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Cubs Out-Muscle White Sox In Crosstown Series Opener
Posted On Aug 14 2015
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RHP Kyle Hendricks (6-5, 3.73 ERA) makes his 23rd start of the season and 13th on the road as the Cubs travel to Chicago’s South Side to open a three-game interrelate series with the White Sox.
That’s the longest winning streak since a nine-gamer in 2008, and the Cubs will have their chance to match that Saturday evening with Jake Arrieta facing Jose Quintana. Coghlan gave the Cubs an early 4-2 lead with a three-run blast off Jeff Samardzija in the third inning.
Four relievers combined to shut down the White Sox the rest of the way, with Clayton Richard (3-0) working two innings.
Right-hander Pedro Strop was credited with a hold for stranding the tying run on second in the eighth with back-to-back strikeouts, and right-hander Hector Rondon pitched the ninth for his 20th save, retiring the heart of the White Sox lineup in order.
According to oddsmakers from online sports book GT Bets, the White Sox are now +102 money line underdogs after opening as -104 favorites versus the Cubs, who are -115 on the money line.
Dexter Fowler tripled, double and scored two runs.
Each starter struggled and quickly watched pitch counts and runs allowed elevate. Before the Los Angeles Angels series, the White Sox looked lost and were falling out of the wild card race. “When you get the middle of the plate it’s going to cost you”.
Coghlan’s three-run homer off Samardzija put the Cubs back up 4-2 in the third, but the Sox again overcame the deficit by getting to Hendricks. The White Sox have scored 11 runs in their last three games and four or more runs in five of their last eight games. All had Minoso’s No. 9. “Jonny was outstanding again, he had to battle through some moments but he was really good”, Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. Signing with the White Sox during the offseason, the 30-year-old was slated to become an everyday player after spending time with the Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs in 2014. He leads the AL with a 2.06 ERA, but missed his last scheduled start because of spasms.
