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White Sox get past Cubs

May 20, 2012 - 4:03 AM Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Dayan Viciedo, A.J. Pierzynski and Adam Dunn each homered to back the strong pitching of John Danks, and the White Sox finally secured a series victory with a 7-4 decision over the Cubs Saturday night.

The White Sox had been 0-5-3 over the previous eight series, but by taking the first two contests at Wrigley Field they posted their first such triumph since sweeping a three-game set in Seattle, April 20-22.

Danks (3-4), who had been winless over his previous four starts, allowed three hits and had four strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings.

"These games go beyond Cubs/Sox," Danks said. "This is a city, this is our fan base. It's a different kind of game than we play the rest of the year."

The White Sox are 52-22 during interleague play since 2008, the best record in baseball during that span. Additionally, they are 17-6 over the last 23 games overall in this series and have captured seven of the last nine at Wrigley Field.

Ryan Dempster (0-2) is now without a victory since Aug. 11 against Washington. That's a span of 16 appearances. The right-hander gave up seven hits and four runs over six frames Saturday.

Alfonso Soriano and Joe Mather each hit two-run homers in the bottom of the ninth off Zach Stewart.

Alejandro De Aza singled leading off the game, stole second and scored on a Viciedo one-out base hit to center.

Viciedo and Pierzynski hit consecutive homers with two outs in the third to up the margin to 4-0. Viciedo's blast to center came just after Dunn walked, one of his four free passes on the night.

"I just didn't do a good job of executing some pitches," Dempster said. "In the third inning I walked Adam Dunn with two out and nobody on. That cost us three runs and that ultimately probably cost us the game."

Starlin Castro and Jeff Baker grounded into inning-ending double plays in the bottom of the sixth and seventh, respectively, and the White Sox tacked on three runs in the eighth. Dunn led off with a homer to right-center off James Russell. Pierzynski hit a one-out double and scored on Alexei Ramirez's single to center. Michael Bowden, the third Cubs pitcher of the inning, walked De Aza with the bases full, forcing in Alex Rios.

Stewart yielded four hits in the ninth, including left field homers to Soriano and Mather, both with two outs. Koyie Hill grounded out to end the game.

Game Notes

Cubs catcher Geovany Soto, who is recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, has been placed on the 15-day disabled list. The Cubs replaced Soto on the roster by recalling right-handed pitcher Randy Wells from Triple-A Iowa...Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood formally announced his retirement during a ceremony at Wrigley Field Saturday...White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko, who was hit on the left side of the face by a pitch Friday, sat out Saturday's contest.