White Sox: Miguel Gonzalez Pitches Gem Against Cubs
White Sox veteran pitcher comes up with biggest start of season to stop team’s nine game losing streak. South Siders defeat crosstown rival to begin series.
The Chicago White Sox badly needed a long outing from Miguel Gonzalez on Monday against the defending World Series Champion Chicago Cubs. Gonzalez was able to provide the Sox with not only a long start, but a very good outing at Wrigley Field.
Pitching in his second start since returning from the disabled list, Gonzalez held the Cubs to just one earned run on seven hits through 7.1 innings pitched in a 3-1 victory for the Sox. The Cubs were unable to break through against Gonzalez and the Sox as they left 22 runners on base.
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With the Sox enduring a nine-game losing streak, it was a combination of Gonzalez, Dan Jennings and Anthony Swarzak that held the Cubs to just one run on Monday. Jose Abreu, Adam Engel and Matt Davidson helped provide run support for Gonzalez.
After the Cubs scored early in the second inning on a RBI groundout by pitcher Kyle Hendricks to take a 1-0 lead in the second inning, Abreu would put the Sox on the board with RBI double in the fifth inning scoring Melky Cabrera. Engel would hit a solo home run in the sixth inning to give the Sox a 2-1 lead. This came after Tim Anderson struckout to lead off the inning.
Davidson would give the Sox an insurance run in the eight inning with a mammoth solo home run onto Waveland avenue. This came after Gonzalez escaped a bases loaded jam in the seventh inning. With Anthony Rizzo at the plate and the bases loaded for the Cubs, Gonzalez was able to induce a deep fly to center field from the first baseman for the third out to end the threat.
The Cubs would later threaten to win the game in the ninth inning with two runners on base and Willson Contreras at the plate. However, Swarzak would get Contreras to strikeout looking to end the game and the Sox losing streak. This also earned Swarzak his first MLB save of his career.
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With the win, the Sox move to 58-51 all time in their crosstown series with the Cubs which began in 1997. The Sox will attempt to win their second consecutive game and the crosstown cup on Tuesday when Carlos Rodon takes the mound. The Cubs will start John Lackey against the Sox.