Field Level Media
Jul 6, 2019
Kyle Schwarber and Javier Baez both hit two-run doubles in a decisive, five-run fifth inning and Jon Lester pitched 6 1/3 strong innings to lift the visiting Chicago Cubs to a 6-3 victory against the Chicago White Sox on Saturday night.
Eight consecutive Cubs reached base to start the fifth, including the first three via walk as White Sox ace Lucas Giolito struggled with his command. Schwarber followed with a two-run, bloop double to the opposite field in left to give the Cubs a 3-1 lead before Baez chased Giolito from the game with a two-run double one batter later.
Recently named an American League All-Star, Giolito (11-3) allowed six runs and four hits in four-plus innings with five walks and five strikeouts. He has two losses and a 12.96 ERA in two starts against the Cubs this season and boasts a 2.26 ERA in 15 starts against the rest of Major League Baseball.
Anthony Rizzo punctuated the Cubs' rally with a run-scoring single against reliever Evan Marshall. The White Sox escaped additional damage as Jace Fry worked out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam.
Jose Abreu drove home the first run for the White Sox with a third-inning single that scored Yoan Moncada, who reached base on a ground-rule double that extended his hitting streak to a career-high 12 games. The hit tied the game at 1 apiece, as Kris Bryant opened the scoring with an RBI single three batters into the game.
Lester (8-6) notched his second victory against the White Sox this season, scattering three runs -- one earned -- and six hits with three walks and three strikeouts.
Craig Kimbrel struck out three in a scoreless ninth to notch his second save in three chances, fanning Abreu with two runners aboard to end the game.
Baez, Bryant and Rizzo had two hits each for the Cubs. Moncada and Abreu both had two hits for the White Sox, with Abreu driving in two runs.
The Cubs have won two of the first three meetings against the White Sox this season and can clinch the season series with a victory on Sunday afternoon.
A crowd of 38,634 attended the game, marking the fourth sellout for the White Sox this season.
--Field Level Media