ChiSox Win Battle Of Chicago

Winning two games at Wrigley Field and having the chance to sweep the Cubs in front of their own ivy would make most White Sox fans happy for the rest of the year.

Not Ray Durham. The White Sox second baseman wants the Cubs beaten,humiliated and destroyed.

So much for this series not meaning anything.

"I hope to sweep them here and at Comiskey. All six," Durham said. "A lot of fans said Friday was a cheap win. Today, we came out and earned another one."

Earn it they did. Frank Thomas and Mark Johnson homered, and Mike Sirotka held the Cubs scoreless for 7 2-3 innings Saturday as the South Siders strung together 18 hits on their way to an 8-2 victory.

The victory puts the White Sox at .500 for the first time since May 18 and, more importantly, gives them bragging rights for the first crosstown series.

"The fans were cheering loudly," Thomas said. "There are more Sox fans out there than people realize. We've done 'em proud the last couple days."

The White Sox, supposed to be the underdogs in the Kiddie Corps vs. the Geezers matchup, are showing they know a thing or two about the game. Sirotka (5-6) was simply masterful. After giving up his third hit, a double to Mickey Morandini in the second inning, he retired the next 14 batters.

He finished with seven hits and six strikeouts. He also went 2-for-4 for his first major league hits. As he left the field to loud cheers in the eighth inning, he pumped his fist and waved.

"I tried to block out the crowd, but after a big out, it was nice to hear them," Sirotka said.

The White Sox got a scare i the ninth when the Cubs staged a -- surprise -- rally. Glenallen Hill, who led off with a single, scored after the White Sox committed two errors. Jeff Blauser was hit by a pitch, and Keith Foulke made it 8-2 when he forced in a run with a walk to pinch-hitter Henry Rodriguez.

The White Sox finally got out of the inning when Mark Grace flew out to right.

"We lost focus. That's youth, I guess," manager Jerry Manuel said. "My heart started pumping in the ninth. I was like, `What's going on here?' But we finally got the last two outs."

The White Sox, not known for a particularly potent offense, came out swinging. Steve Trachsel (2-8) was the first to go after giving up five runs and 10 hits in 3 1-3 innings for his fourth straight loss. Fans were so irked they booed him louder when he left the mound than any time Thomas came to the plate.

Dan Serafini wasn't any better, giving up a run and a hit, while getting only two outs. And then there was Scott Sanders, who gave up two runs and two hits without retiring a batter.

"As in most games, whoever pitches best is going to win," Cubs manager Jim Riggleman said. "They outpitched us today."

Magglio Ordonez, who is 6-for-8 in the series, got the White Sox on the scoreboard with an RBI single in the first inning. Thomas made it 2-0 when he led off the third with his sixth homer.

The White Sox added three more runs in the fourth, including a wind-aided homer. Johnson sent a 2-0 pitch floating toward center but before it dropped, a puff of wind pushed it into the basket in front of the backdrop.

With the ball in the weeds, Cubs fans couldn't even throw the ball back on the field -- the ultimate insult.

Caruso hit an RBI single and Thomas added a sacrifice fly to give the White Sox a 5-0 lead. Ordonez, Carlos Lee and Chris Singleton made it 8-0 in the sixth with RBI singles to right field.

Sammy Sosa had a chance to rally the Cubs in the eighth inning, but he struck out with Manny Alexander at third and Grace at first. The Cubs also stranded runners at second and third in the first and second innings.

Notes

• White Sox manager Jerry Manuel said this series really gives him a chance to evaluate his young ballclub. Things like how they fare in a hostile environment and how they do against a veteran team. "For a rebuilding club, a young club, to play in this kind of atmosphere in June is a huge benefit," Manuel said. "To see who flinches and who doesn't." Still, Manuel would prefer a series like this come at the end of the season. "There ain't nothing coming out of this series except talk," he said.
• Pitchers Jaime Navarrand Kevin Tapani will face their old teams Sunday. When Manuel decided to pitch Navarro, who played for the Cubs in 1995 and 1996, Cubs manager Jim Riggleman decided to go with Tapani, a South Sider in 1996. "I smiled at that one," Manuel said.
• Cubs CF Lance Johnson's jammed thumb is better, but he's now bothered by a leg injury.

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