Game Thirty-Three – Cubs (11-21) vs. White Sox (18-17)
- Game Time – 7:10pm CDT
- Coverage – TV: WGN TV – Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channels 179, 844
- Location – U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago
Jake Arrieta (0-0, 0.00/1.13/1.61) vs. Scott Carroll (1-1, 0.68/1.05/3.78)
The Crosstown Series … Cubs vs. White Sox
The Cubs will try to salvage the last game of the Crosstown Series against the White Sox tonight behind Jake Arrieta. The Cubs have lost four games in a row and Arrieta started the last game the Cubs won. The Cubs and Sox will not see each other again until next spring in the Cactus League. And next year’s Crosstown Series will be six games, three at Wrigley and three at the Cell, and not the two and two, four-game series the crosstown rivals have been playing the last two years.
The Cubs are really struggling at the plate. The Cubs have scored a grand total of five runs the last three games and are 0-5 versus the Junior Circuit this season. The Sox have outscored the Cubs 16-5 and will look to complete the sweep tonight behind rookie right hander Scott Carroll.
The final game of the year against the Southsiders all starts with Jake Arrieta …
Jake Arrieta makes his second start of the season tonight. Arrieta made his season debut five days ago and set the tone for the afternoon. Arrieta tossed the first 5 1/3 innings of the Cubs shutout over the Cardinals. After a rather shaky start, Arrieta settled down and surrendered four hits with two walks and seven strikeouts. Arrieta appeared to relax as the game wore on and just played catch with Welington Castillo.
Jake Arrieta is making his fourth career start against the Sox tonight, but the first time he’s participated in the Crosstown Series. Arrieta is 1-1 in the first three starts with a 5.17 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP … and all three of his starts against the White Sox were at the Cell.
White Sox Career Numbers against Jake Arrieta
- Paul Konerko: 2-for-9 with one double
- Adam Dunn: 1-for-6 with one double and one walk
- Alexei Ramirez: 3-for-8
- Gordon Beckham: 1-for-7
- Alejandro De Aza: 1-for-3
- Dayan Viciedo: 1-for-3
- Moises Sierra: 0-for-1
Scott Carroll, the 29-year old right-hander, made his big league debut on April 27 and picked up a win over the Tampa Bay Rays. Carroll allowed two runs, one earned, on six hits with two walks and three strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings. Carroll threw the ball extremely well. Carroll was hung with the loss five days ago in Cleveland when he allowed two unearned runs on five hits with one walk and no strikeouts in six innings. Carroll has been excellent story for the Sox.
The Cubs should have tape on Carroll by now which should help the players put together good at bats and put runs on the board. The key is not to let him get comfortable on the mound. No one on the Cubs’ roster has faced Carroll in a big league ball game and they must make him work the first time through the lineup.
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …