Chicago, IL (Sports Network) – Tyler Colvin went 3-for-5 with a home run and four RBI to power the Cubs to an 8-6 victory, halting the White Sox’s winning streak at 11 games despite a shaky ninth-inning performance by Carlos Marmol.
The ChiSox had won 15 of 16 overall and were 4-1 this season against their Windy City rival coming in, but Ryan Dempster’s seven solid innings and the Cubs’ 14-hit effort put the brakes on their longest successful stretch since 1961.
Dempster (6-6) allowed three runs on nine hits while walking one and fanning eight for the Cubs, who salvaged the finale of the three-game series and won for third time in nine games.
Geovany Soto had three hits, a run scored and an RBI, while Alfonso Soriano added a solo homer in the much-needed victory.
John Danks (7-6), who had pitched to a 0.90 earned-run average in three previous starts against the Cubs, was touched for six runs on seven hits and two walks in five-plus innings to take the loss.
Paul Konerko homered for the Sox, who ended interleague play with an impressive 15-3 record.
Though the Cubs held a five-run lead, 8-3, entering the ninth, they opted to bring in their closer. A pair of one-out walks gave the Sox hope, but Alexei Ramirez flied out to left for the second out.
Gordon Beckham kept the game alive with an RBI double, and Juan Pierre plated two more with a base hit to right. Andruw Jones worked a pinch-hit walk in front of Alex Rios, who chased Marmol’s 2-2 pitch off the plate to squash the comeback bid.
Carlos Quentin’s two-run single in the first inning provided a two-run lead for the hosts, though A.J. Pierzynski struck out later in the frame to strand two runners in scoring position.
Danks gave up two singles in the third before Colvin turned on a first-pitch fastball and sent it over the right-field wall to give the Cubs their first lead of the series, 3-2.
Derrek Lee’s two-run double in the fifth provided a 5-2 advantage for the visitors.
Danks was pulled after walking Soriano to start the sixth, and Soto greeted Tony Pena with an RBI two-bagger.
Konerko cranked his 20th home run of the season to open the home sixth.
Soriano answered with his own leadoff blast in the eighth, and Randy Williams yielded a two-out RBI single to Colvin later in the inning for a five-run game.
It was the ChiSox’s longest string of victories since a 12-game burst from June 17-27, 1961…The White Sox placed closer Bobby Jenks on the bereavement list prior to the game and purchased the contract of pitcher Erick Threets from Triple-A Charlotte…Quentin has 11 RBI in his last six games…Danks had won his previous three starts…Nine of the Sox’s 11 hits were singles.