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Edwin Jackson didn't have his good stuff today, but it wound up not mattering, as the offense picked up a starter for the first time in over a month. It almost seemed like the White Sox were trying to waste a hot start, scoring two in the first off a Paul Konerko sac fly and an A.J. Pierzynski single. Other than a Gordon Beckham double in the second, the Sox' bats would fall silent until the seventh with Randy Wells retiring the next 14 straight hitters. Jackson slowly allowed the Cubs to tie it and then take the lead in the third before coughing up Aramis Ramirez's 300th career homerun in the sixth. What happened next was courtesy of some questionable bullpen management from Mr. Clean.
Pierzynski continued his recent trend of smacking singles into the outfield to lead off the seventh. Alexei Ramirez crushed a no-doubter to left-field to take Edwin off the hook and seemingly put an end to Randy Wells' day. But Mike Quade thought otherwise and left the struggling right-hander in to face Alex Rios, Gordon Beckham, and the pinch-hitting Adam Dunn. Rios singled and advanced to second on Beckham's groundout. He then stole third during Dunn's at bat that resulted in a walk. And then yesterday afternoon's hero decided to keep his star shining. Pierre laced a triple to right field, hilariously scoring Dunn from first. Quade finally went to the bullpen, but the damage had been done. Brian Bruney, Jesse Crain, and Sergio Santos stopped the Cubs cold, only allowing two singles while striking out five over the final three innings. The Cubs once again failed in their attempt to record a three-game win streak this season and apparently in doing so gave the Sox the right to hold onto the BP Crosstown Cup on the South Side for another year.
Phil Humber (pronounced um-brr for those SBN writers who can't take the time to learn how the biggest surprise in baseball this season's last name is pronounced) looks to continue the pain tomorrow against Matt Garza.