(SportsNetwork.com) - The Chicago Cubs swept their four-game season series with the White Sox a year ago.
Now the White Sox are trying to return the favor and will go for a third straight win in the Windy City Series and lay claim to the Crosstown Cup on Wednesday when the matchup shifts to U.S. Cellular Field for the final two games.
After posting a 3-1 win in 12 innings on Monday, the White Sox made it two in a row on Tuesday, as Gordon Beckham's eighth-inning home run put them ahead for good in a 5-1 triumph at Wrigley Field.
Beckham went 4-for-5 at the dish with two runs scored in the White Sox' third straight overall victory. His solo shot to left off Neil Ramirez (0-1) broke a 1-1 tie, and the visitors tacked on three more runs in the ninth to pull away.
"I got a better feel today," said Beckham. "It was bound to happen. I wasn't panicked, I've kind of been here before. I had a good game, happy to do it."
Hector Noesi went five innings for the visitors, allowing a run on four hits with six strikeouts. Zach Putnam (1-0) was perfect in two innings of relief to earn the win.
Edwin Jackson started for the Cubs and went seven innings, allowing a run on six hits with a season-high nine strikeouts.
"I was able to come out today and make pitches when I needed to, especially with men on base," Jackson said. "Making pitches with men in scoring position is the difference between giving up runs and not giving up runs."
On Wednesday the White Sox will turn to lefty John Danks, who has lost his last two starts. Danks was atrocious in Cleveland on Friday, as he surrendered eight runs and 10 hits in five innings to drop to 2-2, while raising his ERA to 5.00.
"There wasn't a whole lot to take from it," Danks said. "I felt fine. I just had the ball up. I've got to throw more strikes. It's not rocket science."
Danks has faced the Cubs six times and is 3-2 with a 3.06 ERA against them.
The Cubs, meanwhile, will turn to a lefty of their own in Travis Wood, who has won two of his last three starts. Wood beat the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday, holding them to a three runs (2 earned) and six hits in six innings to run his record to 2-3 to go along with a 3.35 ERA.
Wood has defeated the White Sox both times he has faced them, pitching to a 2.25 ERA in those outings.
On the injury front, the White Sox may be without slugger Adam Dunn, who was scratched from the starting lineup on Tuesday with a calf injury. He did pinch-hit, however, in the win on Tuesday.
[SportsNetwork.com]
