Pete Crow-Armstrong went 4-for-5 with a home run and six RBIs as the Chicago Cubs demolished the visiting Chicago White Sox 13-3 on Friday.
Seiya Suzuki and Moises Ballesteros each drove in two, while Cade Horton (2-0) threw five innings of seven-hit, three-run ball in his first career start. He also struck out two and walked none for the Cubs, who won their third game in four tries.
Shane Smith (1-3) allowed six runs (one earned) and seven hits in his five-inning stint. The fellow rookie struck out five and walked one. Miguel Vargas went 4-for-4 with two homers and three RBIs for the White Sox, who dropped their second straight and took an American League-leading 31st loss.
Chase Meidroth began the game with a single and stole second with one out, before Vargas launched his fourth home run of the season to give the White Sox an early 2-0 advantage.
The Cubs answered in the bottom of the second, as Michael Busch hit a leadoff single followed by Carson Kelly’s ground-rule double. With one out, Ballesteros grounded to Andrew Vaughn at first, who threw home, but Busch evaded catcher Matt Thaiss’ tag.
Nico Hoerner then grounded to the shortstop Meidroth, whose perfect throw was dropped by Thaiss, allowing the Cubs to tie the game on two infield grounders.
After Smith struck out Jon Berti, Crow-Armstrong connected on his 12th home run of the year to give the Cubs a 5-2 lead. Kyle Tucker then tripled and scored on Suzuki’s double to center.
The White Sox got a run back in the third as Vargas hit his second home run in as many at bats, pulling the visitors within three runs.
In relief of Smith, Tyler Gilbert pitched the bottom of the sixth for the White Sox. Hoerner led off with a single, stole second and advanced to third on Thaiss’ throwing error. After striking out Berti, Gilbert exited with left knee soreness.
Brandon Eisert came in, allowing Crow-Armstrong’s RBI single, Tucker’s single and Suzuki’s sac fly, as the Cubs grabbed an 8-3 lead. Eisert then plunked Busch and Miguel Castro entered as the third pitcher of the inning.
Crow-Armstrong continued his stellar day in the seventh, driving in a pair on a single to center. In the eighth, Dansby Swanson had a sac fly, Ballesteros an RBI single and Hoerner a run-scoring groundout to push the Cubs’ lead to 13-3.
