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Quentin's homer helps White Sox edge Cubs

Jun 29, 2008 - 2:29 AM By Gene Chamberlain PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Chicago White Sox remain in first place in the American League Central because of the surprising performances of players like Carlos Quentin.

Quentin's seventh-inning home run to right field off reliever Carlos Marmol broke a tie Saturday as the White Sox defeated the Chicago Cubs, 6-5, in interleague play at U.S. Cellular Field.

Quentin tied teammate Jermaine Dye for second place among American League home run leaders at 18 with the blast, which came on an 0-2 pitch.

"For a while during the game, the shadows were significant and I'm sure you could see they affected some of the hitters," Quentin said. "To be honest, I was having trouble seeing the ball that whole at-bat.

"It was just a defensive swing at a fastball that I didn't see that well and I was fortunate enough to get the barrel on it and it carried."

Dye hit his 18th home run of the season in the first inning and Alexei Ramirez also homered for the White Sox, who won their second straight against the Cubs after suffering a six-game losing streak to them.

"The White Sox should win that division by half a dozen games or more if you want to know the truth," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "They've got just about everything that's needed: They've got power, they've got a good defensive team on the field and they've got a (heck) of a bullpen and good starters."

The White Sox received 4 2/3 shutout innings from their bullpen in relief of struggling starter Javier Vazquez. Bobby Jenks pitched the ninth for his 18th save and Matt Thornton (4-1) got the victory by striking out four of the five batters he retired.

"Our bullpen has been great," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "I think one of the biggest reasons we are where we are and continue to fight is those guys go out there and throw unbelievable. Everyone is fun to watch."

Jenks gave up Derrek Lee's fifth hit of the game leading off the ninth, a double off the wall in right-center. However, the big closer induced Daryle Ward, Aramis Ramirez and Jim Edmonds to all ground out to end the game.

Marmol (1-3) took the loss after relieving starter Sean Gallagher, who had thrown 121 pitches in six innings. Gallagher allowed eight hits and issued three walks.

The Cubs started the game by getting four straight batters on base against Vazquez, who lasted 4 1/3 innings and allowed five runs on nine hits with three walks. Three of the runs came in the fourth on a two-run double by Lee and an RBI single by Mark DeRosa for a 5-4 advantage.

"He was swimming against the current - he's been like that the last five or four outings," Guillen said of Vazquez. "We need something better out of Javie."

But Ramirez, who missed the White Sox's 10-3 triumph Friday due to the birth of his son, tied the score a half-inning later with a leadoff shot off Gallagher.

Lee and Ward had RBI hits in the first to give the Cubs a 2-0 advantage before the White Sox rallied for three in the bottom of the frame on Dye's two-run blast to center followed by Joe Crede's RBI double.

Orlando Cabrera doubled home Ramirez in the second to widen the White Sox's lead to 4-2.

The Cubs have lost three straight games and four of their last five. The three straight losses matches their longest losing streak of the year.

"It was a good ballgame, it was a tough loss for us," Piniella said. "It was exciting for the fans, entertaining. We're scuffling a little bit right now, and you know what? The White Sox played well."