Wood outpitches Peavy, Cubs edge White Sox 2-1

[June 20, 2012]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Travis Wood pitched six strong innings for his first win as a starter in more than a year, and the Chicago Cubs beat the White Sox 2-1 on Tuesday night even though Jake Peavy went the distance.

David DeJesus drove in two runs with a single in the third inning. He led off the ninth with a triple, but Peavy struck out Steve Clevenger looking at a 2-2 pitch with runners on second and third.

The Cubs handed the White Sox their sixth loss in seven games. They will try to complete the sweep Wednesday, after the White Sox took all three at Wrigley Field last month.

Wood (1-3) was simply terrific, and came away with his first win since a relief appearance for Cincinnati at Pittsburgh on Aug. 19. He hadn't won as a starter since he beat the Los Angeles Dodgers last June 15, but he finally got one after allowing one run and four hits while striking out five and walking four.

The White Sox threatened in the eighth when James Russell walked Gordon Beckham and Adam Dunn with one out. Manuel Corpas came in and retired Paul Konerko on a fly to shallow right with fans chanting "Paulie! Paulie!" and Alex Rios on a grounder.

Carlos Marmol worked the ninth for his fourth save in six chances, retiring Orlando Hudson on a grounder to end the game after he walked A.J. Pierzynski.

Peavy (6-3) took another tough-luck loss even though he pitched his third complete game.

The veteran threw 125 pitches and allowed five hits while striking out five and walking one. He retired 16 straight hitters before Tony Campana singled in the eighth, but came up short again after a 1-0 loss at St. Louis last week.

The Cubs didn't get much going after setting season highs for runs, hits (15) and homers (five) in a 12-3 win on Monday, but they still squeezed this one out.

The White Sox grabbed a 1-0 lead in the second when right fielder Bryan LaHair took a poor route on Alexei Ramirez's ground-rule double to the corner after walks to Rios and Dayan Viciedo. Wood then walked Tyler Flowers to load the bases but retired Hudson on a pop fly and struck out Alejandro De Aza to end the inning.

DeJesus came through with the two-run single after Geovany Soto reached on a wide throw by Hudson at third, Campana singled off the pitcher's foot and Peavy uncorked a wild pitch to put them on second and third.

NOTES: White Sox pitcher John Danks could begin a rehabilitation assignment in three or four weeks after tests confirmed he has a mild muscle strain in his left shoulder. Two MRIs on Monday showed that Danks has a mild Grade 1 strain of the subscapularis muscle in his left shoulder. There is no tendon or ligament damage and his labrum is intact. ... With Zach Stewart being optioned to Triple-A, the White Sox recalled RHP Dylan Axelrod from the minor league club. Axelrod was with the White Sox from April 27 to May 5, going 0-1 with a 3.52 ERA in three appearances, including one start. He is expected to pitch mostly in long relief. ... Cubs 3B Ian Stewart (15-day DL) received a second cortisone injection to treat a sore left wrist on Monday, this time on top of his left hand. Manager Dale Sveum said he doesn't think surgery is on the table right now.

[Associated Press; By ANDREW SELIGMAN]

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