Last night, it was supposed to be cold. It wasn’t.

Last night, the Cubs were supposed to lose. They didn’t.

Last night, the Sox were supposed to suffer a letdown after a tough set of wins. They didn’t.

So, let’s take a look at what actually happened last night. PAUL SULLIVAN (Tribune) takes a look at how the Cubs fared once they benched Soriano.

After Derrek Lee hit .189 with one home run in April, some Cubs fans cried for his benching.

But Lee has been on fire since, and he hit two home runs with a career-high seven RBIs Thursday night in a 9-5 victory over the Brewers in the opener of a four-game showdown.

“Keep going,” Lee said. “Just about trying to help the team win. Tonight’s a great night, but we’re right back here [Friday afternoon] and it’s another big game.”

The Cubs moved back to .500 at 38-38 and are now within 2 1/2 games of the Brewers and Cardinals, the division co-leaders after Thursday’s action. The 11-game homestand against Milwaukee, Atlanta and St. Louis could be a pivotal point of the season, so it was crucial for the Cubs to get out on the right foot.

So, that was good. Hopefully some, if not all, Cubs’ fans will come in off that ledge for a while. Oh, and the Soriano benching, it was done just because Lou said so.

Coming off a 3-7 trip, Piniella decided to do something he hasn’t done before in his 2 1/2 years as Cubs manager.

He sat Alfonso Soriano for the second straight game even though Soriano was healthy and said before the game he was ready.

Rookie Sam Fuld, Soriano’s replacement in left field and in the leadoff spot, reached base three times, going 2-for-4 with one walk and two runs scored.

Piniella said Soriano would play Friday but didn’t discount the idea of moving Fuld to center or right field.

Pitcher Randy Wells has called this year’s model of the Chicago Cubs the I-Cubs, as in the Iowa Cubs. As the rookies continue to hit, field and pitch and the veterans don’t, Jim Hendry may end up having the excuse he needs to get some head room in the budget after all. Assuming there are any takers, that is.

On the south side, A.J. Pierzynski asked Mark Buehrle to alter the grip on his sinker since it was cutting too much. The result? 8 1/3 innings of nearly perfect baseball.

DOUG TUCKER (Sun Times) brings us up to date.

‘’I had everything working,’’ said Buehrle (8-2), who raised his career mark against Kansas City to 20-8. ‘’I changed my sinker grip in the bullpen because the last two or three games, it’s been cutting instead of sinking. So I moved my fingers closer together, and I think it was probably one of the best sinkers I’ve had in a while.’’

Buehrle failed to get his first complete game since May 2, 2008, when Alberto Callaspo doubled and scored on David DeJesus’ one-out double. He was relieved by Bobby Jenks, who got the last two outs for his 19th save in 21 chances.

The White Sox have won 10 of 12 and 14 of their last 19 on the road.

That was good too.

Last night, the play that held my attention happened in the 8th. Thome doubled and moved to third on Konerko’s single. A.J. hit into a double play but Thome scored to make it 2-0 Sox at the time. However, it really looked as though a squeeze play of some sort was on. Hit and run? Voodoo something? I don’t know. I don’t care. Whatever it was, Thome was off at the crack of the bat. Even if the Royals had thrown home I think he would have made it. So, I guess what Ozzie said is true; “If they don’t run, they sit.”

If Ozzie is going to run Thome on a possible steal of home, then it really is going to be an interesting season on the south side, that’s for sure. Oh, and just FYI, both the Cubs and the Sox are 2½ games out of first.

We’re going to take the weekend off to be with our families and loved ones and, in some cases, both. So, from all of us to each of you, have a Safe and Happy Fourth of July!

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