once Collins’ broadcast duties with TNT were finished. That happened when the Los Angeles Lakers beat San Antonio, but a potential deal unraveled.

Collins told Reinsdorf to look elsewhere June 6.

“I called Jerry this afternoon and said, ‘Let’s move forward and make sure we stay the friends that we have been for 25 years,”’ Collins said at the time. “It had to be a home run, and both of us had a little angst over it. So we both agreed it wasn’t the best to keep going this way.”

The Bulls, too, need a change of direction after unraveling just as the season tipped off.

A first-round sweep of Miami—Chicago’s first series victory since the championship era—and a six-game loss to Detroit in the second round last year gave the Bulls high hopes that quickly crashed. The Kobe Bryant trade rumors and failed contract negotiations with Luol Deng and Ben Gordon—who turned down five-year extensions worth more than $50 million—left Chicago in a funk it could not shake.

The unselfishness and hard-nosed defense that defined recent teams was missing. Players bickered with each other and lashed out at coaches as the losses mounted, and some skipped practices and shootarounds.

Joakim Noah, last year’s first-round pick, lashed out at assistant Ron Adams in January and was initially suspended one game before teammates voted to make it two. Noah also clashed with Ben Wallace, who was traded to Cleveland.

And just last month Noah was arrested in Gainesville, Fla., for having an open container of alcohol and also was charged with marijuana possession.

Tyrus Thomas skipped practice, Chris Duhon missed a shootaround the day after he attended a Duke-North Carolina game, and Andres Nocioni had words with Boylan during a game. Duhon is an unrestricted free agent who probably won’t be back, and Paxson figures to make some moves whether the No. 1 pick is involved or not.

“Hardly a year goes by when you don’t do something. But first we have to decide what we want to do with the pick,” Reinsdorf said last week. “And then we listen to offers for it, and then we’ll think about what else we’re going to do.”

It’s always an intriguing showdown when one of the former stars of the Japanese League faces another in a major league game. So far, Kosuke Fukudome is having more fun than Takashi Saito when the Chicago Cubs play the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Fukudome opened the scoring with a solo homer and drove in the eventual game-winner with a one-out single in the ninth against the Dodgers’ All-Star closer, leading the Cubs to a 5-4 victory on Thursday night. It was his second hit in as many at-bats against Saito.

Fukudome got a 2-2 slider down in the zone and grounded it through the right side of the infield to enable the Cubs to regain the lead after they squandered a 4-0 margin.

“He kept fouling off those fastballs, so we tried to get him to quit on a backdoor slider and (Saito) left it down over the plate,” catcher Russell Martin said. “If it’s a couple of inches to the left, it’s probably a double play. But he found a hole, and that was it.”

Ryan Theriot opened the ninth with a double down the right field line against Saito (3-2). One out later, Aramis Ramirez was hit by a pitch on the hand—or at least umpire Eric Cooper thought so—and manager Joe Torre argued to no avail along with Martin.

It nicked something. I don’t know it was his the knob of the bat or his hand,” Martin said. “I know it didn’t nick him as hard as he made it look, but that’s what you’re taught to do. If it flicks off something, throw your hands up and you’ll get the base. He definitely has a career in Hollywood, that’s for sure.”

The Cubs have won 10 of 11 and lead the majors with a 39-22 record, their best start since 1977 when they had an identical record. They began this recent surge with a three-game sweep of the Dodgers at Wrigley Field, and are 17-3 against NL West teams.

Bob Howry (2-2) was credited with the victory after pitching one inning. Kerry Wood, the fifth Cubs pitcher, escaped his own bases-loaded jam in the ninth by striking out Matt Kemp to record his 17th save in 21 chances and send the Dodgers to their 11th loss in 14 tries.

If anyone watched Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley play this season, they would have realized that both of these players were worthy of the #1 pick in this years NBA Draft.  However, since the Chicago Bulls can only choose one player, I am going to give John Paxson the answer to his questions.  WHO SHOULD BE THE #1 PICK?

First, the Chicago Bulls will not make a mistake by choosing either one of these players.  They are obviously great talents that should transfer to the NBA game.  Second, the Chicago Bulls should only trade out of this pick if they can land the #2 pick and other players.

