White Sox 5, Cubs 1
CHICAGO -- Chris Sale threw a shutout through six innings and Tyler Saladino had an RBI triple in the first inning as the Chicago White Sox handed the crosstown rival Cubs a 5-1 loss in the second game of an interleague series at Wrigley Field.
While the Sox failed in their bid for three consecutive shutouts for the first time since 1973, Sale stretched the team's scoreless run to 33 innings -- the longest for a White Sox pitching staff since throwing 27 scoreless innings in a row in 2010.
Sale (8-4) was hardly challenged during his seven-plus innings. He allowed six hits and a walk while striking out 10. The Cubs' lone run came in the seventh inning on a pinch-RBI double from Jonathan Herrera.
Cubs starter Jon Lester (4-8) went seven innings but was plagued by a rocky first inning.
The first three White Sox batters reached base, with Saladino's triple putting the Sox on the board. He scored on a base hit by first baseman Jose Abreu to make it 2-0.
The left-hander settled in after that, facing the minimum through the sixth inning, but left fielder Melky Cabrera led off the seventh with a base hit and moved to third when third baseman Kris Bryant sailed a throw to the dugout on right fielder Avisail Garcia's ground ball.
Shortstop Alex Ramirez singled to drive in Cabrera and catcher Tyler Flowers plated two more with a double to center, putting the White Sox up 5-0.
NOTES: The White Sox had won four of the last five games against their cross-town rivals and led the all-time series, 53-46. The Cubs were 24-26 in games played at Wrigley Field. ... Cubs starters came into the game with a combined 1.19 ERA (nine earned runs in 68 1/3 innings) in their last 11 games. Relievers had posted a 3.86 ERA during that stretch. ... Before Saturday, White Sox pitchers had gone 24 consecutive innings without allowing a run. Over the last 10 games, the Sox staff had a collective 2.06 ERA and held opponents to a .196 batting average with 70 strikeouts. ... Of the Cubs' first 85 games, 35 had been decided by one run -- the most of any team in baseball this season. They were 19-16 in one-run games this season, tied with the White Sox for the most victories.