Chicago Cubs

Willson Contreras Powers Chicago Cubs Past White Sox

Contreras hit a grand slam and drove in five RBI in the victory

Willson Contreras really enjoys hitting against the Chicago White Sox, as the Cubs slugger pounded two home runs, including a grand slam, in a 7-3 victory on Wednesday night.

The victory helped the Cubs to a series split with the White Sox, as the two teams are set for a rematch in early July.

Contreras hit his second grand slam in as many seasons against the Cubs’ South Side rivals, and blasted a solo shot over the left field wall for good measure as the Cubs avenged Tuesday night’s defeat against the Sox.

David Bote also went deep for the Cubs, and Kyle Schwarber drove in an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning to help guide the team to victory.

On the mound, Jon Lester gave up a first-pitch home run to Leury García in the first inning, but settled down to give up three earned runs in 5.2 innings of work to earn the victory. The Cubs’ bullpen scuffled at times but ultimately held the White Sox off the board for the remainder of the game.

White Sox starter Lucas Giolito, who had been one of the league’s hottest pitchers in recent weeks, struggled as he gave up six earned runs to the Cubs in 4.1 innings.

James McCann blasted a home run, and Yoán Moncada smacked a triple and drove in a run for the White Sox in the losing effort.

The White Sox got on the board right away in the first inning, as García pounded the first pitch he saw from Lester into the left field bleachers to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.

The Cubs didn’t waste any time responding, as they dropped a four-spot on Giolito in the bottom of the first. After the Cubs loaded the bases via a ringing double from Schwarber and walks to Anthony Rizzo and Javier Báez, Contreras promptly unloaded them, depositing a pitch into the left field basket to give the Cubs a 4-1 lead.

Contreras homered again in the third inning to make it a 5-1 game, but the White Sox tried to claw back into the game in the fourth. McCann smacked a home run to right-center to make it 5-2, and Moncada laced a double to left field to score Eloy Jiménez and cut the Cubs’ advantage to two runs.

From there, the Cubs’ offense finished the job. Bote smacked a home run to center field to extend the Cubs’ lead back to 6-3, and Schwarber lined a double to right field to score Addison Russell in the eighth for the final margin of victory.

The Cubs will stay home to welcome the New York Mets in for a four-game series beginning on Thursday night, while the White Sox will hit the road to face the Texas Rangers in their final series at Globe Life Park beginning on Friday night.

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