Morning Box Score: Sox Strike First

By Matt Motyka in News on Jun 18, 2009 3:00PM

The White Sox won the opener of the Crosstown Classic Wednesday at Wrigley, defeating the Cubs 4-1. The Cubs’ anemic offense was on display once again, as the North Siders managed only five hits off Sox starter John Danks and none off his relief, going 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.

The Sox didn’t exactly knock the cover off the ball either, totaling seven hits in the contest, but benefited from seven walks, six of which were issued by Ryan Dempster. Dempster surrendered three runs in his six-plus innings, and the Sox added a fourth off Angel Guzman. Alexei Ramirez put the first tally on the board with a line-drive solo shot in the top of the first, and the Good Guys added another score in the second with an RBI triple from Chris Getz.

The Sox then padded their lead in the late goings with Scott Podsednik’s run-scoring bunt single and a sac fly from A.J. Pierzynski, giving them a four-run cushion before Alfonso Soriano picked up the Cubs’ lone run on a ground out in the eighth. The two teams will clash again today at 1:20.

AP Photo/Paul Beaty