Sox winning streak ends at 11 as Cubs hang on to avoid sweep

Posted June 27, 2010 11:00 pm

By Lindsey Willhite

Judging by the number of customers who spent time in custody over the weekend, the fans battled just as fiercely as the White Sox and the Cubs.

In honor of their dedication, let's commemorate another season of intracity weirdness and wildness with an interactive recap and intriguing look ahead:

In winning both weekend series by a 2-1 margin, the Sox claimed possession of the inaugural Crosstown Cup (presented by BP) and carried it into their clubhouse Saturday night - only to discover a watch battery-sized hole in the bottom of the cup.

Insert your own oil disaster punch line here.

Carlos Zambrano's temper tantrum after the first inning Friday afternoon registered high on the Crazy-O-Meter, but Sunday's eighth-inning fisticuffs in right field's upper deck had much better staying power.

Insert your own "oh, for Zambrano to have been in that right-field fight" joke here.

The White Sox finally surrendered their 11-game winning streak - the franchise's longest spree since 1961 - but not before scoring 3 runs in the ninth Sunday and bringing the winning run to the plate against Cubs closer Carlos Marmol.

Despite that clunky coda, the Cubs gladly accepted their 8-6 victory before a sellout crowd of 39,682 at U.S. Cellular Field and planned to use it as a launchpad for their own lengthy streak.

Insert your own "haven't we heard this before?" comment here.

"I think the (pregame) meeting that we had (Saturday gave) everybody more energy and more concentration," said left fielder Alfonso Soriano, who started the eighth with a homer that proved to be the winning run.

"I think the meeting woke up a lot of people on this team - that meeting gave everybody more motivation and more belief in ourself.

"I think we are out, like, 7-8 games (actually 81/2 behind Cincinnati). But if we win 10 in a row or so, we'll be fine."

Considering the way the White Sox' streak came out of nowhere, the Cubs (33-42) could enjoy a similar heat wave.

The Sox (39-35) earned their push into the heat of the AL Central race with terrific and timely pitching.

When John Danks took the hill Sunday, the Sox hadn't allowed a homer with runners on base since the Sox/Cubs opener on June 11 at Wrigley.

Danks cruised through the first two innings, but occasional Cubs leadoff man Tyler Colvin solved him for a 3-run homer in the third.

Not only did the left-handed rookie again suggest he can handle lefty pitching - he homered off Seattle ace Cliff Lee on Wednesday - Colvin gave the Cubs a 3-2 lead they never relinquished.

"I'm pretty comfortable up there against left-handers," Colvin said. "I'm getting the opportunity to do it now and just excited about it going pretty well."

"The better he does, basically the more he'll play," said Cubs manager Lou Piniella. "We need offense, and whoever's swinging the bats gets in the lineup."

That meant every Cubs starter except second baseman Jeff Baker on Sunday. Colvin posted 3 hits and 4 RBI. Derrek Lee delivered a 2-run double to put the Cubs up 5-2 in the fifth. Aramis Ramirez roped a double and three hard-hit outs.

With most of the Cubs' relievers needing a break, winning pitcher Ryan Dempster (6-6) tossed 122 pitches to get his team through seven innings.

Sean Marshall pitched a perfect eighth, but Marmol issued 3 walks and 2 hits in the ninth as the Sox cut their 8-3 deficit to 8-6.

With the tying runners on, Alex Rios worked the count to 2-0 before taking a low and outside slider for a called strike. Marmol seized upon the umpire's largesse and struck out Rios swinging on a similar slider.

The Sox, who settled for a major-league-best 15-3 record in interleague play, remain 1½ games behind Minnesota as they return to AL play Monday in Kansas City.

"Down by 5 runs, we come back to the last pitch," Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "That shows you what kind of ballclub we hope we have for the rest of the season."

Cubs closer Carlos Marmol gives a shout out Sunday after striking out Alex Rios to end the game - and a 3-run White Sox uprising in the ninth inning. Associated Press

Lindsey Willhite's game tracker

No more solos: Tyler Colvin's go-ahead, 3-run homer in the third inning was the first non-solo shot allowed by a White Sox pitcher in 14 games.

Dempster divers: With the wind blowing out, Cubs starter and winner Ryan Dempster relied on his slider to produce 8 strikeouts and 10 groundball outs vs. one flyout in his 7-inning stint.

Twenty Club: Paul Konerko's sixth-inning homer was his 20th of the year. He now shares the White Sox' record for 20-homer seasons (11) with Frank Thomas.

Interleague ovah: The White Sox led the majors with their 15-3 interleague record. The Texas Rangers were next-best at 13-4 (heading into Sunday night's game with Houston); Boston and the New York Mets were 13-5. The Cubs finished 8-10.

Cubs scouting report

Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field

TV: Comcast SportsNet Monday; Channel 9 Tuesday and Wednesday

Radio: WGN 720-AM

Pitching matchups: The Cubs' Randy Wells (6-4) vs. Paul Maholm (4-6) Monday at 7:05 p.m.; Ted Lilly (2-6) vs. Jeff Karstens (2-2) Tuesday at 7:05 p.m.; Tom Gorzelanny (2-5) vs. Brad Lincoln (0-2) Wednesday at 1:20 p.m.

At a glance: This would seem a nice tonic for the Cubs, but they're just 2-7 against the Pirates this year, 1-2 at Wrigley Field. The Pirates have nose-dived well into last place lately, and they entered Sunday second to last in hitting and second to last in ERA, at 5.38. Lilly has held Andrew McCutchen to 3-for-17. Against lefty Maholm, Alfonso Soriano is 7-for-24 with 4 homers, and Aramis Ramirez is 9-for-26 with 2 homers.

Next: Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field, Thursday-Sunday

- Bruce Miles

White Sox scouting report

White Sox vs. Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium

TV: Channel 26 Monday; Comcast SportsNet Tuesday and Wednesday

Radio: WSCR 670-AM

Pitching matchups: The White Sox' Mark Buehrle (6-6) vs. Anthony Lerew (0-1) Monday; Gavin Floyd (2-7) vs. Brian Bannister (7-5) Tuesday; Jake Peavy (7-5) vs. Zack Greinke (3-8) Wednesday. All games 7:10 p.m.

At a glance: The White Sox will try getting on another roll after the Cubs snapped their 11-game winning streak Sunday. They are 3-3 vs. Kansas City this season (1-2 at Kauffman Stadium) this season. Over his last 3 starts, all against National League teams, Buehrle is 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA. He lost to the Royals in K.C. on May 14, allowing 6 runs (5 earned) in 6 innings. The Royals won two of three against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals over the weekend. Jose Guillen has a 21-game hitting streak.

Next: Texas Rangers at Rangers Ballpark, Friday-Sunday

- Scot Gregor