August 15, 2015 Chicago Sun-Times Cubs handle Jeff Samardzija, take opener from White Sox By Brian Sandalow The Cubs have had an impressive August. This month has been poor for Jeff Samardzija. Both continued Friday. Facing his former team for the first time, Samardzija allowed six runs, nine hits, and three home runs in six innings and the Cubs beat the White Sox 6-5 in the opener of the teams’ three-game series at U.S. Cellular Field. Despite a rough outing from Kyle Hendricks, the Cubs won their eighth straight and 14th in 15, continuing one of the franchise’s best runs in recent memory. Things aren’t going as well for Samardzija (8-8), who was supported by a two-run fourth-inning homer from Adam Eaton but labored in his first start against the Cubs since being dealt to Oakland in July of last year. Subject to trade speculation before the July 31 deadline, Samardzija has struggled since the Sox decided to hold onto the pending free agent. He’s allowed 22 earned runs in three starts this month, and on Friday surrendered a pair of homers to Chris Coghlan and the go-ahead drive to Anthony Rizzo in the fifth on his way to dropping his third August decision. Before the game, Robin Ventura was asked if Samardzija was actually viewing Friday like any other game. “I’m sure in his mind to prepare it’s probably that way,” Ventura said. “I don’t think he’s ever that way when he goes out on the mound. For him, and I think for any guy that’s been a part of this, it’s different. I know it’s different.” Friday was different than the usual Cubs-Sox games for many reasons. One was its Aug. 14 place on the calendar – the latest regularly scheduled start of a crosstown series – meaning the matchup had playoff implications in front of an announced crowd of 36,386. The teams were also honoring legends Ernie Banks, Minnie Minoso and Billy Pierce. The Cubs wore throwback uniforms to celebrate the memory of Banks, while the Sox donned 1950s-era uniforms in honor of Minoso and Pierce. All Sox players wore Minoso’s 9, which was retired in 1983. “Yes, this game has a different meaning because it’s the city rivalry and it’s very special,” Alexei Ramirez said through a translator. “And especially in this series because today we’re going to honor Minnie, and it’s more special the others.”

Hendricks lasted only 3 1/3 innings, allowing five runs, eight hits and three walks while throwing 86 pitches, but the Cubs evened the season series at 2-2. Clayton Richard earned the win and Hector Rondon picked up his 20th save in 24 chances. The Sox had a chance in the eighth but Tyler Saladino struck out to leave two men on base, leading to Pedro Strop uncorking two emotional and elongated fist pumps. Starlin Castro, starting at second base for the first time in his career, was 3 for 4, and Kris Bryant extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a first-inning double. Avisail Garcia drove in two runs and Geovany Soto also had an RBI. -- Chicago Sun-Times Cubs beat Sox for 14th win in 15 games -- but GM, players say long way to go By Gordon Wittenmyer Jake Arrieta or Jon Lester? All of a sudden it’s the most pressing question about these surging Chicago Cubs – who whose 6-5 victory over the White Sox on Friday was their 14th win in 15 games. So who will it be: Arrieta or Lester? Which pitching ace gets the call for that all-or-nothing wild-card playoff game against the Pirates? Manager Joe Maddon: “Let’s just win the division.” OK, then, who gets the call for Game 1 of that series? “I don’t want to burst anyone’s bubble,” said Friday’s hero, Chris Coghlan, who hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the third, and then a tying solo shot in the fifth off ex-Cub Jeff Samardzija. “But we’re not going to just win the rest of these games and lose only one the rest of the year,” Coghlan said. As heady as this thrill run has been for these young Cubs – does anybody even remember how they lost that one game this month? – seven weeks and 48 games remain in the longest season in professional team sports. Nothing about what this team has done this year – and has become this month – suggests the Cubs won’t make the playoffs. But nothing is a lock, by a long shot, for a team that starts four rookies and that even after its remarkable 15-game sprint still trails Pittsburgh (albeit by a slim margin) for the top wild-card spot and that takes no better than a five-game lead for the last spot into Saturday (pending Friday’s late game in San Francisco). “This is a moment in time right now where we’ve been really hot,” general manager Jed Hoyer said. “We’ve put ourselves in great position. There’s a long way to go. This is a big series, and we’re going to go out on the West coast [in a week] and have big series [in San Francisco and Los Angeles], and we’re going to play six or seven games [each] against the Cardinals and Pirates the rest of the way.” Yeah, OK, but, Arrieta or Lester? “To even talk about that kind of stuff is so incredibly premature,” Hoyer said. That’s why Hoyer’s front office continues to work on potential deals – including pursuing Phillies All-Star second baseman Chase Utley – during the August waiver-trade period.

That’s why Maddon pulled slumping Starlin Castro from his starting shortstop job a week ago and finally rotated him back into the lineup Friday – when Castro had three hits. It’s why hot-hitting rookie Kyle Schwarber got a breather as the DH Friday, why rookie Jorge Soler (four games shy of his career high in games for a season) got a day off on a 93-degree Friday. And why it’s so important to try to find a breather at some point soon for Anthony Rizzo – who’s 21-for-51 (.412) with seven homers, 16 RBIs and a 1.450 OPS during the 14-1 surge. Coghlan and Rizzo went back-to-back with home runs to tie and take the lead in the fifth before the pitching took over for both sides over the final four scoreless innings. “We’re going to go through a funk, and that’s going to happen because that’s just the ebb and flow of a team,” said Coghlan, the seventh-year veteran who is 18 games over .500 for the first time in his career. “But if we can control what we can control, that funk won’t be very long, and we’ll win a lot of ballgames because we’re just so talented,” he said. “If we can harness that talent and just really focus on day-by-day, pitch-to-pitch, that talent’s going to play.” -- Chicago Sun-Times Pedro Strop brings emotion to dormant Cubs-Sox snooze-fest By Gordon Wittenmyer It may not have been the stuff of Carlos Zambrano. Or rise to the level of Michael Barrett and A.J. Pierzynski. But four games into this year’s Cubs-Sox snooze-fest, Pedro Strop finally delivered the kind of emotion this rivalry used to inspire. The Cubs’ reliever reacted to Sox runner Alexei Ramirez’s insults with back-to-back strikeouts and a few extra fist pumps toward Ramirez on his way off the mound in the eighth inning of the Cubs’ 6-5 victory Friday on the South Side. “I felt like he was trying to show me up,” said Strop, who momentarily was distracted and irritated by Ramirez gesturing at him dismissively as Strop checked the runner at second with one out. “He kind of stole my attention a little bit,” Strop said, “when he gave me that ‘no-no-no’ [gesture].” He ended up walking No. 9 hitter Geo Soto, earning a visit to the mound by catcher Miguel Montero and Chris Bosio. Strop’s response: back-to-back strikeouts Adam Eaton and Tyler Saladino to end the inning and preserve the slim lead – evoking a quick, spontaneous fist pump, followed by a more targeted pair of air punches in Ramirez’s direction. “That’s why I gave a little fist pump,” Strop said. “But it’s nothing personal.” Ramirez: “I don’t know what happened there. I just tried to sign like – it wasn’t trying to disrespect him. It was just like, `We’re OK.’ I was close. I don’t know if he took that in a bad way, probably because of the intensity of the game.” --

