LHP Mark Buehrle gets it started, and the White Sox's seven runs are just enough.
By Associated Press
Published June 22, 2003
CHICAGO - Mark Buehrle's bat gave the White Sox an unexpected lift. Then it was strong throws from Jose Valentin and Josh Paul that helped him beat the Cubs.
Buehrle pitched into the seventh inning and got his first major-league RBI on Saturday as the White Sox took a big early lead for the second straight game and held on for a 7-6 win.
"It's always a plus when the pitchers hit," said the left-hander, who entered the game 1-for-11 in his career. "I don't know what I'm doing up there, really."
After falling behind 7-0, the Cubs scored twice to get within two in the seventh but could have had more. A strong relay throw from shortstop Valentin cut down Damian Miller at the plate for the first out of the inning and kept the Cubs from having a bigger rally.
"I was surprised, too," Valentin said. "They were down 7-3 and trying to get the guy home with no outs, and I just turned around and I got a call, "Go home.' I made a throw and got him. When he made the turn home, he was pretty much running out of gas."
Was it a mistake by Cubs third-base coach Wendell Kim to wave Miller around?
"I don't know if it was a mistake or not. We've been trying to play aggressive baseball. I call it aggressive baseball and it didn't work," manager Dusty Baker said.
That aggressive approach cost the Cubs again in the ninth against Billy Koch, who got his 10th save in 12 chances. He allowed a run-scoring single to Sammy Sosa, but pinch-runner Tom Goodwin was thrown out trying to steal second and Eric Karros flied out to end it.
Buehrle got things started with a two-out single up the middle to give the White Sox a 1-0 lead in the second. Willie Harris followed with a broken-bat single to make it a two-run lead.
Joe Crede had two doubles and a single in his first three at-bats as the White Sox chased Cubs starter Matt Clement after 31/3 innings, ending his three-game winning streak.
Buehrle, who won 35 games the past two seasons, allowed nine hits and four runs in 61/3 innings. He has two straight wins after a nine-game losing streak.
