Chicago Cubs score

Chicago Cubs Score and Recap (8/9/24): Cubs 7, White Sox 6 – Cubs Avoid Disaster, Hang on for Third 7-6 Win

Photo of Sean Holland Sean HollandAugust 10, 2024

The Cubs raced out to a huge lead at Guaranteed Rate Field Friday night with four homers and seven runs in the first three innings. At that point, however, the badly struggling White Sox sprang to life and stormed back to eventually get the game within a single tally at 7-6. Things got very tense in the bottom of the 9th, but the North Siders escaped a bases-loaded jam to pull out the win.

The Cubs jumped all over young Sox starter Garrett Crochet in the opening frame, starting with a leadoff home run by Ian Happ. Cody Bellinger came to the plate with one out and one on and blasted a two-run shot to right field that put the road team ahead 3-0.

Craig Counsell‘s squad played add-on against Crochet in the top of the 3rd inning with two more longballs. Isaac Paredes hit a two-run shot to left field and Nico Hoerner made it back-to-back with a rocket solo dinger. Another run came in on an RBI groundout from Miguel Amaya and it was a 7-0 advantage.

Jameson Taillon had little issue getting through the first three frames, but ran into a big problem in the bottom of the 4th. Andrew Vaughn opened up the inning with a solo homer, followed by a pair of run-scoring singles sandwiched around an RBI groundout and the White Sox had reduced the margin to 7-4.

The South Siders got an unexpected dose of power from Andrew Benintendi, who hit solo homers in the 5th and 7th innings to pull his team within one. The Cubs could not get anything going against the Sox bullpen and had to hang on late.

HĂ©ctor Neris came on for the save in the 9th and a single, a misplayed bunt, and a walk loaded the bases with two outs for Vaughn. Once again, Neris navigated the mess and got a fly ball to center to secure a very stressful victory. (Box score)

Key Moment

The Cubs were in a very precarious spot in the final inning and it probably would not have had a happy ending if their opponent wasn’t one of the worst teams in baseball history.

Why the Cubs Won

They built up a big enough lead to barely hang on and the bullpen held together just long enough to avoid a disaster.

Stats That Matter

  • Taillon did not have his best stuff Friday and it would’ve been nicer if he could’ve gone deeper in the game: 5 IP, 5 R, 9 H, 4 K, and 2 BB.
  • Bellinger got on base four times in this one and showed no ill effects frpm his sore hamstring.
  • Pete Crow-Armstrong had three hits including a triple and is really starting to look like a promising hitter.
  • All three games between these two teams in 2024 have ended 7-6 Cubs.

Bottom Line

That was almost a total disaster for the Cubs. Blowing a 7-0 lead to any team is very bad, but to this White Sox squad? It would’ve been pretty hard to recover from that one, so it’s good they didn’t lose. If the Cubs win tomorrow, they will have done what they needed to do to keep themselves at least somewhat alive in the race.

On Deck

The North Siders go for the mini-sweep Saturday night at 6:15pm CT. Justin Steele takes the mound against Chris Flexen in a game televised exclusively on Fox with a radio feed on 670 The Score.

Photo of Sean Holland Sean HollandAugust 10, 2024
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