Chicago Sun-Times White Sox shrug off fist pumps by Pedro Strop By Brian Sandalow The White Sox had no problem with Pedro Strop’s fist pumps after striking out Tyler Saladino to end the eighth inning and strand two runners. They saw it as part of the game, especially one as emotional as Friday’s between the Cubs and Sox. “It really is. I think fan bases like it, I do. I think it brings a little bit of flair to baseball that hasn’t always been there,” Adam Eaton said. “I think the old-time guys would say ‘Save it, get off the mound.’ But other people, including me, think it could be good for your team and can really push your team to the end. It was a big moment in the game and ended up being a key part. Hats off to him, he made his pitches.” Strop’s gestures on the mound have been noticed before, most famously by broadcaster Bob Costas. But that was an inappropriate quip about Strop and his dead relatives after he pointed to the sky. Friday was a reaction to an intense moment, something the Sox said they understood. “Everybody has a reaction, I think, in big games. I’ve seen worse,” Robin Ventura said. “You don’t really react to it.” Alexei Ramirez echoed Eaton and Ventura. “It was (in) the heat of the game,” Ramirez said through a translator. “The moment, we were trying to get some runs. He could get out of the moment without damage and that was the way he could celebrate that.” The fist pumps appeared to be directed at Ramirez, and he and Strop also had a bit of an incident during the eighth. Ramirez was at second and seemed to gesture at the Cubs pitcher as he tried to keep him near the base. “I wasn’t trying to disrespect him. It was just like, we’re OK, I was close,” Ramirez said. “I don’t know if he took that in a bad way probably because of the intensity of the game. I don’t know what happened there.” -- Daily Herald Who's Chicago Cubs' ace? It's a good argument to have By Bruce Miles Jon Lester or Jake Arrieta in the one-game wild-card game? Cubs manager Joe Maddon says he doesn't mind fans speculating about it even if he won't. "They haven't asked me, but let's just win the division," Maddon said Friday at U.S. Cellular Field. "If you're a fan, you're supposed to do those things. I'm not supposed to; they are supposed to." Of course, that kind of talk is getting too far ahead of things for a couple of reasons. First, the Cubs still have to hold on to their wild-card spot, something they're working quite well to do. Second, they may not have the luxury of choosing who would start the playoff game. Lester was signed last winter to a six-year, $155 million contract to be the Cubs' ace. However, Arrieta has been the more effective of the two pitchers. General manager Jed Hoyer wasn't biting, either. "I saw Joe's answer, and I thought it was the right answer," he said. "Let's have a five-game series and forget about it. First of all, I think it's great we have two guys to have that discussion about. We've been really hot. We've put ourselves in a great position. There's a long way to go.

"This is a big series (against the White Sox). We're going to go out on the West Coast and have big series. We're going to play six or seven games against the Cardinals and Pirates the rest of the way. We have a long way to go, so to even talk about that kind of stuff is so incredibly premature. "We have to keep grinding out game after game." Quiet on trade front: Jed Hoyer said nothing was imminent on the trade front as teams monitor the waiver wire. The Cubs may want to add a player, but they also like the chemistry on the current roster. They've been linked in trade rumors with Phillies second baseman Chase Utley. "You're always very aware of the team dynamic," Hoyer said. "It's a fragile thing. The team has been together a long time. At the same time, you can't shy away from bringing in a player who could make you better. It's a balancing act and one that you talk through and treat with a lot of care. There may never be a right or wrong answer." Feeling for Farrell: Jon Lester expressed his support for Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell, who announced he has what he termed a "highly curable" form of lymphoma. While with the Red Sox early in his career, Lester beat lymphoma and has been active in raising funds for cancer research. "Obviously, we go pretty far back," Lester said. "I talked to him a little bit already, so that was good. He seems pretty positive." Rosscup optioned: The Cubs activated left-handed reliever Zac Rosscup off the disabled list and optioned him to Class AAA Iowa. Right-handed reliever Rafael Soriano may be getting close to going out on a minor-league rehab assignment, but he may not be activated until it's time for September call-ups. Soriano is on the DL with right-shoulder inflammation. "He's doing well," Joe Maddon said. "He's progressing well. I can tell when I talk to the guy -- he smiles easily now." -- Daily Herald Red-hot Chicago Cubs keep rolling on By Bruce Miles Every winning ballclub needs a pick-me-up now and then. It also needs heroics from someone other than the usual suspects. The Cubs are a winning ballclub these days, to the tune of 8 victories in a row and 14 of 15. Their 6-5 win Friday over the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field brought their record to 66-48. They had to come from behind twice to do it. The pick-me-up came from relief pitcher Clayton Richard, who relieved struggling starter Kyle Hendricks in the fourth inning.

The heroics came from do-it-all guy Chris Coghlan, who hit a 3-run homer in the third and a solo shot in the fifth. One of the "usual suspects," Anthony Rizzo followed Coghlan's second homer with one of his own to put the Cubs ahead. Coghlan has been a second baseman of late, but he was back in left field Friday. He also was in the third spot of the batting order, and when he's there the Cubs are 12-0. "I think right now we feel like we're going to win every game," he said. "And I think that's the reason why we're winning a lot of them. You can say, 'I hope we win the game,' but to actually believe it and be (convinced of it) is totally different than just saying, 'Yeah, I hope we go win today.' "We just have a really good group. We've got a great mesh of guys. We've got, obviously, a lot of young guys, position-player wise, but we also have older guys who are able to balance it out where you make the young guys understand they don't have to carry you. It's not about one guy carrying the team. "Especially offensively, we call it passing the baton. It's not like we're trying to go up there and everybody's trying to win the game themselves. That's what makes our offense flow right now." On the mound, Hendricks admitted to being out of whack. "Mechanically right now I'm terrible," he said. Manager Joe Maddon went and got Hendricks during a 3-run Sox fourth, an inning when Adam Eaton took Hendricks over the center-field wall for a 2-run homer. After Tyler Saladino singled, Maddon went to Richard, who shut things down by pitching 2 scoreless innings to get the win and improve to 3-0. Richard was acquired from the Pirates July 3 and subsequently designated for assignment twice. Hendricks made sure to thank him. "Unbelievable," Hendricks said. "I told him when we came off the field that was huge." The Cubs got good relief work from the rest of the pen: Justin Grimm, Pedro Strop and Hector Rondon, who earned his 20th save. Strop showed some big-time emotion after striking out Eaton and Saladino to end the eighth. Alexei Ramirez singled to start the inning and was bunted to second before Geovany Soto walked. Strop was keeping a close eye on Ramirez at second, and that seemed to bother Ramirez. After Strop struck out Saladino, he punched the air not once, but twice. "Yeah, I was a little pumped after that third out," he said. "He (Ramirez) kind of stole my attention a little bit, and when he gave me that, 'No, no, no,' I felt it was kind of showing me up because I'm aware of the situation. "I told him, 'I don't have to get you out. I can get out the guy at the plate.' That's why I did a little punchout, but nothing personal. "I don't think something's wrong with showing how much I care." -- Daily Herald Seventh win in a row has Chicago Cubs, fans buzzing By Bruce Miles There's a nice heady buzz going around Wrigley Field these days, and it has nothing to do with $9 drafts.

First-round draft picks? Now we're talking. Your Chicago Cubs are on a winning run here as they head to the South Side for a big weekend series against the White Sox. Their 9-2 victory Thursday over the Milwaukee Brewers gave them a sweep of the three game series and extended their winning streak to seven games overall. The Cubs have won 13 of their last 14 and have a record of 65-48. Yes, there is a lot of baseball left to play even as the young Cubs close in on the Pittsburgh Pirates and the top wild-card spot in the National League. But these players seem to be enjoying themselves and feeling heady without getting too full of themselves. "I don't see 'full of ourselves' at all," said manager Joe Maddon, who sets the tone for just about everything around these parts. "I just see ready to play. You look at these guys. Nobody's out there feeling like they have anything wrapped up. They come to play every day, the guys do, and the veterans will not permit them to not have that kind of appearance. "It's a nice mix right now. The vibe's good. We got to keep it going. What can I say, man? We're playing well. We're pitching it, catching it, getting some knocks. We're playing well." The Cubs battered the Brewers around pretty good on a day when the wind finally blew out, at 14 mph out of the southwest. That helped a barrage of home runs in the fifth inning, when Dexter Fowler hit a 2-run shot, followed by a big blast from rookie Kyle Schwarber. One out later, old hand Anthony Rizzo -- at all of 26 years old -- belted one to center field for his team-leading 22nd of the year. For good measure, Schwarber added a 2-run homer in the seventh, and Chris Denorfia got into the act in the eighth. "Right now, it feels like we're in a playoff game every day," said Schwarber, the Cubs' first-round draft pick last year and a kid who has all of 31 games of big-league experience. "That's the mindset that we need to have, that we're playing in the playoffs every day and there's no breaks. We're playing like that right now. And we've got to continue to play like that." Veteran pitcher Jon Lester has been through a few playoff chases. He evened his record at 8-8 with a 3.21 ERA. One of the reasons the Cubs gave Lester a six-year, $155 million contract last winter was to provide leadership in addition to solid starts. He likes what he sees from the kids. "It's good to see how these guys have developed and really kind of come into their own, not letting the stage get too big for them," Lester said. "They're just having fun playing baseball, and it's been kind of a breath of fresh air for me to be around these younger guys and see how they go about their business." That's not to say it's been all happiness and light. Maddon, the master motivator, twice has ruffled the feathers of veteran pitcher Jason Hammel by pulling him from games more quickly than Hammel would have liked. But Maddon says the creative tension is OK as long as it's not destructive. "That's going to happen all the time," he said. "Every good team I've ever been around, you're going to have that. You can't keep everybody happy every moment of every day. And that's OK. It's a good thing because he (Hammel) is such a competitive fella. I know, as we move this thing forward, he's going to play really big for us down the stretch.

