Cubs take over first place with 8-3 victory over White Sox

SHARE Cubs take over first place with 8-3 victory over White Sox
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Anthony Rizzo doubles in three runs during the fifth inning at Guaranteed Rate Field on Wednesday. (Getty Images)

Advantage, first-place Cubs.

Consolation prize, the struggling White Sox.

With an 8-3 victory at sold-out Guaranteed Rate Field on Wednesday night, the Cubs took a 2-1 lead in the Crosstown Cup series. Of more importance, they continued on their best streak of the season by winning for the 10th time in 12 games since the All-Star break and taking over first place from the Brewers, who lost to the Nationals, in the NL Central.

Prized prospect Yoan Moncada gave Sox fans something to take home though, by connecting against right-hander Jake Arrieta for his first career home run.

“He really put a charge into that ball,’’ Sox manager Rick Renteria said. “The ball really jumped off his bat.’’

That was a nice thing to see for the rebuilding Sox. The Cubs, meanwhile, are putting a high-voltage charge into their hot streak. They’ve made up six games on the Brewers during the 10-2 run.

“We’re feeling it,’’ Arrieta said. “I remember last year we were in this same clubhouse about same time and it’s no different. We expect to remain in first place the rest of the year. We feel we have the group to separate ourselves.’’

The Cubs (53-47) go for their third win in the four-game Chicago get-together Thursday night. The Sox (39-59), their roster ravaged by recent trades of proven players for prospects, fell to a season-low 20 games under .500, losing for the 14th time in their last 16 games.

“We’re going to try and keep it respectable as much we can,’’ Renteria said.

Arrieta and Anthony Rizzo led the way for the North Siders, Arrieta with 6 2/3 innings of two-run ball, and Rizzo with four RBI on a three-run double against James Shields in the Cubs’ four-run fifth and a single in the eighth against Brad Goldberg.

Jon Jay singled in a run and made a sparkling catch in left field, and Addison Russell capped it off with his 10th homer in the ninth inning against right-hander Juan Minaya.

“Nice,’’ Cubs manager Joe Maddon said of being in first place. “It’s always a nice feeling to wake up that way.’’

“Nice” could also be said of Moncada handling an 0-2 curveball on the outer portion of the plate on Arrieta’s 98th and final pitch. Moncada launched it over the center field wall.

“It means a lot because it was the first one of many that are coming,” Moncada said through an interpreter.

“Well it was a good breaking ball on an 0-2 pitch,’’ Arrieta said. “You can tell that this guy is going to have a lot of potential. He’s pretty balanced in the box. But the pitch wasn’t supposed to be there.’’

Arrieta (10-7, 4.03 ERA) has been there for the Cubs’ improved starting pitching, which is 9-0 with a 2.50 ERA since the All-Star break — the best of all major league rotations. Arrieta has allowed eight earned runs in 32 innings over his last five starts.

He has allowed six or fewer hits in 12 straight starts, tied for the third-longest stretch of his career.

<em>Yoan Moncada hits a home run during the seventh inning. (Jon Durr/Getty Images)</em>

Yoan Moncada hits a home run during the seventh inning. (Jon Durr/Getty Images)


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