Chicago, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - Gordon Beckham's eight-inning home run
was the difference on Tuesday, as the Chicago White Sox took down the
crosstown-rival Cubs 5-1 at Wrigley Field.
Beckham went 4-for-5 at the dish with two runs scored in the third straight
White Sox victory. His solo shot to left off Neil Ramirez (0-1) broke a 1-1
tie, and the visitors tacked on three more runs in the ninth to pull away.
"I got a better feel today," said Beckham. "It was bound to happen. I wasn't
panicked, I've kind of been here before. I had a good game, happy to do it."
Moises Sierra, who was a late addition to the starting lineup after Adam Dunn
was scratched with a bruised right calf, finished 4-for-4 while Jordan Danks
drove in a pair for the Sox. Alexei Ramirez and Tyler Flowers had an RBI
apiece.
Hector Noesi went five innings for the visitors, allowing a run on four hits
with six strikeouts. Zach Putnam (1-0) was perfect in two innings of relief to
earn the win.
Edwin Jackson started for the Cubs and went seven innings, allowing a run on
six hits with a season-high nine strikeouts.
"I was able to come out today and make pitches when I needed to, especially
with men on base," Jackson said. "Making pitches with men in scoring
position is the difference between giving up runs and not giving up runs."
Leading 2-1, Ramirez started the top of the ninth with a walk and Sierra
reached base on an infield single to third. Flowers plated Ramirez with his
double to left and after Marcus Semien went down swinging, Danks cleared the
bases with his double to the ivy in center.
Cubs' reliever Pedro Strop was charged with three runs on three hits over just
1/3 of an inning in the ninth before leaving with an apparent injury.
Earlier, Beckham came around to score the game's first run in the fourth
inning. The Cubs got the run back in the fifth on Emilio Bonifacio's RBI
single to right.
Game Notes
The two teams are back at it on Wednesday at U.S. Cellular Field to play the
final two games of this four-game set ... The Cubs have dropped three in a row
on the heels of their season-high three-game winning streak ... The White Sox
outhit the Cubs, 11-4.