"I have no problem with any of that stuff. I'm used to it. It's part of the job. Part of the job is you have to do what you think is right on a nightly basis. You can't worry about hurting somebody's feelings a little bit. You just have to do what you think is right and then you move on.That's how it plays sometimes. I do think it's good for the group to have a little edge." -- Cubs.com Cubs edge White Sox for eighth straight win By Carrie Muskat and Scott Merkin CHICAGO -- Chris Coghlan homered twice and Anthony Rizzo launched the go-ahead blast in the fifth after Coghlan's second shot to give the Cubs a 6-5 victory over the White Sox before 36,386 at U.S. Cellular Field on Friday afternoon. Rizzo connected off of Jeff Samardzija, helping the Cubs to their eighth straight victory and ending the White Sox winning streak at three. The season series between these two also is evened up at two wins apiece. "It was a pretty well-played game overall," said White Sox center fielder and leadoff man Adam Eaton, who homered in the setback. "We didn't come out on top, but it was an exciting game. We would have liked to scratch across two more runs, but it was an exciting game." Samardzija struggled for the third straight start, allowing six earned runs on nine hits over six innings and 110 pitches. He gave up three home runs in a game for the first time this season. During three August starts, Samardzija has pitched 15 1/3 innings, allowing 23 hits and 22 earned runs and walking six while fanning just nine. Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks was equally ineffective, allowing five earned runs on eight hits over 3 1/3 innings, striking out three and walking three. He walked Jose Abreu and Melky Cabrera with two outs and nobody on base in the first, followed by Avisail Garcia's two-run double. "Mechanically, right now I'm terrible," Hendricks said. "We have to find the answer. This is not fun -- not fun for me. At least the hitters and the bullpen showed up. Me, personally, absolutely terrible. I just have to get better on my end." MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Eaton goes deep: The 2015 power surge for Eaton continued when he went the opposite way on an 0-1 pitch from Hendricks in the fourth inning. That blast gave the White Sox a 5-4 lead and increased Eaton's career-high homer total to 10. Apparently Hendricks didn't know of Eaton's new slugger status, as he could be seen mouthing "Wow" on the broadcast after the connection. Homer happy: For the second straight game, the Cubs belted back-to-back home runs. On Thursday, it was Dexter Fowler and Kyle Schwarber against the Brewers before Coghlan and Rizzo did so in the fifth inning on Friday. It's the fourth time this season the Cubs have hit back-to-back homers. Chicago ranks among the NL leaders in homers this month with 17. Abreu can't connect: With the bases loaded and two out in the second inning, the White Sox had a chance to build on their 2-1 advantage and take a commanding lead against Hendricks. But Abreu, the team's most productive hitter who walked in the first, struck out swinging to strand three. Shortstop Addison Russell actually saved a run during the prior at-bat by keeping Tyler Saladino's single on the infield. Shutdown inning: Pedro Strop was called on to preserve the one-run lead in the White Sox eighth and gave up a leadoff infield single to Alexei Ramirez and, one out later, walked Geovany Soto. But Strop struck out both Eaton and Saladino to end the inning, and then pumped his arm several times after the last K. Ramirez had wagged his finger at Strop from second base.

"[Ramirez] kind of stole my attention a little bit on that inside move when he gave me that 'No, no, no,'" Strop said. "I felt he was kind of showing me up. I put in my mind, 'I don't have to get you out, I can get the guy at the plate.' That got me a little pumped up, but it's nothing personal." QUOTABLE "I wasn't too upset with how I threw, just the long ball got me today. The upsetting part is the walk and the three-run homer, obviously. If you give solo shots, it's one thing, but if runners are on because you put them there, it always comes back to haunt you. We lose by one, the walk to Schwarber ends up hurting." -- Samardzija, on his third straight rough start "Clayton Richard was huge. We hit the home runs, we had some good at-bats. What Clayton did coming in, he really defined the game at that point. He permitted Justin Grimm to Strop to Hector Rondon with the lead." -- Cubs manager Joe Maddon, on Richard, who was the bridge to the late-inning relievers SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS Fowler has been a lucky charm for the Cubs. He tripled in the first and doubled in the third, scoring both times. The Cubs are 40-17 when he scores a run and 15-2 when he scores at least twice. WHAT'S NEXT Cubs: Jake Arrieta will take aim at his 11th straight quality start on Saturday in Game 2 of the Crosstown Classic. He has a 7-1 record and 1.23 ERA in those 10 starts. Arrieta threw a complete-game victory over the White Sox on July 12 at Wrigley Field. First pitch is at 6:10 p.m. CT. White Sox: Jose Quintana (6-9, 3.59 ERA), who will get the start on Saturday, has a 2.48 career Interleague ERA since 2012, marking the 10th-lowest among American League pitchers during that time. He has a Major League-high 47 no-decisions since '12 and is 0-2 lifetime vs. the Cubs. -- Cubs.com Schwarber Factor has Cubs machine churning By Phil Rogers CHICAGO -- Here's the Keep it Simple Stupid version of all you need to know about how the Cubs have gone from a cute little story to the team you'd least like to meet in the postseason: It's the Schwarber Factor. With Kyle Schwarber in the lineup, the Cubs have the most dangerous lineup in the National League, if not anywhere this side of the Blue Jays; without the 22-year-old Indiana University bruiser, well, they were a team with a bright future but not much shelf life beyond Oct. 4, when the regular season ends. All the elements were in play, before our eyes, in the Cubs' 6-5 win over the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field on Friday. If anything, the fact that manager Joe Maddon got to use a designated hitter in the opener of the three-game Crosstown Classic series made the Cubs even tougher to beat than they had been lately, and that's saying something for a team that now has won eight in a row and 14 of 15. "Right now, we feel like we're going to win every game,'' Chris Coghlan said. "I think that's the reason we're winning a lot of them.''

