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Chicago Cubs shoot for a sweep of their Southside neighbors tonight and in the process try to notch their 14th consecutive home win, as they wrap up a three-game interleague set with the
Chicago White Sox at Wrigley Field.
On Saturday, Jim Edmonds hit two home runs as part of a nine-run fourth inning as the Cubs defeated the White Sox, 11-7.
Aramis Ramirez finished 2-for-5 with a three-run homer and four RBI and Mike Fontenot hit a solo shot for the Cubs, who have won two straight and four of their last seven games. Eric Patterson chipped in three hits, including a double, an RBI and two runs scored in the win.
The Cubs have now won 13 straight at Wrigley and are a major league-best 31-8 at home this season. Chicago, though, hasn't won 14 home games in a row in 70 years, dating back to June 4 - July 10, 1936.
Jason Marquis (6-3) earned the win after grinding through seven innings and allowing five runs on eight hits, while striking out four and issuing a walk. He improved to 1-2 in four career starts versus the White Sox. Kerry Wood earned his 19th save of the season.
Jermaine Dye hit a two-run homer and knocked in three runs, while Dewayne Wise added a two-run shot for the White Sox, who have dropped the first two games in the series and four of their last seven overall.
Jose Contreras (6-6), who suffered the loss, struggled mightily through only 3 1/3 innings of work, surrendering nine runs on 10 hits. He struck out one, walked two and served up three home runs. The veteran right-hander is 1-3 in five lifetime appearances against the Cubs.
The White Sox will turn to Javier Vazquez with hopes he can give them a much needed quality start. The veteran right-hander has given up 14 earned runs over his last three starts, but has received enough run support to go 2-1 during that stretch.
In his last outing on Tuesday, Vazquez surrendered five earned runs and five hits over six innings of a 16-5 beating of the Pittsburgh Pirates. He struck out three and walked two in the win.
Vazquez has made 14 starts in his career against the Cubs, posting an even 3-3 mark with a 4.84 ERA. He has made three starts against the Cubs while a member of the White Sox, notching a 4.95 ERA without a decision.
Countering for the Cubs will be Ryan Dempster, who is a perfect 8-0 with a 2.93 ERA in nine starts at home this season.
Dempster was last in action on Tuesday, when he limited Tampa Bay to just one earned run and six hits over five innings. He struck out six and walked two in receiving a no-decision in an eventual 3-2 loss to the Rays.
The right-hander is 0-1 with three saves and a 3.86 ERA in seven lifetime appearances against the White Sox, but this will be his first start against them.
The Cubs have won five straight and eight of their last nine encounters with the White Sox, including six of seven tilts held in 2007.