Coghlan, Cubs edge White Sox, run win streak to 8 games

When the White Sox played the Cubs in a three-game interleague series at Wrigley Field in July, runs were scarce.

While taking 2 of 3 from their North Side rivals, the Sox outscored the Cubs by a combined 7-4.

The White Sox and Cubs played the first of 3 games at U.S. Cellular Field Friday and it was a slugfest on the South Side.

Powered by left fielder Chris Coghlan's 2 home runs off Sox starter Jeff Samardzija, the surging Cubs hung on for a 6-5 decision while extending their winning streak to eight games.

The Sox, who got a 2-run homer from leadoff man Adam Eaton, saw their three-game win streak come to an end.

The Cubs took a 1-0 lead in the first when Dexter Fowler skipped a triple past right fielder Avisail Garcia and scored on Kyle Schwarber's sacrifice fly.

In the bottom of the inning the White Sox took the lead on Garcia's 2-run double off Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks.

Coghlan's 3-run homer off Samardzija in the third inning put the Cubs back on top, but the Sox answered back in the fourth and went ahead 5-4 on Geovany Soto's RBI single and Eaton's 2-run shot.

In the fifth inning, the Cubs tied the game on Coghlan's solo homer and took a 6-5 lead when Anthony Rizzo followed with another home run off Samardzija.

Hendricks lasted just 3⅓ innings and allowed 5 runs on 8 hits and 3 walks.

For Samardzija, it was another rough day on the mound. The former Cubs pitcher went 6 innings and gave up 6 runs on 9 hits and 2 walks.

In his last 3 starts, Samardzija has pitched 15⅓ innings and allowed 22 runs on 23 hits.

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