The victory over the White Sox fit the pattern that has built since the Cubs reached down to Double-A Tennessee for Schwarber before a stretch of June games in American League parks. Schwarber was sent to Triple-A Iowa when there was no longer a DH hole for him to fill but returned in July because of an injury to Miguel Montero, and it's fair to conclude he's not going anywhere soon. With Schwarber in the lineup, the Cubs are scoring 5.1 runs per game. Without him, they averaged 3.7 runs. How big of a difference is that? Over 162 games, it's like going from 599 runs a season to 826. That's essentially the Jays on one end of the spectrum and the Phillies on the other. While the biggest development for the Cubs on Friday was the two-homer game by Coghlan, Schwarber was busy in the usual ways to get his team going. He lifted a two-strike sacrifice fly in the first inning to score Dexter Fowler and worked a walk in front of Coghlan's three-run homer to right-center in the third inning. Otherwise it was a quiet day for the adaptable rookie, who finished 0-for-3, with one of the outs a grounder that smashed off Alexei Ramirez's leg so hard he limped to the home dugout. Schwarber is hitting .321 with eight homers, 26 RBIs and a 1.015 OPS in 32 games. Built like a linebacker, Schwarber doesn't look the role of a No. 2 hitter. But his rare supply of plate discipline -- he had more walks than strikeouts all three years at Indiana -- has made him a natural in that spot. He's also had good timing, at least in a chicken-egg sense. It's impossible to quantify how hitters feed off each other, but the guys around Schwarber have been on runs of their own since Schwarber arrived. "Not to take anything away from Schwarber, but I don't think that's the [only] reason why our offense is doing better,'' Coghlan said. "I do think Schwarber has been a huge factor in our offense. To see what he's done in such a short time frame, there's just not many hitters on the planet now that are as good as he is offensively, the way he's swinging, the way he's feeling. He's not missing many pitches. Any time you get a guy doing that kind of damage, you're going to score more runs.'' But, Coghlan went on to point out, there are a lot of other players pulling their piece of the rope. Fowler, the switch-hitting center fielder, hit .189 in May and had a .286 on-base percentage in June. He had a .411 OBP in July and has turned it up from there in August, reaching base at a .433 pace. "To get on base at the rate he has done since the All-Star break is huge,'' Coghlan said. Fowler did his part to torture White Sox starter Jeff Samardzija, the former Cub. He lined a 2-2 pitch for a leadoff triple in the first inning (albeit with an assist from Avisail Garcia, who got caught between hops and let the ball skip past him) and pulled a double down the right-field line in the third. Then there's Coghlan. Maddon has been hitting him third. Yes, third. Yes, ahead of Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant. And, yes, somehow it has been a stroke of genius, like so many of Maddon's other moves. The Cubs are 12-0 with Coghlan hitting third. "Any time you can get up at the top of the order and impact the game, you always want that," said Coghlan, whose 13 home runs are a career high. "Especially with Rizzo behind you, Dexter and Schwarber on base, anybody would benefit and be excited to get up as many times as they can.'' While the Cubs continue to be linked to an interest in Phillies second baseman Chase Utley, do they really need a veteran upgrade? They've got the Schwarber Factor, and so far, that's been plenty. --

Cubs.com Cancer survivor Lester reaches out to Farrell By Carrie Muskat CHICAGO -- Cubs pitcher Jon Lester reached out to his former manager and pitching coach, John Farrell, as soon as he got the news Friday that the Red Sox skipper had been diagnosed with Stage 1 lymphoma. Lester knows something about the cancer, having been diagnosed with anaplastic large cell lymphoma in August 2006. Lester, 31, called Farrell on Friday when he heard the news. Farrell will not manage the rest of the season to get treatment. "I talked to him a little bit already," Lester said after the Cubs' 6-5 victory over the White Sox. "It was good. He seems pretty positive. Everything seems pretty positive, so that's good." Lester also took to Twitter soon after the game to express his support for Farrell. Great win today but heavy hearted after learning about John Farrell. Thoughts and prayers going out to the Farrell fam. You got this buddy! — Jon Lester (@JLester34) August 15, 2015 "He's in a good place for it," Lester said of the Red Sox's medical staff and Massachusetts General Hospital. "Obviously, it's one of the better places, if not the best place in the country to be [to get treatment] if you do have cancer. He's in good hands. I know those doctors pretty well. It seems like he's doing well." Lester, who still stays in touch with Red Sox medical director Dr. Larry Ronan, said Farrell will have a great support staff, similar to what the pitcher had when he had to deal with his battle. Any advice? "I don't really think you give John too much advice," Lester said. "If you know John, he's pretty strong-willed. I would imagine he'll be fine. I'm sure it's a little bit of a blow for his family. I'm sure he'll be fine through this whole process." There isn't any way to prepare for this, Lester said. "It's one of those things you have to just ride out," Lester said. "You have to do what the doctors tell you to do. I don't know the details of what he'll be going through or anything like that. I don't know the type. I just know it's lymphoma -- it can be a million different things. It sounded pretty curable, it sounded pretty positive from what I read and what I saw. That's the most important thing. "I don't think you can ever prepare for a situation like that. You just have to kind of grind through it." -- Cubs.com Castro's shift to keystone official with first start By Carrie Muskat CHICAGO -- Starlin Castro, bumped from shortstop by rookie Addison Russell, was back in the Cubs' starting lineup Friday for the first time since Aug. 6 while making his first career start at second base. And he did just fine. Castro had to turn a double play in the first inning, and he did so cleanly, in addition to going 3-for-4 at the plate in the Cubs' 6-5 win over the White Sox. He admitted that things seem a little backward now that he's moved from short to second.

"A little bit, especially the first ground ball, the double-play ground ball was a little bit tough," Castro said. "We keep practicing every day." Manager Joe Maddon said he hoped the time off would help Castro, who entered Friday batting .189 since the All-Star break. Russell was batting .276 since the break. Could Castro get regular playing time again? "Sure -- we'll see how it all plays out," Maddon said. "I'm very open-minded about that. This guy has been a big part of [the Cubs] for the past several years. I'm a big fan of his work ethic. I think he really cares a lot and all that stuff matters. It's just been a tough year for him." Since the Aug. 6 game, Castro, a three-time All-Star at shortstop, had subbed at second base twice late in the game for Chris Coghlan. "I didn't put my head down -- I kept working hard and when I got my opportunity, I just did my best," Castro said. • Maddon hoped to take advantage of playing in an American League ballpark and use the designated-hitter spot to give some players a breather. On Friday, Kyle Schwarber was the DH against right-hander Jeff Samardzija, but Maddon admitted he probably should've used Anthony Rizzo. The White Sox will start a lefty in the next two games of the series. "I might have screwed that up," Maddon said about spelling Rizzo. • Rafael Soriano, on the disabled list since Aug. 5 with right shoulder inflammation, is making progress and could throw some simulated games soon, Maddon said. The right-hander appeared in six games with the Cubs before he was injured. "Now, when you talk to him, I can see a sense of relief that he does feel better," Maddon said of Soriano. "He's definitely moving on the right path." • If the season ended today, the Cubs would face the Pirates in the National League Wild Card Game. Who would start, Jake Arrieta or Jon Lester? "Let's just win the division," Maddon said. Maddon said he liked that fans were talking about things like that. "That's what you're supposed to do -- if you're a fan, you're supposed to do those things," he said. "I'm not supposed to, they are supposed to." What's Maddon's answer? "Tell [the fans] to talk it through and give me their best advice, please," he said. -- Cubs.com Strop records key K after exchange with Alexei By Scott Merkin CHICAGO -- Pedro Strop's strikeout of Tyler Saladino with two on and two out in the eighth inning punctuated a 6-5 Cubs victory over the White Sox Friday evening at U.S. Cellular Field. Actually, it was Strop's two wildly demonstrative fist pumps after Saladino swung through the 3-2 slider that put an exclamation point on the North Siders' eighth straight victory. Strop's reaction spoke to the heat of the moment, with a playoff-like atmosphere playing out before 36,386 frenzied fans.

It also had a little bit to do with some gamesmanship taking place between Strop and Alexei Ramirez, who stood as the tying run on second at the time. Strop made two moves back to second to keep Ramirez close, even with nobody covering the base at the time. On that second move, Ramirez sort of waved his fingers to indicate he wasn't going anywhere. Strop briefly stared down Ramirez, and then after a mound visit from catcher Miguel Montero, protected that one-run lead. "He was on top of the situation and trying to maintain my tempo and my pace and make me aware of everything and not rushing everything," said Strop of Montero. "Just try to make pitches and just do it. [He said], 'Just throw a slider -- I'm not going to give you a sign.' "When he gave me that 'No, no, no,' I felt he was kind of showing me up," added Strop of Ramirez. "I put in my mind, 'I don't have to get you out, I can get the guy at the plate.' That got me a little pumped up, but nothing personal." Ramirez, speaking through translator and White Sox Spanish language broadcaster Billy Russo, said he was unsure what happened in that situation. But the veteran White Sox shortstop meant no disrespect. "Probably when he made that side move, I just tried to sign like ... it was just like, 'We're OK, I was close,'" Ramirez said. "I don't know if he took that in a bad way, probably, because of the intensity of the game. I don't know what happened there." As for Strop's emotional strikeout reaction, the White Sox took no umbrage at his celebration. The White Sox players understand the magnitude of the Crosstown Classic, which is being waged with both teams battling for the postseason in mid-August, and knew the importance of the moment. "You know what, it's part of the game. It really is. I think fan bases like it, I do," said White Sox leadoff man Adam Eaton, whom Strop struck out prior to Saladino in the eighth. "Old-time guys would say, 'Save it, get off the mound.' But other people, including me, think it could be good for your team and can really push your team to the end. It was a big moment in the game and ended up being a key part. Hats off to him. He made his pitches." "I don't think there's anything wrong to show how much I care," Strop said. "Sometimes, I don't even think about it. You don't plan it. It's something that pops up right when things happen." -- Cubs.com Hoyer keeping close tabs on waiver wire By Carrie Muskat CHICAGO -- Cubs manager Joe Maddon said he has a better feel for how to make the roster work, but general manager Jed Hoyer said Friday they are continuing to look for additions. Hoyer said the Cubs, who began play on Friday with a 4 1/2-game lead for the second National League Wild Card spot, have been busy checking the waiver wire. "It's been tight on the waiver wire," Hoyer said. "Teams have been active claiming guys. We'd be open to moves that made us better. We've got a ways to go to get to the end of the month to make those moves. We'll pay attention to what we may need to get through the last month." Hoyer said there was "nothing imminent" regarding player additions. "I'm really pleased with what we have," Maddon said. "We're finally figuring out how to fit all the different pieces together. That matters. You get that nice little flow, everybody knows what's going on."

