CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago White Sox saw their winning streak end at 11 when a ninth-inning rally fell short Sunday, and the Cubs held on for an 8-6 victory.
The White Sox scored three times in the bottom of the ninth. But Alex Rios struck out swinging against Carlos Marmol with runners at first and second to finish it.
The White Sox had their longest winning string since a 12-game run in June 1961.
Tyler Colvin and Alfonso Soriano homered for the Cubs. The Cubs led 6-2 in the sixth and a weekend that began with Carlos Zambrano's dugout tantrum and indefinite suspension ended on a positive note for a team still far below .500.
Paul Konerko hit his 20th homer for the White Sox, tying Frank Thomas' club record with 11 seasons of 20 or more.
Down 8-3, the White Sox started to come back when Marmol walked Mark Kotsay and A.J. Pierzynski with one out. After Alexei Ramirez flied out, Gordon Beckham hit an RBI double and Juan Pierre followed with a two-run single. Pinch-hitter Andruw Jones walked before Rios struck out.
Colvin's three-run shot off John Danks (7-6) in the third gave the Cubs a 3-2 lead and Derrek Lee extended it with a two-run double in the fifth,
Soriano led off a two-run eighth with his 11th homer, connecting against Tony Pena.
Ryan Dempster (6-6) went seven innings as the Cubs won for the third time in nine games. He allowed a two-run single in a shaky first to Carlos Quentin and a leadoff homer to Konerko in the sixth, but was solid otherwise as the Cubs avoided the sweep.
The loss was just the second in 17 games for the White Sox, who got a rare poor start and came up short trying to extend a club record with their fourth straight three-game sweep. Instead, they fell for the first time since June 13 when the Cubs' Ted Lilly took a no-hitter into the ninth in a 1-0 victory and Gavin Floyd had one of his own going into the seventh.
White Sox starters were a combined 12-1 in the last 17 games, but Danks couldn't protect the early lead. He allowed six runs and seven hits after winning three straight starts.
NOTES: The White Sox placed closer Bobby Jenks, who has missed the past three games, on the bereavement list and purchased the contract of LHP Erick Threets from Triple-A Charlotte. Manager Ozzie Guillen hopes to get Jenks back on Wednesday. ... Omar Vizquel moved past Tony Perez into 53rd place with his 2,733rd hit when he singled in the first. He added another in the fifth. ... Lee was the DH for the second straight day because of some back stiffness. Although Lee called it a "non-issue," manager Lou Piniella said "we'll see how he feels tomorrow." The Cubs meet Pittsburgh on Monday, meaning Lee would have to play the field.
(This version CORRECTS Cubs 8, White Sox 6. corrects Rios' first name in 2nd graf.)
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