CHICAGO (AP) - The Chicago Cubs wasted another strong performance from a starting pitcher.
Gordon Beckham’s tiebreaking homer in the eighth inning helped the Chicago White Sox beat the rival Cubs 5-1, spoiling starter Edwin Jackson’s performance.
“I would say this is probably the best game that I’ve thrown,” said Cubs starter Edwin Jackson, who ended up in a no-decision after going seven innings and giving up one run while striking out a season-high nine.
That wasn’t enough for the Cubs to avoid their third straight loss. Chicago also had Pedro Strop leave the game with assistant trainer Ed Halbur after delivering a pitch to Alejandro De Aza.
The White Sox took a 1-0 lead in the fourth on Alexei Ramirez’s run-scoring fielder’s choice, bringing in Beckham. But in the fifth, the Cubs tied the game on Emilio Bonifacio’s two-out single, driving in Junior Lake.
Beckham was 1 for 6 in the White Sox’s 3-1, 12-inning win Monday over the Cubs, but he matched a career high with four hits Tuesday. The fourth one, on a 1-2 pitch with two outs from Neil Ramirez (0-1), gave Beckham his first homer of the season and the White Sox the lead, one they held to sweep the two-game series.
“(Beckham) hit the ball all over the place and then that was a big home run for us tonight, said White Sox Manager Robin Ventura. “He’s been trying to find that since he came off the DL. It’s nice to see that out of him.”
The Cubs hoped to have a better performance against White Sox starter Hector Noesi, who was 0-10 with a 6.04 ERA during his past 14 starts.
“We had a chance possibly to work Noesi a little bit, but we did not do that, obviously,” Cubs manager Rick Renteria said. “He actually threw better than what I saw in his last outing, commanded the zone a little bit better.”
Noesi went five innings and allowed one run while striking out six.
Cubs starter Jeff Samardzija’s nine-inning, three-hit outing Monday was on Jackson’s mind.
“That game yesterday, Samardzija threw a hell of a game,” Jackson said. “I can’t lie and say that didn’t give me some extra motivation today to come out and follow up that performance with a strong outing.”
The teams start a two-game series Wednesday across town at U.S. Cellular Field.
Moises Sierra had a career-high four hits for the White Sox, starting in place of Adam Dunn who was scratched about 30 minutes before the first pitch because of a bruised right calf. Dunn did pinch-hit for reliever Zach Putnam in the eighth and grounded out to short.
Putnam (1-0) had an 18.90 ERA in five games for the Cubs last season but threw two scoreless innings for the White Sox, who have won consecutive games against the North Siders for the first time since taking three in a row in 2012.
The White Sox got three insurance runs in the ninth, two on Jordan Danks’ double off Pedro Strop - that also gave the White Sox their third straight win after a four-game skid.
Strop left after giving up all three runs in the ninth with a left groin injury. He is scheduled to have an MRI Wednesday.
It was also a departure from Noesi’s first start of the season, when he lasted just 3 2-3 innings and allowed four runs in an April 30 loss to Detroit.
NOTES: Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer said there have been no trade talks yet. “Teams have to have a sense that they can’t fill a hole internally,” he said. “People don’t usually come to that conclusion in May.” … White Sox manager Robin Ventura said LHP Chris Sale (left arm) was feeling “good” one day after a 40-pitch bullpen session and that he’ll have another session “in the near future.” … Cubs RHP Jose Veras, on the disabled list since April 26 with a strained left oblique, threw a scoreless inning Tuesday during a rehab stint for Double-A Tennessee. … White Sox 3B Conor Gillaspie (left hand) is eligible to come off the DL Wednesday, and Ventura said “you’re hoping that he’s back pretty soon.” … The Cubs will play a day-night doubleheader at Cincinnati on July 8 to make up the game from April 28, which was postponed due to rain.
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