Hoyer did admit that if the club were to add someone, it would want a player who will not only fit the Cubs' needs but also not upset the chemistry on the team. "With a team like this that's playing well, you have to pay attention to the team dynamic but also try to think ahead and what things do we need in September, what things we need down the stretch," Hoyer said. -- Cubs.com Arrieta, Quintana to duel as Cubs, Sox continue set By Greg Garno Cubs manager Joe Maddon has been in Chicago for less than a year, but after three games in the Crosstown Cup, he's well aware of the rivalry between the Cubs and White Sox. At the very least, he knows it makes for a good debate between fans. "You get a city like this that's very heated about their loyalties, which I love," Maddon said, "I feel very fortunate to be part of it. It's good for the city, good for the fan bases, because it's makes extremely interesting barroom conversation, which I'm all about. I think it's great." The Cubs return to U.S. Cellular Field for Game 2 of the series on Saturday, looking to stay hot in the National League Wild Card race. Jake Arrieta will head to the mound as he looks to build on 10 straight quality starts and eight wins in that span. Arrieta's surge and the Cubs' recent stretch of success hasn't been lost on White Sox manager Robin Ventura, who will send left-hander Jose Quintana to the mound. Quintana knows something about quality starts as well, having thrown one in all but two outings since May 30. "It's always an interesting and tough game, regardless," Ventura said. "But especially the roll they've been on, you know you have to play well." Three things to know about this game • Maddon is unsure who will fill in at designated hitter after he slotted Kyle Schwarber in the spot for Friday's opener. Schwarber has played outfield over the past week and could be in the field to make room for a right-handed bat against Quintana. • Arrieta, a right-hander, has actually been tougher against left-handed batters (.178 average) than righties (.229). • Arrietta is tied for second in the Majors with 13 wins this season. -- ESPNChicago.com Belief the big difference between Cubs and White Sox right now By Jon Greenberg CHICAGO -- The Cubs can’t lose. Jeff Samardzija can’t stop getting shelled. Welcome to the new normal in Chicago baseball. As the Cubs and White Sox met for their second series of rapidly diverging seasons, Sox general manager Rick Hahn flashed a smile when some wise guy referred to him as the “general manager of the second-hottest baseball team in town.” Hey, it’s still technically true -- the gap is just a little bigger after the Cubs’ 6-5 victory Friday afternoon.

The Sox (54-59) came into the game on a modest three-game win streak after sweeping the Angels, reversing an early-August slide and improving their record to four games under .500. But their winning streak ended at the hands of the Cubs, the only thing in Chicago hotter than your Jay Cutler takes. The Cubs (66-48) won their eighth straight, and 14th of 15, thanks to two home runs from Chris “Chase Utley Who?” Coghlan to even the city series at two games apiece. Because of tiebreaker rules, the Cubs need a sweep at the Cell this weekend to win back the trophy formerly known as the BP Cup. The Cubs are playing for something a little bigger than that forgotten chalice this season, something that didn’t seem possible a few years back. A sweep would put them at 20 games over .500, a high-water mark for the rebuilt team. Good luck against Chris Sale on Sunday, but it's still feasible. The Cubs came into the game with a 4½ game lead on the San Francisco Giants for the second wild card, and just 1½ games behind the Pittsburgh Pirates for home field for the one-game wild-card playoff. Cubs manager Joe Maddon can spin that one-game-at-a-time stuff all he wants, but a couple Cubs were watching the Pirates-New York Mets game in the clubhouse Friday, exhorting a Met not to pop up with men on base. The Cubs continue to rake with Kyle Schwarber hitting second in the lineup, and while the rookie didn’t get a hit Friday, he scored Dexter Fowler with a sacrifice fly in the first and walked and scored on Coghlan’s three-run homer in the third. Coghlan added a solo shot in the fifth, followed by Anthony Rizzo's 23rd homer to give the Cubs their final margin. Pedro Strop issued a double fist-pump when he got out of a jam in the eighth by striking out Adam Eaton and Tyler Saladino. He was aiming that pump at Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez, who gave him a finger wag when Strop kept looking at him at second base. Unlike previous Cubs-Sox fireworks, nothing came of it. "I was a little pumped after that third out," Strop said. "When he gave me that 'No, no, no,' I felt like he was showing me up. I was aware of the situation. ... That's what got me a little pumped up, but nothing personal." Man, do we miss A.J. Pierzynski. The big change Friday was Maddon adding Starlin Castro as the starting second baseman. It was Castro's first start since Aug. 6 -- and first-ever start at the position. Castro fielded his new position well and collected three ground-ball singles. Addison Russell usurped Castro's shortstop role Aug. 7 and the Cubs haven’t lost yet. The Cubs are also unbeatable when Coghlan hits third -- 12-0, in fact. “No, no, it’s definitely not me,” he said. “You guys can look at the stat column and see that.” He’s right. Coghlan, who moved to second base when Schwarber moved to left field and Russell to shortstop, is hitting .220 (9-for-41) in the 3-hole this season with a double and those two homers. But hey, whatever works. When you’re in a winning stretch like the Cubs, it’s all about belief.

“I think right now we feel like we’re going to win every game,” Coghlan said. “And I think that’s the reason why we’re winning a lot of them. You can say, ‘I hope we win the game,' but to actually believe it and be convicted in it is totally different than just saying, ‘Yeah, I hope we go win today.’” Is "being convicted" enough to sway a game? Who knows? What it comes down to is Samardzija, who gave up six runs on nine hits and two walks in six innings Friday, threw a few fat pitches, and his former team made him pay. That's how it works for good teams and for not-so-good teams. Samardzija has given up 22 runs in 15⅓ innings over three starts this month. Maybe they shouldn't have told him about the trade deadline. “[August] hasn’t been too kind to me, that’s for sure,” Samardzija said. His 4.78 ERA is indicative of a bad walk year for his hometown team. In this case, the Cubs are having that effect on pitchers. Samardzija threw 31 pitches in the first inning against a lineup that makes starters work early, then gave up the three homers in very warm, hitter-friendly conditions. The Sox hit Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks, too, punctuated by Eaton's three-run homer in the fourth. Each team took the lead twice, but the Cubs grabbed the third and final one. It’s not an accident that they are 27-17 in one-run games. The Sox are 22-22 in one-run games, 2-5 this month. That’s the difference between one team being at the front of the pack in the playoff race and the other watching the race pull away. “Look at them, they fought,” Coghlan said. “It was a well-fought game. I mean,you have Samardzija out there, he’s a bulldog. I respect him as a pitcher to be able to fight. But it was blow, blow, blow, back and forth, and for us to be able to come back makes for a good win.” Will the Cubs lose again? Probably. But right now, they just don't see how it could happen. -- ESPNChicago.com Strop/Ramirez moment adds intensity to Cubs/Sox By Jesse Rogers CHICAGO -- Every Cubs/White Sox game or series has to have a little extra drama, right? We got a taste of it in a tense eighth inning of the Chicago Cubs' eventual 6-5 win Friday afternoon. Cubs reliever Pedro Strop was in a jam with two on and two out while nursing a one-run lead. Chicago White Sox shortstop Alexi Ramirez was on second base and when Strop turned his way, Ramirez held up his fingers and waved them at the pitcher as if to say "no need to throw here." A few seconds later, Strop struck out Tyler Saladino to end the inning and demonstratively turned back toward Ramirez, giving him a dramatic fist pump as he walked off the field. "He stole my attention a little bit when he gave me that 'no,no,no,'" Strop explained after the game. "I feel like it was kind of like showing me up. Ramirez downplayed the moment. "I don't know what happened there," he said. "Probably when he made that side move, I just tried to sign like [it was OK]. I wasn't trying to disrespect him. It was just like 'We're OK, I was close' [to the bag]. I don't know if he took that in a bad way, probably because of the intensity of the game. I don't know what happened there." Strop said he knows Ramirez but not well enough to call him a friend. He also didn't feel like the moment was a big deal.

