Chicago Cubs: Kyle Schwarber helps bring Crosstown Cup home

Kyle Schwarber homered twice and tripled as the Chicago Cubs won the season series against the White Sox for the first time since 2013.

After a win on Wednesday, the Chicago Cubs hoped to win again to win the Crosstown Cup against the rival Chicago White Sox. They did just that, carrying serious momentum with them into a showdown with the Milwaukee Brewers this weekend.

After the White Sox jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on a Willy Garcia solo shot, first baseman Anthony Rizzo got things rolling. The Cubs first baseman launched his team-leading 24th homer of the year, tying things up 1-1 in the top of the fourth.

Chicago wasn’t done there, either. Kyle Schwarber took Mike Pelfrey deep to left-center, a two-run shot, that put the Cubs ahead for good. The young outfielder, who is still looking for a hot spell, was just getting started.

Chicago Cubs

With the Cubs up 4-2 in the sixth, Schwarber tripled, scoring Willson Contreras. In his next at-bat, the slugger hit a towering moonshot into the seats in right field, making it a 6-2 affair.

On the hill, Jon Lester did his job again, tossing seven innings of two-run, four-hit ball. He struck out four and walked just one on the night before giving way to the pen. Since the break, Cubs starters have not allowed a first-inning run nor have they been hit with a loss.

Jose Abreu homered twice – once off Lester, once off Koji Uehara – in the loss.

Why it matters

To be blunt, beating a rebuilding White Sox team doesn’t mean a whole lot. That being said, good teams beat bad teams. It’s what you’re supposed to do – and since the break, the Cubs have done so.

More importantly, Chicago carries some serious momentum into a weekend showdown against the Milwaukee Brewers in Wisconsin. In a matchup of the top two teams in the Central, the clubs are trending in opposite directions.

Next: Arrieta of old back for surging Cubs team

What’s Next

Jose Quintana (6-8, 4.22) starts Friday’s series opener at Miller Park. Left-hander Brent Suter (1-1, 2.84) takes the ball for the Brewers.

First pitch is at 7:10 p.m.