Swisher's grand slam lifts ChiSox past Cubs 10-3

[June 28, 2008]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Nick Swisher helped the White Sox get some payback against the Cubs. Swisher's grand slam capped a seven-run third inning against Ryan Dempster and the White Sox beat the Cubs 10-3 on Friday at U.S. Cellular Field.

The Cubs swept the White Sox at Wrigley Field last weekend by a combined score of 22-11 and had a nine-run inning last Saturday when Jose Contreras started for the White Sox.

But six days later, Contreras (7-6) rebounded from that outing in which he lasted only 3 1-3 innings and give up nine runs and 10 hits. On Friday, he pitched six-plus innings and allowed seven hits, including three homers - back-to-back shots by Geovany Soto and Mike Fontenot in the fifth and another solo shot to Jim Edmonds in the seventh.

Jermaine Dye, who hit the fence while making a leaping catch of Kosuke Fukudome's long drive for the game's final out, finished with three hits and three RBIS. Carlos Quentin was 4-for-5 in the White Sox's 14-hit attack.

The Cubs had won six straight against the White Sox and nine of the previous 10. For the second straight series, both teams entered in first place, although the White Sox's lead in the AL Central had been chopped to one-half game over the Twins.

"I just want to win because I'm tired of fans calling me names. I don't know why the Sox fans hate me because we lost to the Cubs. I got some letters that are unbelievable, ridiculous," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said before the game.

"If I wrote that letter to anybody, they would throw me right out of this country."

The third was the White Sox's biggest offensive inning of the season. In addition to Swisher's grand slam, it also featured a two-base error on Cubs' left fielder Eric Patterson, who spent most of the season in Triple-A playing second base. The White Sox made sure they tested his arm Friday.

Orlando Cabrera hit a one-out double to start the third by racing to second to beat Patterson's throw. A.J. Pierzynski then dumped a single to left and as Patterson raced in to field the ball, he overran it and it got behind him for a two-base error.

Quentin hit an RBI double to right and scored on Dye's RBI single to left. After Jim Thome walked, Dye stole third on a close play prompting an argument from Cubs' manager Lou Piniella. Joe Crede then walked to load the bases before Swisher homered into the seats in left center for an 8-0 lead.

Cabrera singled to start the bottom of the first and when Pierzynski hit a fly to Patterson in left, he tagged up and hustled into second. Cabrera raced home on Quentin's single to center, using a hard slide into Soto to beat Edmonds' throw.

Former closer Dempster (9-3), who is 9-0 at home but 0-3 on the road, lasted only 2 1-3 innings, giving up seven hits and eight runs in shortest outing since joining the rotation this season.

Notes:@ Derrick Rose, the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft by his hometown Chicago Bulls, threw out the first pitch, wearing a black No. 1 White Sox's jersey. ... White Sox 2B Alexei Ramirez was a late scratch from the lineup to be with his wife, who is pregnant. He was replaced by Juan Uribe. ... Cubs RHP Carlos Zambrano is scheduled to throw in the bullpen Sunday to determine if he will pitch next weekend in St. Louis. He is on the DL with a sore shoulder. ... Fukudome, out for two games with a tight calf muscle, was back in the lineup as the DH. ... White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper was hobbling Friday. He hurt his hamstring Thursday when he slammed a pitch clicker in the dugout and slipped on the steps after being ejected for arguing balls and strikes at Dodger Stadium. ... White Sox 1B Paul Konerko, who's been hitting off a tee, plans to take batting practice on the field Saturday. He's on the DL with a strained oblique muscle.

[Associated Press; By RICK GANO]

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