"I thought 'I don't have to get you out. I can get the guy at the plate,'" Strop said. "That's what got me a little pumped up but nothing personal." Strop is known for large fist pumps at big moments in the game, so while he directed it at Ramirez it wasn't that out of he ordinary. "It was for the heat of the game," Ramirez said. "The moment, we were trying to get some runs. He could get out of the moment without damage and that was the way he could celebrate that." Added Strop: "I was a little pumped. I'm kind of excited as a pitcher. I'm aware of the game, I'm aware of the situation. It's [celebration] something that pops up right when things happen." -- ESPNChicago.com Cubs keep rolling -- with everyone contributing By Jesse Rogers CHICAGO -- A nifty storyline emerged in the Chicago Cubs' 6-5 win over the White Sox on Friday afternoon. Three players who have hit rock bottom in recent times -- Chris Coghlan, Clayton Richard and Starlin Castro -- were the big contributors in helping the Cubs to their eighth straight victory. It wasn’t long ago (2014) that Coghlan was a spring invitee for the Cubs while Richard was designated twice for assignment this year alone. Then there’s Castro. By now you know about his struggles at the plate and in the field. They cost him his starting job at shortstop but not his baseball life. He took the field at second base for the first time to start a game on Friday, and he handled his business accordingly. “It’s tough in the beginning,” Castro said after the game. “But I’m just trying to keep my head up and do my best.” Castro had three hits, started a double play in the first inning and generally looked comfortable at his new position. He bobbled one ball but had plenty of time to throw to first base -- that’s the difference between playing second and shortstop. “Yeah, we have more time,” Castro said. We’ll see more of Castro at second this weekend against lefties just as we will of Coghlan, who played left field on Friday. Hitting third in the order, he twice homered while the Cubs were trailing. His third-inning blast erased a 2-1 deficit, while his fifth-inning shot tied the game at 5-5. Talk about clutch -- the Cubs are a perfect 12-0 since Coghlan was inserted between Kyle Schwarber and Anthony Rizzo. “Any time you get up at the top of the order and impact the game, you always want that,” Coghlan said. “Especially when you have Rizzo behind you and guys like Dexter [Fowler] and Schwarber getting on base. Anybody would benefit and be excited to get up as many times as you can.” Cubs manager Joe Maddon has often said Coghlan has been the beneficiary of the worst luck when it comes to results at the plate. Hard-hit balls haven’t fallen in as much as he or anyone would like. There’s one solution for that. “I think I’m figuring this hitting thing out,” Coghlan said, tongue-in-cheek. “You just have to put it in the seats. That way no one can rob you.” Who knew the last of the scoring in the game would occur in the fifth inning when Coghlan and Rizzo hit back-to-back home runs? The Sox bullpen did their part for three innings, but the Cubs' pen did even better. Maddon pulled a struggling Kyle Hendricks after just 3 1/3 innings, handing the ball to Richard. Twice left out there for any

team to pick up, Richard was home mowing his lawn when the Cubs called for him to come back. He’s been lights-out ever since. “He really defined the game at that point,” Maddon said. Richard pitched two scoreless innings -- giving up a hit and striking out three -- but his performance was even bigger than that. He settled down a game that was headed for about 20 combined runs at about a five-hour pace. “He was huge,” Rizzo said. “Clayton coming in, giving us those innings was huge. He threw up zeros.” Justin Grimm followed Richard, who was followed by Pedro Strop and Hector Rondon as the Cubs' bullpen threw 5 2/3 innings of shutout ball. It started with the long forgotten former White Sox draft pick of 2005. “He’s really good out of the bullpen,” Maddon said of Richard. “He’s going to keep doing that kind of work for us.” Everything is clicking for the Cubs, including contributions from role players or formerly struggling ones. Castro has a new home on the field as does Richard in the bullpen, while Coghlan’s new place is in the middle of the order. “This is a lineup where any given person on any given day can help us win,” Rizzo said. “That’s what good lineups do.” That notion extends to the 25-man roster. The Cubs are getting help from everyone as the wins keep on coming. "When you're winning like we are right now, to not buy in makes you look like a bad guy," Maddon said. "So you want to buy in. There's a lot of good stuff going on in that clubhouse right now. Everybody is contributing." -- ESPNChicago.com Rapid Reaction: Cubs 6, White Sox 5 By Jesse Rogers CHICAGO -- The Cubs beat the White Sox 6-5 on Friday afternoon. Here’s a quick look at the game. How it happened: Dexter Fowler led off the game with a triple, then scored on a sacrifice fly by Kyle Schwarber. The Sox responded with two in the bottom of the inning off starter Kyle Hendricks on an Avisail Garcia two-out double with two on. Chris Coghlan hit a three-run home run in the third inning to put the Cubs back in front, 4-2, but the Sox plated three in the fourth to retake the lead and chase Hendricks. Adam Eaton took Hendricks deep in the inning but Coghlan hit his second home run of the game and 12th of the season in the fifth to tie it, while Anthony Rizzo went deep moments later to put the Cubs in front again. It was his 23rd of the season. Hendricks lasted 3 1/3 innings, giving up eight hits and five runs to go along with three walks. Starlin Castro had three hits in his first career start at second base. What it means: The numbers weren’t pretty for Hendricks but the bullpen bailed him out. Clayton Richard was probably the MVP of the game in relief. He pitched two scoreless innings, bridging the gap to the late-inning guys. He’s been a valuable addition after being designated for assignment twice this season. At the moment he’s probably ahead of Travis Wood on the depth chart if both are rested. The Cubs’ bullpen saved the day as Justin Grimm followed Richard to the mound, then came Pedro Strop and Hector Rondon, who earned his 20th save. The long ball has returned for the Cubs as they’ve hit eight home runs in the past two days. Coghlan proved again why he belongs in the middle of the lineup as the team improved to 12-0 when he bats third. The Cubs have won eight in a row and improved to 66-48 on the season. Rehabbing: Before the game Cubs manager Joe Maddon said reliever Rafael Soriano (shoulder) is improving and will pitch in simulated games soon. There was nothing new to report on Neil Ramirez, who’s been out with left side injury.

