Contreras' slam, 2nd homer lift Cubs over White Sox

[June 20, 2019]  Willson Contreras went 2-for-3 with two home runs and five RBIs, and the Chicago Cubs pulled away for a 7-3 win over the visiting Chicago White Sox on Wednesday night.

Contreras clubbed a grand slam and a solo homer to help the Cubs split a two-game series with their crosstown rivals. David Bote also hit a solo home run for the Cubs, who won for the 25th time in 37 home games this season.

Leury Garcia and James McCann each homered in a losing effort for the White Sox.

Cubs left-hander Jon Lester (6-5) got the win by holding the White Sox to three runs on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings. He walked one and struck out six.

White Sox right-hander Lucas Giolito (10-2) drew his first loss since April 6. He surrendered six runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings while walking three and striking out nine.

The White Sox grabbed a 1-0 lead on the game's first pitch. Garcia crushed a first-pitch fastball an estimated 429 feet to left-center field for his fifth homer of the season and his third in the past eight games.

The Cubs answered with four runs in the bottom of the inning thanks largely to Contreras' third career grand slam. He ripped a line drive over the wall in left field to also bring home Kyle Schwarber, Anthony Rizzo and Javier Baez.

Contreras homered again in the third to make it 5-1. It marked his second multi-homer game of the season and the sixth of his career. He has 15 homers in 63 games this season after hitting only 10 homers in 138 games a year ago.

Cubs starting pitcher Jon Lester (34) pitches during the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports

The White Sox pulled within 5-3 in the fourth. McCann led off with a solo blast, his seventh, and Yoan Moncada contributed a run-scoring double later in the inning to drive in Eloy Jimenez.

Bote hit his ninth homer in the bottom of the fourth to increase the Cubs' lead to 6-3.

Schwarber capped the scoring with an RBI double in the eighth.

--Field Level Media

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