Chicago: John Lackey snapped a five-game losing streak with a sharp six-inning effort while reliever Aroldis Chapman picked up his first Chicago Cubs save in a 3-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Thursday.
Lackey out-dueled White Sox ace Chris Sale and picked up his first win since June 8 to end an eight-game run that included three no-decisions. Sale was pitching for the first time since he was suspended for an outburst which included destroying team uniforms on Saturday.
Ben Zobrist went 2-for-4 and singled home Dexter Fowler with the go-ahead run in the third inning. Zobrist doubled in the eighth, reached third on an error and scored on Addison Russell’s fielder’s choice grounder to shortstop off reliever Nate Jones.
The Cubs won their second straight while the White Sox dropped their second in a row.
Meanwhile, Mitch Moreland hit a pair of solo homers, lifting Texas over Kansas City 3-2 in support of Cole Hamels.
Moreland’s second homer -- a solo shot off Yordano Ventura -- snapped a 2-2 tie with one out in the eighth inning and was just the fourth hit allowed by the Kansas City right-hander.
That proved to be enough for Hamels, who set a season high with 12 strikeouts in his eight-inning outing. Hamels allowed two runs on six hits and walked just one while throwing 123 pitches. Sam Dyson closed out the Royals for his 21st save.
