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ChiSox slide by Cubs thanks to Pierre, Humber

Jul 3, 2011 - 1:20 AM Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Juan Pierre knocked in the game's only run and Philip Humber got the better of Matt Garza in a pitchers' duel, as the White Sox nipped the crosstown-rival Cubs, 1-0, in the second meeting of a three- game interleague series.

Humber (8-4) yielded just five hits and three walks in seven scoreless innings for the Sox, who have won four straight to reach the .500 mark (42-42) for the first time since they were 7-7 on April 16.

"I was very fortunate," Humber said. "I changed speeds on what I had. I was behind in the count a lot and was able to throw something down in the zone when I needed an out."

Matt Thornton retired all six batters he faced to pick up his third save of the season.

Garza (4-7) tossed his seventh career complete game in the loss, the Cubs' fourth in six games. Garza had a no-hitter through five innings and ended up yielding one run on four hits and two walks while striking out seven.

The Cubs grounded into double plays in their opening three at-bats, providing little help offensively as Garza strolled through the first five frames.

Cubs manager Mike Quade was ejected by second base umpire Paul Emmel arguing one of those double plays. That came in the second inning when Quade argued second baseman Gordon Beckham didn't touch the base before a relay throw to first.

"I was out of the dugout as the play was developing," Quade said. "I don't manufacture stuff. I was mad. Paul's a good umpire, but I thought he was way off the bag."

Things changed in the sixth, as Beckham worked a leadoff walk and moved into scoring position on Humber's sacrifice bunt. A wild pitch advanced Beckham to third, and Pierre followed with a base hit to left for the White Sox's first hit and the game's only run.

Humber, who like Garza on Saturday lost his previous start despite taking a no-hitter deep into the game, retired three straight with two on in the sixth, then threw a 1-2-3 seventh before handing the ball over to Thornton.

Thornton struck out two in the eighth and needed just eight pitches to set down the heart of the Cubs' lineup in the ninth.

Game Notes

The White Sox were 11 games under .500 on May 7...The Sox have won 18 of their last 19 interleague series, including 10 straight on the road...Humber lowered his earned-run average to 2.69...Garza's last nine-inning complete game came on July 26, 2010 when he no-hit the Tigers...Cubs outfielder Marlon Byrd, playing in his first game since getting hit below the left eye by a pitch from Boston's Alfredo Aceves on May 21, went 0-for-3 with a walk...Darwin Barney had two of the Cubs' five hits...The White Sox go for the series sweep on Sunday with Gavin Floyd facing Rodrigo Lopez...Game time: 2:37.