When comparing who is a better fit for the Bulls, we need to understand the current Bulls Roster as it stands.

Guards:  Shannon Brown, JamesOn Curry, Chris Duhon, Ben Gordon, Kirk Hinrich, Larry Hughes, Thabo Sefolosha

Forwards: Luol Deng, Drew Gooden, Joakim Noah, Andres Nocioni, Tyrus Thomas

Centers:  Aaron Gray

The Bulls roster is obviously guard heavy.  John Paxson will need to trade a guard or two to provide front line help.  The obvious choice would be Ben Gordon or Kirk Hinrich.  Each would provide value to teams that need a point guard and a scorer.  The Bulls have not had a low post scorer that commands double teams since a young Elton Brand graced us for a few seasons.  This is the #1 reason why the 2007-2008 Bulls were bad.  There was no reason for NBA teams to double the post.  Because of this, the Bulls FG % was one of the lowest in the NBA because their guards had to take low percentage jumpers while be guarded.  Michael Beasley would command a double team.  He also is fast enough to spread the floor and take any power forward off the dribble.

Another reason why this Bulls team struggled is because they had too many droughts in scoring during games.  The Bulls would have opponents make 10-0 runs during most of their games.  The reason why they could not stop these runs is that no big man on the Bulls can get to the foul line.  Michael Beasley had 12 games this year in which he shot over 10 free throws.  He also shot at a respectable clip of 77%.  Derrick Rose shot 71% as a guard.  The Bulls need someone that can get to the line, command double teams and be a beast on the boards.

Beasley averaged 26 points and 12 rebounds a game in a very tough and physical Big 12.  Rose averaged 15 points, 5 boards and 5 assists in a very mediocre league.  He also shot a terrible 33% from 3pointers and 71% from the line.  Do I think Rose will learn how to shoot….yes.  However, the Bulls will struggle to score and win games without a low post scorer.

Chicago has been buzzing about Derrick Rose because he played and grew up in the windy city.  However, I am not sure that helps a young kid develop by having friends, family around.  I think it would be best for Rose to go to Miami and learn from Pat Riley (MAGIC) and play with Dwayne Wade.

They are both great players…but…with the 1st pick in the NBA draft, the Chicago Bulls should select Michael Beasley from Kansas State.

Anyone that calls themself a sports fan has been there at one time or another. You are spending your day cheering on your favorite team, but your cheers seem to be falling on deaf-ears. Your team seems to have decided that today is a good day to just phone-it-in.
Sadly, as Cubs fans we have come to find this feeling sadly familiar.  As you sit in your Wrigley field seat, the magical feeling you get every time you walk into the storied ballpark has faded as frustration has built over the last few hours. With every run the opposing team tacks-on a mixture of fury and indifference builds within you.
Finally, as even the manager has seemingly thrown in towel, subbing half of his starting line-up for whatever bench-warmers and farmhands he has on the bench, the frustration culminates and the thought sneaks into your mind: “This is a waste of time, WHAT AM I DOING HERE? If they have given up, maybe I should just leave!”
As quickly as the thought flashes across your brain, a wave of guilt flows through your Cubbie-blue bleeding heart. With this wave, all the times in your life that you have exclaimed, “a real fan never leaves early” suddenly weighs on your conscious. As you ponder your predicament, the clinching thought strikes, ensuring you will stay to the bitter end: “What if today is the day that they make one of the greatest rallies in history? Can I handle missing that?”
The answer is no-doubt a resounding NO! Now all you can think of is yourself sitting on the Dan-Ryan, torturing yourself by insisting on listening to the end of the game and hearing the Cubs storm back, making history in the process with a historic come-from-behind victory.  Ron Santo’s signature shrieks of child-like excitement on the airwaves would be sure to haunt you the rest of your days.
Every team has that once-in a-lifetime game that we have either seen or heard about. It is the fear of being one of the foolish that left that keeps us in your seats. As Cubs fans we hearken back to 1989 when the Cubs stormed back from a 9-0 deficit to overcome the Astros in extras.

The Pittsburgh Pirates’ chances for another rare win over the Chicago Cubs got away from them. Walked, actually.

Phil Dumatrait walked seven batters and Reed Johnson hit a sacrifice fly that put the Cubs ahead for good in their 4-3 win over Pittsburgh on Sunday.

