06/24/2005 6:39 PM ET
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Cubs can't cool off White Sox
Mitre chased in fifth inning against Windy City rival
By Carrie Muskat / MLB.com
CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs needed more than a designated hitter Friday.
A.J. Pierzynski and Joe Crede each drove in three runs, Frank Thomas collected two RBIs -- and all three homered -- to power the Chicago White Sox to their eighth straight win, a 12-2 victory over the Cubs in the opening game of their second Interleague Series.
Freddy Garcia (7-3) benefitted from the offense -- and the afternoon start. Garcia gave up one run on three hits and one walk over seven innings while striking out eight. Garcia now is 12-1 in day games in the last two years.
Sergio Mitre (2-3) was tagged for seven runs on seven hits and four walks over 4 2/3 innings to take the loss, the Cubs' third in a row. They now are 1-3 against the White Sox this season, and 4-9 against American League teams.
Thomas, who wasn't available when these two teams met May 20-23 at Wrigley Field, launched a 2-1 pitch from Mitre with two out in the first. Thomas now has 11 hits, and seven have cleared the fences.
Todd Hollandsworth tied the game with a one-out homer in the third, his third. That was it for the Cubs until rookie Jason Dubois connected for a solo shot with one out in the eighth off Neal Cotts.
Pablo Ozuna singled to open the White Sox third and reached third on Scott Podsednik's single before scoring on Tadahito Iguchi's sacrifice fly. Podsednik stole second and third before scoring on a wild pitch by Mitre to give the White Sox a 3-1 lead.
Mitre walked Podsednik to start the White Sox fifth, and he reached third on Iguchi's single before scoring on Thomas' sacrifice fly. One out later, Aaron Rowand hit an RBI single, and Rowand eventually scored on a wild pitch by reliever Todd Wellemeyer. Pierzynski then connected on his 11th home run to make it 8-1.
In the seventh, Pierzynski also hit a RBI double and Crede added a three-run homer.
Carrie Muskat is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.