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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, June 23, 2008

Cubs sweep White Sox

Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster (9-2) remained unbeaten at Wrigley Field, allowing 10 hits and a run in the win over the White Sox.

NAM Y. HUH | Associated Press

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CHICAGO — Ryan Dempster has been unbeatable at Wrigley Field. Now, it seems, so are the Cubs.

Dempster improved to 9-0 at home, Aramis Ramirez hit his fourth homer in three games, and the Cubs completed a sweep of the crosstown White Sox, 7-1, last night.

"We're winning all the games. That's what makes it fun. Not because of the White Sox," Ramirez said after completing a huge series in which he had eight RBIs and went 6 for 13.

The Cubs, the owners of the best record in the majors (48-28), won their 14th straight home game to go 32-8 at Wrigley Field this season.

"We're playing good at home. I don't know why," Ramirez added.

Dempster (9-2), who moved from closer back to starter this season, allowed 10 hits and a run in eight-plus innings, leaving after giving up back-to-back singles in the ninth. He walked one and struck out four and got a standing ovation when he batted in the eighth.

"It was crazy out there. When I went to hit, a standing ovation like that and coming off the field — it's really special," he said.

Eric Patterson, who had three hits Saturday when he was recalled from the minors, hit his first major league homer, a two-run shot off Javier Vazquez (7-6) in the fifth to give the Cubs a 4-0 lead.

One out later, the hot-swinging Ramirez connected for a solo shot. He added an RBI double in the seventh.

"Obviously we caught them when they had some guys that you could say were as hot as doughnut grease," White Sox first baseman Nick Swisher said.

Now the White Sox, who are still in first in the AL Central, head west to play the Los Angeles Dodgers before returning home to face the Cubs next weekend at U.S. Cellular Field.

"They kicked our butt and a loss is a loss no matter who you lose against or what kind of weekend you play," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said.

BRAVES 8, MARINERS 3

Mark Teixeira homered three times, connecting from both sides of the plate to lead host Atlanta over Seattle. Teixeira hit solo drives batting left-handed in the second and fourth innings, and a two-run shot from the right side in the seventh for his 13th homer of the season. It was his second career three-homer game and the first for an Atlanta player at Turner Field.

RED SOX 5, CARDINALS 3

Kevin Youkilis hit a two-run home run off Mike Parisi in the bottom of the 13th inning to lift Boston over St. Louis. Mike Lowell led off the inning with a single off Parisi (0-3) before Youkilis hit Parisi's 3-1 offering over the left-field wall. It was Youkilis' second homer of the game.

ANGELS 3, PHILLIES 2

Jered Weaver (7-7) held Philadelphia in check into the sixth inning and Casey Kotchman homered as visiting Los Angeles completed a three-game sweep. Weaver allowed one run and four hits in 5 1/3 innings for the AL West-leading Angels, who have won eight of their last nine road games and are a major league-best 24-12 on the road this season.

YANKEES 4, REDS 1

Andy Pettitte (8-5) pitched six innings of four-hit ball, running his shutout streak to 19 innings and helping host New York avoid a three-game sweep. Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 601st home run, but the Reds are still looking for their first three-game road sweep since last July at Atlanta.

ROYALS 11, GIANTS 10

Mike Aviles had three RBIs and Joey Gathright drove in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning, capping an eight-run comeback that gave host Kansas City a win over San Francisco. Seven different Royals drove in runs, including a pair of RBIs from David DeJesus, as Kansas City belted out 14 hits. The comeback matched the second-best in Royals history, after a nine-run rally on June 15, 1979, at Milwaukee.

DODGERS 4, INDIANS 3

Russell Martin capped a four-run first inning with a two-run homer as Los Angeles beat Cleveland to avoid a three-game sweep in the first series between the teams at Chavez Ravine. Chad Billingsley (6-7) allowed three runs and eight hits in five innings for the Dodgers.

ASTROS 3, RAYS 2

Carlos Lee hit a go-ahead two-run homer and Brandon Backe (5-8) went 6 2/3 innings, allowing two runs and six hits with five strikeouts and four walks to stop a personal three-game losing streak as Houston beat host Tampa Bay.

TWINS 5, DIAMONDBACKS 3

Brian Buscher had two hits and drove in two runs, helping host Minnesota beat Arizona. Buscher is hitting .353 with 12 RBIs and six runs scored in 10 starts since he was called up. The Twins are 7-3 in those games.

BLUE JAYS 8, PIRATES 5

Cito Gaston earned his first win as Blue Jays manager in 11 years, getting home runs from Scott Rolen and Adam Lind in a victory over host Pittsburgh. Lyle Overbay and Vernon Wells had two RBIs apiece for Toronto, which avoided a sweep and the third 0-6 road trip in franchise history.

ATHLETICS 7, MARLINS 1

Justin Duchscherer (8-4) bounced back from a first-inning home run to win his fourth straight start and Emil Brown hit a two-run single as host Oakland won the rubber game against Florida. Duchscherer improved to 4-0 in June and became the American League ERA leader at 1.99.

RANGERS 5, NATIONALS 3

Frank Catalanotto delivered a tiebreaking, pinch-hit single in the eighth inning as visiting Texas beat Washington. Vicente Padilla (10-3) gave up three runs and five hits over seven innings to win for the eighth time in nine decisions since April 27. He struck out five and walked two.

BREWERS 7, ORIOLES 3

Prince Fielder hit two home runs and Corey Hart and Bill Hall also went deep as host Milwaukee beat Baltimore for its sixth win in seven games. The Brewers have hit 45 home runs in their last 22 games, going 15-7 in that span.

TIGERS 5, PADRES 3

Magglio Ordonez hit a two-run homer and Justin Verlander (4-9) won his first road game of the season as visiting Detroit beat San Diego in the rubber game of a three-game series. Winless in six road starts this season, Verlander improved to 8-0 in his career in interleague play. He struck out a season-high 10 while pitching around five walks, and gave up five hits in 5 1/3 innings.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

METS 3, ROCKIES 1

Mike Pelfrey (4-6) carried a shutout into the sixth inning and Carlos Beltran hit a two-run homer as New York beat Colorado to wrap up a winning road trip under interim manager Jerry Manuel. Pelfrey allowed only three hits but walked five over 5 2/3 innings to record his second straight win.

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