Cubs 6, White Sox 3
CHICAGO -- It wasn't pretty, but the Chicago Cubs will gladly take the results of a 6-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Saturday night at U.S. Cellular Field for their ninth straight win.
The Cubs (67-48) haven't had a nine-game winning streak since the 2008 season. They lead the season series against the rival White Sox 3-2 and have a chance to win it Sunday.
The Cubs overcame two errors and at least two mental errors while running the bases. But they weren't the only team that was sloppy.
The White Sox (54-60) also committed two errors defensively, both leading to runs in the sixth inning, and the Cubs' offense did the rest.
Third baseman Kris Bryant went 2-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to 12 games and shortstop Addison Russell (2-for-3, two runs scored), designated hitter Jorge Soler (2-for-5, two RBIs), first baseman Anthony Rizzo (2-for-4, RBI) and center fielder Dexter Fowler (2-for-4, RBI) all contributed for the Cubs.
Right-hander Jake Arrieta pitched 6 2/3 innings to pick up the win and right-hander Hector Rondon worked the ninth for his 21st save. Arrieta allowed three runs and struck out five in his third straight win and seventh in his past 10 starts.
Left-hander Jose Quintana went six innings and took the loss for the White Sox (54-60), who have dropped back-to-back games coming off a sweep at home of the Los Angeles Angels.
First baseman Jose Abreu led the White Sox by going 2-for-3 with an RBI.
The Cubs gained control in the seventh inning when the White Sox bullpen took over for Quintana. Already leading 3-2, the Cubs scored three runs and had four hits against three White Sox relievers to give Arrieta a 6-2 lead to start his final inning.
Rizzo and Soler each hit run-scoring singles and catcher David Ross scored on a throwing error by White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez, who was trying to turn a double play.
The White Sox took a 1-0 lead in the second on a fielder's choice groundout that scored right fielder Avisail Garcia. After being hit with a pitch, he moved to second on a wild pitch, advanced to third on a throwing error by Arrieta and scored on a groundout by second baseman Carlos Sanchez.
The Cubs tied it 1-1 with two outs in the third after Russell doubled and scored on a single by Fowler.
Russell's double in the fifth, also with two outs, sparked another run to put the Cubs up 2-1. With Russell on second, Quintana put Fowler on base intentionally and then gave up a run-scoring single to Kyle Schwarber. Russell scored just ahead of the throw from Garcia.
NOTES: The Cubs had hit back-to-back homers in consecutive games for the first time since 2008, against the White Sox at Wrigley Field. ... White Sox manager Robin Ventura recently had suspicious spots on his skin removed from his face and elsewhere on his body, and he is awaiting test results to learn whether it's skin cancer.