Cubs knock Sox from first place
By TONI GINNETTI Sun-Times Media June 19, 2012 11:28PM
The Cubs’ David DeJesus follows through on his two-run single in the third inning. | Scott Stewart~Sun-Times
Updated: July 21, 2012 6:34AM
CHICAGO — A pitcher’s night seemed on order Tuesday at U.S. Cellular Field with White Sox star Jake Peavy on the mound.
But it was Cubs lefty Travis Wood matching the one-time Cy Young Award winner well enough to gain the 2-1 victory in the second of the final three games of this season’s crosstown matchup.
Wood’s first victory (1-3) also gave the Cubs their first series win against the city rivals since 2008 when each team swept their three games at home.
The victory also brought the first series win on the road for the Cubs this season.
Peavy worked nine innings but fell to 6-3. Carlos Marmol pitched the ninth for his fourth save.
After their largest offensive output of the season on Monday, the Cubs took a 2-1 lead in the third with the help of an error by third baseman Orlando Hudson and a Peavy wild pitch.
Geovany Soto reached when Hudson’s throw pulled first baseman Paul Konerko off the bag. Tony Campana bounced an infield hit before both advanced on Peavy’s wild pitch.
David DeJesus worked a nine-pitch at-bat against Peavy before singling home Soto and Campana.
The Sox took advantage of three walks by Wood in the second, but the Cubs caught a break when Alexei Ramirez’s drive to the right field corner bounced into the stands for a ground rule double.
It allowed Alex Rios (walk) to score from third but kept Dayan Viciedo (walk) from advancing beyond third.
Catcher Tyler Flowers walked to load the bases with one out, but Wood got Hudson to pop to shortstop Starlin Castro, then he struck out Alejandro De Aza to strand the three runners.
Sox manager Robin Ventura was hoping for a long effort from Peavy, who was working after an extra day of rest.
“I’d like him to [go deep] after what we did with our bullpen [Monday night],’ Ventura said.
Cubs manager Dale Sveum expected a different game than Monday’s slugfest when his team had 15 hits, including five home runs.
“He challenges the strike zone,” Sveum said of Peavy. “He has movement, velocity, throws a slider two different ways and a changeup. He comes right at you and doesn’t goof around. He comes at you fast and he fields his position well. With his competitiveness, it puts him over the edge.”
Peavy held the Cubs to only three hits until the eighth, when Campana singled to end a string of 16 straight batters retired.
Peavy then picked off Campana at first to end the eighth.
DeJesus tripled off Peavy leading off the ninth, but he never scored, the Sox infield playing in and getting two infield outs before Peavy struck out Steve Clevenger.
Wood worked six strong innings, limiting the Sox to four hits while striking out five. He issued only one more walk after the second.
The game drew only 30,282 to U.S. Cellular Field, a new crosstown low. Monday’s crowd of 33,215 had been the prior low.
While the crosstown series was interleague drama, the largest picture for the Sox included the American League Central standings.
The Cleveland Indians moved into first place by a half game by defeating Cincinnati.
