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Cubs aim for sweep of crosstown rivals

Jun 22, 2008 - 2:43 PM Chi White Sox (41-33) at Chi Cubs (47-28) 8:05 p.m. EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Chicago Cubs will try to push their home winning streak to 14 games Sunday when they go for a sweep of the crosstown-rival Chicago White Sox.

Owners of the best record in the major leagues, the Cubs have done most of their damage this season at Wrigley Field and lead the majors with a 31-8 mark at home. They have not lost at the Friendly Confines since May 17.

The Cubs have scored the most runs in the majors and have put that firepower to use in the first two games against the White Sox. Aramis Ramirez homered twice in the series opener Friday, tying the game with a solo blast in the seventh and giving the Cubs a 4-3 win with another solo shot in the bottom of the ninth.

Jim Edmonds played the hero on Saturday, becoming the first Cub since Mark Bellhorn in 2002 to homer twice in the same inning when he bookended a nine-run fourth with solo homers as the Cubs cruised to an 11-7 victory.

Edmonds is batting .310 (23-for-74) with four homers and 16 RBI in 25 games since joining baseball's best team on May 15.

Ryan Dempster (8-2, 2.76 ERA) will try to remain perfect at home when he takes the mound for the Cubs on Sunday. The veteran righthander has been outstanding in his return to the rotation this season, ranking fourth in the National League in ERA and leading the NL with a .192 opponents' batting average. He is 8-0 in nine starts at Wrigley Field.

The White Sox look to avoid a sweep behind veteran Javier Vazquez (7-5, 4.13). The righthander ranks second in the American League with 93 strikeouts and has won two of his last three starts despite posting a 7.27 ERA and allowing a .333 batting average over that span.

But while the Cubs have been nearly unbeatable at home, the White Sox have struggled on the road, dropping eight straight. Their last road win was at Tampa Bay on May 29.

Vazquez, who spent seven years in the NL with the Montreal Expos and Arizona Diamondbacks, is 3-3 with a 4.84 ERA in 14 career starts against the Cubs.

Next weekend, the White Sox host the Cubs in a three-game series at U.S. Cellular Field.