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Cubs squeeze past sliding White Sox

Jun 23, 2007 - 10:15 PM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Ryan Theriot plated the go-ahead run by converting a squeeze play in the top of the ninth inning to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 2-1 triumph over the reeling Chicago White Sox on Saturday afternoon.

It was the sixth victory in the last 10 contests for the Cubs, who have won four of five games this season from their crosstown rival.

Both teams managed one run in the first inning before Cubs lefthander Rich Hill and White Sox righthander Javier Vazquez took over for the rest of the contest.

The score was tied, 1-1, in the ninth when Cliff Floyd lined a one-out single against White Sox closer Bobby Jenks (2-3). Daryle Ward followed with a hit to center field, sending pinch-runner Angel Pagan to third base.

That set the stage for Theriot, who entered the game mired in a 7-for-40 slump.

After going hitless in his first three at-bats, Theriot delivered the decisive blow with a simple play, laying down a perfect bunt on Jenks' 0-1 inside fastball to plate Pagan, who broke with the pitch.

"We're just focusing right now on playing good baseball, which is executing in situations that we need to followed by defense and pitching well," Theriot said.

Michael Wuertz (1-2) recorded the last out of the eighth inning to pick up the win and Bob Howry logged a perfect ninth to notch his first save of the season.

Hill worked his way out of trouble throughout the game and tossed a total of 5 2/3 innings, allowing one run and six hits with two walks and six strikeouts. Carlos Marmol and lefthander Will Ohman both pitched scoreless relief frames for the Cubs.

"(Hill) gave up hits early, and then all of sudden he kicked in," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "He competed very well. He threw 100 pitches and actually threw better at the end."

Cezar Izturis went 3-for-3 while Alfonso Soriano crushed a leadoff homer in the first inning for the Cubs, who have yielded a total of just two runs over the first two contests of this three-game interleague series.

After surrendering Soriano's leadoff blast, Vazquez was dominant, yielding one run and five hits over seven innings. The righthander did not walk a batter and matched a season high with eight strikeouts, throwing 72 of 112 pitches for strikes.

Jim Thome had an RBI groundout in the first inning while rookie Josh Fields added two hits for the White Sox, who are mired in a four-game skid and have dropped 21 of their last 26 contests.

"I think (Vazquez) most of the time, has been throwing the ball good for us," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "We're not doing anything offensively."