“I was terrible. I wasn’t pounding the strike zone and walked entirely too many guys. If I just throw like I can, I feel like we had a good chance to win today. I just didn’t get the job done,” Dumatrait said. “Today, that was all on me.”

The Cubs have taken eight of the nine meetings with the Pirates this season.

Alfonso Soriano also drove in a run on a fly and Kosuke Fukudome and Ronny Cedeno had RBI singles to help the Cubs beat the Pirates for the eighth time in nine meetings this season.

Adam LaRoche hit a two-run homer and drove in three runs for the Pirates.

“I was terrible. I wasn’t pounding the strike zone and walked entirely too many guys. If I just throw like I can, I feel like we had a good chance to win today. I just didn’t get the job done,” said Dumatrait. “Today, that was all on me.”

Nick Swisher clearly is still popular in these parts—and he appreciates it.

He can also appreciate what he accomplished Sunday: success as a pinch-hitter.

The former fan favorite across the bay in Oakland spoiled the San Francisco Giants’ day with a tiebreaking three-run double in the eighth, helping the Chicago White Sox to a 13-8 victory Sunday and their fifth straight win.

He’s not used to such a role and hadn’t come through in seven previous chances. His hit was one of many clutch at-bats by the White Sox.

“It’s huge,” said Swisher, traded from the Athletics in the offseason. “All I’ve heard so far is how bad the White Sox play on the West Coast. I think we kind of turned that around here. … How many pinch-hit chances have I ever had? Not very many. I just happened to float one in there.”

Orlando Cabrera homered twice and drove in three runs, Carlos Quentin hit a go-ahead, two-run shot in the sixth and Joe Crede also connected in Chicago’s eighth win in 11 games, wrapping up an impressive 7-3 road trip.

The weather was miserable Monday, and the White Sox’s performance was just as dreary as they left U.S. Cellular Field with a 3-3 game against Baltimore that was suspended after 11 innings because of rain but should have been decided sooner.

“We stunk,” manager Ozzie Guillen said after the Sox stranded 14 baserunners. “I’m tired to see the effort like that.”

The Sox are 5-for-35 with runners in scoring position in their last four games after Monday’s 1-for-11 performance.

The game will be resumed at a later date. The Orioles have an off day June 23 in between a three-game set at Milwaukee and a three-game series at Wrigley Field against the Cubs. Or it could be finished when the Sox visit Baltimore for a three-game series Aug. 25-27.

Guillen was more irked by the shortcomings that occurred before and after closer Bobby Jenks blew his second save of the season in the ninth against Baltimore.

Nick Swisher fouled two bunt attempts before grounding into a double play in the eighth, and Brian Anderson failed to execute a squeeze bunt on a 2-1 count that resulted in Carlos Quentin getting caught in a rundown for the second out of the 10th.

“I got to get the job done,” Anderson said. “No excuses.”

And after Anderson drew his second walk to load the bases in the fourth, Alexei Ramirez grounded into an inning-ending force play on the next pitch.

“This is the big leagues,” Guillen said. “You should know what you’re doing.”

Several Sox players accepted responsibility.

“I stunk,” said A.J. Pierzynski, who stranded six runners. “If I get one hit, we win this game.”

All the individual statistics will count. That provided some consolation for starting pitcher Javier Vazquez, Quentin and Juan Uribe.

Vazquez left after eight innings and 100 pitches with a 2-1 lead. Guillen stood by his decision to pull him in favor of Jenks, who has five of his 14 blown saves against the Orioles.

“I have one of the best closers in the game for the past three years,” Guillen said. “That’s his job. He didn’t do what he always does.”

Quentin extended his hitting streak to eight games (12-for-26) and hit his sixth homer in the sixth.

Uribe came through with a game-tying homer in the 11th off George Sherrill, who had converted 11 straight save chances dating to last season with Seattle.

Uribe’s homer offset Ramon Hernandez’s homer in the top of the 11th off Scott Linebrink.

The start of the game was delayed 2 hours 6 minutes because of rain and marked the third delay in five days. That wore on Guillen, whose Sox embark on a six-game trip to Minnesota and Toronto with the security of playing indoors.