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Uribe drives in five runs as White Sox down struggling Cubs

Posted on: Friday, 30 June 2006, 22:30 CDT

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Juan Uribe homered and drove in five runs while Jon Garland pitched six strong innings as the Chicago White Sox beat the struggling Chicago Cubs 6-2 in interleague play Friday between the cross-town rivals at Wrigley Field.

Uribe had a two-run single to key a three-run White Sox first inning and added an RBI double in the third and a two-run homer in the eighth in the opener of a three-game series between Chicago's two teams.

"He was the reason we pretty much won the game," Garland told reporters regarding Uribe's big day at the plate.

"That's a good sign when he starts getting hot."

Uribe had a terrible start to the season, but has bounced back with 19 RBI in his past 14 games while lifting his average back up to .241.

"I want to keep on working and try to help this team the rest of the year," Uribe told reporters.

"I feel like it's a good thing about this team, anybody at any time can make the play or get a hit."

The two teams are clearly headed in separate directions, as the defending World Series champion White Sox improved to 52-27, the second best record in the majors leagues -- behind only their Central Division rivals, the Detroit Tigers.

The Sox have won 15 of their past 20 games.

REELING CUBS

The reeling Cubs are 29-50 and have the third worst record in the majors. Only Pittsburgh and Kansas City have worse records.

Uribe wound up with three of the Sox's 10 hits, while A.J. Pierzynski added a pair of hits and scored a run in the first game between the teams since Pierzynski and Michael Barrett of the Cubs had a fight that triggered a bench-clearing brawl in late May at U.S. Cellular Field.

Barrett received a 10-game suspension for punching Pierzynski in the game, but the two catchers chatted in the outfield before the game after Barrett approached the Sox catcher and shook hands afterwards.

"I appreciated the gesture and we're over it and we're moving on," Pierzynski told reporters.

Garland (7-3) allowed two runs on seven hits over six innings, striking out four and walking one, to pick up the win.

Jermaine Dye drove in the other White Sox run with a first inning single.

Sean Marshall (4-7) allowed four runs on eight hits in his six innings, striking out six and walking three.

Aramis Ramirez and Jacque Jones had run-scoring singles for the Cubs in the second inning, while Juan Pierre had three of the Cubs nine hits.

In New York, five Yankee pitchers combined on a one-hitter as the Yankees beat the Mets 2-0 at Yankee Stadium.

Mike Mussina had a no-hitter after four innings for the Yankees, but didn't return after a 63-minute rain delay. Ron Villone (2-1) allowed the only hit in his two innings but got the win and Mariano Rivera pitched the ninth for his 18th save.

Jason Giambi homered for the Yankees and Andy Phillips drove in the other run for the winners.

Orlando Hernandez (4-8) was the loser, allowing two runs on seven hits over eight innings.

In Miami, Dontrelle Willis pitched seven strong innings as the Florida Marlins beat the Boston Red Sox 5-2, ending the Sox's 12-game winning streak.

(Writing by Roger Lajoie in Toronto)

Source: REUTERS

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