What’s next: Game 2 of the series takes place on Saturday evening when the Cubs' Jake Arrieta (13-6, 2.38 ERA) takes on Jose Quintana (6-9, 3.59). -- ESPNChicago.com Jake Arrieta or Jon Lester for one-game playoff? Joe Maddon joins the debate By Jesse Rogers CHICAGO -- Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon has chimed in on the social media and "barroom" debate -- as the manager likes to call it -- regarding who should start their one-game playoff if the Cubs hold onto one of two wild-card spots in the National League. Should the Cubs start lefty Jon Lester or righty Jake Arrieta, who has become an ace in his own right? "Tell them to talk it through and give me their best advice, please," Maddon joked before the Cubs played the White Sox on Friday. Maddon doesn’t mind the debate among fans, despite the fact that there are 49 games left in the season. The Cubs hold a 4 1/2-game lead on the San Francisco Giants for the second wild card and have moved within 1 1/2 games of the Pittsburgh Pirates for the top wild card. "If you’re a fan you’re supposed to do those things," Maddon said. "I’m not supposed to. They are supposed to." Maddon’s best answer to the Lester/Arrieta one-game playoff debate? "Let’s win the division," he said. The Cubs trail the central division-leading St. Louis Cardinals by 7 1/2 games entering the weekend. -- ESPNChicago.com Starlin Castro gets first start at second base By Jesse Rogers CHICAGO -- Cubs infielder Starlin Castro will make his first career start at second base on Friday when the Cubs face the White Sox and former Cub Jeff Samardzija. Castro will start against the righty Samardzija and then two lefties over the weekend. Manager Joe Maddon intimated he could see more time at second if he starts hitting. “Sure,” Maddon said before Friday’s game. “We’ll see how it all plays out. I’m very open about all that. I’m a big fan of his work ethic. He’s just had a tough year to this point. We’ll see how it plays.” Chris Coghlan has been the main second baseman since Castro was pulled from the starting lineup last week, but with use of the designated hitter this weekend, Maddon can put players in better defensive positons while keeping one his his hottest bats -- Kyle Schwarber -- in the lineup. Coghlan will start in left field on Friday. Maddon also indicated he wants to rest some regulars so Jorge Soler is not in the starting lineup on Friday in favor of Chris Denorfia, who usually plays against left-handed pitchers. Samardzija’s lefty/righty splits are fairly similar this season. And so like Castro, Denorfia will start all three games against the White Sox. --

CSNChicago.com Coghlan: Cubs feel like they're going to win every game now By Tony Andracki The Cubs are now 12-0 when Chris Coghlan hits in the No. 3 spot in the batting order. How's that for a stat? Coghlan drove in four runs on two homers Friday as the Cubs outlasted the White Sox 6-5 in front of 36,386 fans at U.S. Cellular Field. After striking out in the first inning, Coghlan hit a three-run shot in the third and added a solo homer in the fifth as the Cubs hung on for their eighth straight victory and 14th win in the last 15 games. "We feel like we're going to win every game," Coghlan said. "I think that's the reason why we're winning a lot of them. You can say: 'I hope we win a game.' "But to actually believe it and be convicted in it is totally different than just saying: 'Yeah, I hope we go win today.'" Coghlan had entered the game with only a .447 OPS in the three-hole and had struggled over the course of this current winning streak. In the seven games before Friday, Coghlan was just 4-for-22 (.182 average) with a walk, an RBI and a run scored while getting used to a new position at second base. Does it make the win extra special now that he's contributing? "I probably wouldn't use the word 'extra' but it definitely makes it better," Coghlan said. "I feel like we've been winning a lot and I really haven't been able to contribute a lot in the stat column. "I've been able to do other things to help the team, whether it's defense or baserunning or whatever. But anytime you can put some crooked numbers up individually and help the team, it's always gratifying." Anthony Rizzo also homered (going back-to-back with Coghlan in the fifth) as the Cubs have shown the power the last two games (eight homers). Kyle Schwarber got the Cubs started with a first-inning sacrifice fly after Dexter Fowler tripled as the North Siders did all their damage against former Cubs pitcher Jeff Samardzija. Samardzija somehow made it through six innings despite allowing six runs on nine hits and a pair of walks. Kyle Hendricks got the start for the Cubs, but struggled as well, surrendering five runs on eight hits and three walks in only 3 1/3 innings. "Kyle couldn't get it going," Maddon said. "Nothing was working. I could see it early on with the command as badly as it was." Hendricks said the issue is mechanical and he's been dealing with it on and off all year, but especially his last couple times out. But Hendricks also made sure to give credit to former Sox pitcher Clayton Richard, who came into the game in the fourth inning and helped bridge the gap to Justin Grimm, Pedro Strop and Hector Rondon with two shutout innings. "Clayton was huge in today's game," Maddon said. "We hit the home runs, we had some really good at-bats. Of course, CC had a really nice day.

"But what Clayton did coming in, he really defined the game at that point." -- CSNChicago.com Chase Utley? GM Jed Hoyer says Cubs aren’t close to any deals (yet) By Patrick Mooney Chase Utley – a six-time All-Star second baseman and a World Series champion with the Philadelphia Phillies – is the biggest name the Cubs have been linked to in a potential August trade. While Jed Hoyer wouldn’t comment specifically on Utley, the Cubs general manager did say the team isn’t close to any deals. Yet. “There’s nothing imminent,” Hoyer said before Friday’s 6-5 win over the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field. “We’ll keep grinding through the waiver wire, keep looking at what’s available. But nothing’s imminent. We like the way the club’s playing right now.” The Cubs don’t want to disrupt the chemistry, winning eight in a row and 14 of their last 15 games, moving their playoff odds to around 90 percent on Baseball Prospectus. Utley does have a 2008 World Series ring and a .902 OPS in 200-plus career postseason plate appearances, though at the age of 36 he’s not quite the same player anymore (.196 average). The San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Angels are among the teams that have reportedly shown interest. Utley – who grew up in Long Beach, California, played at UCLA and owns a home in the Bay Area – cleared waivers and ultimately controls his destiny as a player with no-trade rights. San Francisco general manager Bobby Evans told Bay Area reporters that the Giants have made an offer for Utley, who is owed more than $4 million for the rest of this season, plus a $2 million buyout of his 2016 option (which triggers at 500 plate appearances but looks out of reach now). USA Today reported there’s a belief Utley’s decision will come down to the Cubs and Angels, citing anonymous executives involved in the trade talks. “I wouldn’t be surprised with anything, honestly,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. “I know that they’re actively (looking). But then again, this time of year, it’s hard to piece it together sometimes. “I’m really pleased with what we have. We’re kind of finally figuring out how to fit all the different pieces together – and that matters when you get that nice little flow going out there. “I would not be surprised, but I’m not expecting anything.” The Cubs have options at second base after shaking up their middle-infield defense and anointing Addison Russell as the franchise shortstop. Starlin Castro made his first career start at second base on Friday afternoon and notched three hits. “I feel pretty good out there,” Castro said. “It’s a little different than shortstop because you have everything in front of you and things are a little bit backwards. But, still, if you play short, you can play anywhere.” Maddon could see Castro as a short-term answer at second base if the three-time All-Star suddenly gets hot. “Sure, we’ll see how it all plays out,” Maddon said. “I’m very open-minded about that. Listen, this guy has been a big part of the past several years. Like I said, I’m a big fan of his work ethic. I think he really cares a lot. All that stuff matters. He’s just had a tough year to this point.”

The Cubs are willing to sacrifice defense for offense and play Chris Coghlan at second base. Maddon trusts Jonathan Herrera as a steady defender and wants to keep his players fresh. Javier Baez and Tommy La Stella could also be X-factors in September. The Cubs appeared to max out their 2015 baseball budget at the July 31 trade deadline, addressing specific needs with smaller deals for No. 5 starter Dan Haren and hard-throwing reliever Tommy Hunter without mortgaging the farm system. In theory, the Phillies could try to pay down Utley’s salary to get a higher-level prospect for essentially a six- or seven-week rental. The Cubs also can’t dismiss what a battle-tested veteran like Utley – who’s 7-for-17 in five games since recovering from an ankle injury and coming off the disabled list last week – might bring to the lineup and their clubhouse. “You’re always very aware of the team dynamic,” Hoyer said. “It’s a fragile thing. The team at this stage of year (has) been together for a long time. But at the same time, I don’t think you can shy away from bringing in a player that – in theory – could make you better. “It’s a balancing act and one that you talk through and treat with a lot of care. There may never be a right or wrong answer. But I do think you have to pay attention to the team dynamics when you make that kind of move.” -- CSNChicago.com Lester or Arrieta? Who would Cubs start in one-game playoff? By Tony Andracki If the Cubs make it into the postseason as a wild card team, who will start the one-game playoff: Jon Lester or Jake Arrieta? Of course, there are still six weeks left in the regular season and even if the Cubs were in that position, it would depend heavily on how much rest each pitcher was working on. But it makes for an interesting debate inside Chicago bars in mid-August. Joe Maddon has a simple solution: "Let's win the division," he said. The Cubs entered play Friday 7.5 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Central and 1.5 games behind the Pittsburgh Pirates for the first wild card spot. Cubs GM Jed Hoyer cautions how much things can change in the final month-and-a-half of the season, even if the team has won 13 of 14 coming into the Crosstown showdown at U.S. Cellular Field. "I thought Joe's answer was the right answer," Hoyer said. "Let's have a five-game series and forget about it. First of all, I think it's great that we have two guys you can have that discussion about. The fact both these guys are pitching so well is part of why we're here in a lot of ways. "But also, I look at it as, this is a moment in time right now. We've been really hot. We put ourselves in a great position. ... We have a long way to go, so to even talk about that kind of stuff is so incredibly premature. We have to grind it out, game after game. "The hot streak is great, but we still gotta play the next six weeks. And the next six weeks have a lot of challenges ahead. I think we've answered all our challenges so far and hopefully we'll keep on answering them."

