Cubs Outlast White Sox, Win 7-6 in Crosstown Showdown
After a disappointing stretch of games, the Chicago Cubs came away with a much-needed win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday. It wasn’t pretty, but the important thing is that the Cubs got back in the left-hand column.
To start the game, the Cubs weren’t on the same page. Shota Imanaga’s night was uncharacteristically rough as Christopher Morel’s error at third base put the team in a hole early.
But when rain swept over Wrigley Field, a slumbering Cubs’ offense woke up. For their sake, Tuesday’s game needs to be the launching pad for a return to the top of the NL Central.
Tale of the Tape
Regardless of the clubs’ records, the energy is always high in the crosstown series. The White Sox came in with 11 straight losses and the Cubs with only two wins since the previous Tuesday.
With Shota Imanaga on the mound, the conditions were right for a Cubs’ win. That looked to be the case until the wheels fell off in the fourth inning due to an unfortunate error by third baseman Christopher Morel.
The inning got worse from there. Korey Lee’s bases-clearing double and Lenyn Sosa’s two-run shot gave the South Siders a 5-0 lead on one of the game’s best starting pitchers this season.
The Cubs’ offense provided no relief early. By making Chris Flexen look good, it was clear that the team could use a breather. With ominous weather approaching, the Cubs were able to clear their heads and get back on track after the rain delay.
Dansby Swanson’s RBI double sent the Cubs down the comeback trail immediately. The sixth inning was when the North Siders did most of their damage.
A two-run homer from Christopher Morel cut the Sox’ lead to 5-3. But with recency bias, the Cubs were going to have to finish the job this time.In what was a smart move from Craig Counsell, pinch hitter Patrick Wisdom made it a brand new game thanks to a two-run shot two batters later.Unfortunately, the returning Luis Robert Jr. gave his team a quick response with a home run of his own. As usual for the 2024 Cubs, a win wasn’t going to come easy. It was then up to the offense to keep it going.
Ian Happ has been on fire at the plate. This time, he gave his team the lead thanks to a two-run double in the eighth inning. For once, the Cubs weren’t going to give up without a fight.
As Hector Neris took the mound, the Cubs were ready for a win. A one-out walk to Oscar Colas gave way to pinch runner Duke Ellis’ big-league debut.
Following an impressive steal of second base, the rookie’s inexperience cost the White Sox late. A fortunate pickoff by Neris put the Cubs back in the driver’s seat. Corey Julks’ fly out in foul territory was all she wrote on a wild and fun victory.
Tale of the Tape
While it was good for the Cubs to get the win, it shouldn’t mask the lingering issues that plague their roster. Christopher Morel’s third base tenure hasn’t been smooth sailing and the offense is still prone to slumps.
The catching position has been a black hole both on offense and defense. If the Cubs can make it back over .500, additions are crucial to fixing these problems.For as bad as the White Sox are, it’d be inexcusable for the Cubs to not complete the two-game sweep on Wednesday. The Cubs have been on the receiving end of some bad luck, but for once they benefitted from it at a crucial moment.
What’s On Tap Next?
The crosstown series continues Wednesday at Wrigley Field. Jameson Taillon will take the mound against the impressive Erick Fedde, one of the White Sox’ few bright spots. First pitch is at 7:05 PM CT and the game will air on Marquee Sports Network and NBC Sports Chicago.
