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Last Meeting ( Jun 25, 2010 ) Chi. Cubs 0, Chi. White Sox 6
The Chicago White Sox continue to dispatch one team after another.
The cross-town Cubs have been forced to settle for sending one of their own players packing.
Chicago's two major-league teams continue to head in opposite directions as they meet in the second of a three-game interleague series Saturday night at U.S. Cellular Field. It will be the fifth meeting of the season between the Windy City rivals, with the White Sox holding a 3-1 advantage to date.
Friday's series opener summed up the current state of both teams.
The White Sox cruised to a 6-0 win, extending their winning streak to 10 games - their longest such run since 1976. Carlos Quentin and Gordon Beckham went deep for the South Siders, while starter Jake Peavy and two relievers combined on a masterful three-hitter.
Things couldn't have gone much worse for the Cubs, as starter Carlos Zambrano engaged in a heated shouting match with first baseman Derrek Lee after the White Sox scored four runs in the first inning. The two had to be separated in the dugout, and Zambrano continued ranting for several minutes until he was sent packing by manager Lou Piniella.
The team announced after the game that Zambrano has been suspended indefinitely.
Drama is the last thing the Cubs need as they continue their quest to gain ground in the NL Central. Friday's loss left them a full 8 1/2 games back of the Cincinnati Reds, and they slipped to fourth in the division after the Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Minnesota Twins for their fifth victory in a row.
The Cubs will need to figure out how to manufacture more offense if they want to avoid another lost season. The North Siders have scored just four runs over their past four games, a stretch that includes a pair of shutout defeats.
They're hoping they won't need much offense with right-hander Carlos Silva (8-2) on the mound. The 30-year-old has been the Cubs' best starter this season, though a recent lack of run support has him looking to end a two-game losing streak.
Silva has surrendered just five total runs over his past two starts, but lost them both. He allowed three runs on six hits over six innings in his last outing, a 7-6 loss to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
The White Sox have had Silva's number throughout his career. He's just 4-11 all-time against them, with a 5.33 ERA in 18 starts. The 11 losses are the most Silva has suffered against any major-league team.
The White Sox counter with the resurgent Freddy Garcia (8-3). The veteran righty has won his last five decisions, going at least seven innings in four of them. The eight victories represent his highest total since 2006 - he registered just five wins over his previous three seasons going into 2010.
Garcia has been especially stingy when facing the Cubs, posting a 4-0 record with a sparkling 1.25 ERA in five career starts. He last faced them in 2007 as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies, when he surrendered three runs on eights over six innings. He picked up a no-decision as Philadelphia posted an 11-7 victory.