Peavy's scoreless streak climbs to 21 innings

Jake Peavy's best quality is pitching at a high level. His penchant for telling the truth is likely No. 2.

Just over a week ago, the White Sox' right-hander complained about some soreness in his throwing shoulder. Would he go on the disabled list? Have season-ending surgery?

No on both counts. Instead, Peavy has won his last two starts and is unscored upon over his last 21 innings.

"I'm OK," Peavy said after throwing 7 shutout innings against the Cubs Friday. "Obviously, things have been a grind over the last few weeks just trying to throw bullpens and get healthy and feel as good as you want to feel. But I've told people all along and I don't want to make this something ... obviously it was to the point where I almost had to go on the DL with some tenderness.

"But this is just part of being a starting pitcher, part of being a ballplayer, you're going to grind through things. I think at times we've talked about me being a little too honest and stuff, good to you guys (media) because I just have a hard time telling you anything but the truth. When other guys are feeling this, they may keep it under wraps better."

If Peavy is pitching this well at less than 100 percent, imagine how good he'll be when he's fully healthy.

"Great job, once again," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "Outstanding. He wanted to go out there for the eighth (inning) but I believe in my bullpen outstanding job. (The Sox scoring) 4 runs in the first inning helped. But in the meanwhile, he didn't sit around and think about those 4 runs. He wanted to shut it down and he did."

Peavy beat the Cubs at Wrigley Field on June 11, but he went with a different plan of attack the second time around.

"We did vary it a bit," catcher A.J. Pierzynski said. "Threw more fastballs this time than the last time we faced them. More fastballs inside, especially to their right-handed hitters and their lefties this time because they had more lefties in there, (Mike) Fontenot, (Tyler) Colvin. We did change it a little bit, but not a whole lot. He threw so well it didn't really matter."

Beckham breaks through: A day after being held out of the starting lineup, Gordon Beckham was back at second base for the Cubs.

In the fifth inning, Beckham hit a solo home run off Tom Gorzelanny. It was the first time he went over the fence since April 11, a span of 211 at-bats.

"I have a lot of talks," said Beckham, who also had a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning. "A lot of people are giving me advice. Ozzie has put me out there day in and day out and I haven't been playing well.

"I don't deserve to be out there in my opinion, the way I played, but I know I can be out there and when I get out there, I'm going to start playing well and be better going through this. It's like last year. I struggled at the beginning and just went off. Once I get through this and get out of the slump, I'm going to fight for everything and not take anything for granted."

Quentin surging: Carlos Quentin broke open Friday's game with a 3-run homer off Carlos Zambrano in the first inning.

The Sox' right fielder has homered four times in the last four games and is batting .419 (13-for-31) with 4 HR, 4 doubles and 13 RBI in his last 9 games.

"We knew Carlos wasn't going to hit .180 the whole year," A.J. Pierzynski said. "He's too good and has too much talent. You look at his numbers and take away his batting average, he's got 11 home runs and almost 50 RBI, so he's doing it. Bottom line, if Carlos is going and the rest of us, (Paul) Konerko's been carrying us, (Alex) Rios has been carrying us, if it keeps going, hitting is contagious and we like where we're at right now."

Jenks excused: Bobby Jenks was not available Friday. The closer was allowed to go home before the game started due to a family matter.