The Cubs signed Jon Lester to a $155 million deal in the offseason to come in and lead the pitching staff after winning two World Series rings with the Boston Red Sox and starting that epic AL wild card game for the Oakland A's against the Royals last season. Lester got off to a rough start in Chicago, with a 6.23 ERA in four April starts. But since May 1, the 31-year-old lefty has gone 8-6 with a 2.69 ERA. He's been especially hot the last six weeks with a 1.92 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 56.1 innings over eight starts. But Arrieta has put up one of the best seasons of any pitcher in Major League Baseball, going 13-6 with a 2.38 ERA and 0.99 WHIP, including a 7-1 record and 1.23 ERA since June 21. Lester has also had issues throwing to first base this season, allowing the most stolen bases among all big-league pitchers (35, six more than the next closest guy), including five against the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday at Wrigley Field. Three of those stolen bases came during a third inning that also featured a throwing error by Lester on an attempted pickoff. An opposing team can really take advantage of that in a one-game, winner-take-all situation. But the Cubs don't appear very concerned with Lester's "yips," as Hoyer pointed to David Ross' ability at "back-picking" runners on base and referencing Lester's delivery time to home plate. "Yesterday, obviously, that third inning was uncomfortable for everyone," Hoyer said. "But then you go back to May 1, after his April starts, and Jon's been one of the best pitchers in baseball. He hasn't been giving up many hits, his walk-to-strikeout ratio has been great. "The focus is he's been one of the best pitchers in baseball for the last three-and-a-half months. I think it's something he certainly knows he has to work on and he will work on, but at the same time, David and Jon have done a good job limiting that. I just expect he'll continue to pitch the way he is." -- CSNChicago.com Jon Lester sends positive message to John Farrell after lymphoma diagnosis By Patrick Mooney All things considered, Jon Lester came away from a conversation with John Farrell feeling optimistic about the Boston Red Sox manager’s Stage 1 lymphoma diagnosis. On Friday at Fenway Park, Farrell revealed that he will be taking a medical leave of absence and begin chemotherapy, responding to a “highly curable” condition detected this week during hernia surgery. Farrell had been a huge influence on Lester, helping the lefty develop into one of the best big-game pitchers of his generation, someone the Cubs felt comfortable giving a six-year, $155 million megadeal last winter. Lester beat cancer and earned two World Series rings with the Red Sox while Farrell worked as the pitching coach (2007) and manager (2013). “I don’t really think you give John too much advice,” Lester said after Friday’s 6-5 win over the White Sox, surrounded by reporters inside U.S. Cellular Field’s visiting clubhouse. “He’s pretty strong-willed. I would imagine he’ll be fine. I’m sure it’s a little bit of a blow for his family. But I’m sure he’ll be fine through this whole process.”

One of Farrell’s three sons – Shane – works for the Cubs in the team’s amateur scouting department. Boston bench coach Torey Lovullo – a managerial candidate the Cubs had on their radar after the 2013 season – will manage the Red Sox for the rest of the season. Lester received treatment at Massachusetts General Hospital while dealing with his own cancer scare, which cut short his 2006 season after an anaplastic large-cell lymphoma diagnosis that August. By October 2007, Lester beat the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field in the game that clinched a World Series title. “He seems pretty positive,” Lester said. “It’s obviously one of the better places – if not the best place – in the country to be if you do have cancer. He’s in good hands. I know those doctors pretty well.” That experience helped shape the “Never Quit” message Lester keeps sending through the charitable foundation he’s aligned with now. Lester met with Anthony Rizzo when the future All-Star first baseman got diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma as a Red Sox prospect in 2008. “I don’t think you can ever really prepare for a situation like that,” Lester said. “It’s just one of those things you have to ride out. You have to do what the doctors tell you to do. “You just have to kind of grind through it.” -- CSNChicago.com White Sox fine with Cubs' Pedro Strop's emotional celebration By JJ Stankevitz If Pedro Strop was ridiculed by Bob Costas for something as innocuous as pointing to the sky earlier this year, what would baseball purists think about the Cubs reliever ripping off two massive fist pumps following a late-game strikeout Friday afternoon? Whatever firestorm Strop caused on social media after striking out Tyler Saladino with the tying run on second to end the eighth was quickly diffused by those inside the White Sox clubhouse following the Cubs’ 6-5 win at U.S. Cellular Field. “It’s part of the game, it really is,” center fielder Adam Eaton, who Strop struck out before Saladino, said. “I think fan bases like it, I do. I think it brings a little bit of flair to baseball that hasn’t always been there. I think the old-time guys would say ‘Save it, get off the mound.’ But other people, including me, think it could be good for your team and can really push your team to the end. It was a big moment in the game and ended up being a key part. Hats off to him, he made his pitches.” The root of Strop’s celebration seemed to stem from gestures made in his direction by White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez, who was on second base during Eaton and Saladino’s at-bats. Strop made a couple of body turns toward second base during his delivery, during which Ramirez said he light-heartedly tried to sign that he was close to the bag and there was no need to keep turning toward him. "He kind of stole my attention a little bit on that one when he gave me that ‘No, no, no,’" Strop said. "I feel like he was kind of showing me up. I’m aware of the situation. I just put in my head: I don’t have to get you out. I can get the guy at the plate. “Nothing personal," Strop added. Explained Ramirez: “It wasn’t trying to disrespect him. It was just like, we’re okay, I was close. I don’t know if he took that in a bad way probably because of the intensity of the game. I don’t know what happened there.” After fanning Saladino on a 3-2 slider, Strop turned toward Ramirez and unleashed his fist pumps, but the longtime White Sox shortstop didn’t have a problem with the pitcher’s exultation.

“It was (in) the heat of the game,” Ramirez said. “The moment, we were trying to get some runs. He (got) out of the moment without damage and that was the way he could celebrate that.” Thanks to Strop's escape, the Cubs won their eighth consecutive game in a row and hold a sizable lead over the San Francisco Giants for the National League's second wild card spot. The White Sox, meanwhile, slipped further down the American League playoff ladder and sit at five games under .500. “I’m kind of an excited pitcher," Strop said. "I’m aware of the situation. I’m aware of the game. I’m aware of the importance of the inning that I’m pitching, the situation, and sometimes that gets me up.” -- Chicago Tribune City Series Game 2 preview: Jake Arrieta in a groove with his catchers By Fred Mitchell Cubs manager Joe Maddon continues to profess the best is yet to come for reliable right-hander Jake Arrieta, who already is having an exceptional year. The abiding trust Arrieta (13-6, 2.38) is gaining with his catchers seems to corroborate Maddon's optimism. "The longer we do this together, the more comfortable we get with each other," said Arrieta, who will face White Sox left-hander Jose Quintana (6-9, 3.59) on Saturday night at U.S. Cellular Field when the Cubs go for their ninth straight win. "I started out the year throwing the majority of my starts with (Miguel) Montero. Then he had his thumb issue for a while. It was a seamless transition when (David) Ross got behind the plate." Arrieta has pitched 17 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings and 10 consecutive quality starts. "(Ross) studies and does his homework better than just about anyone I have ever seen," Arrieta said. "He knows the hitters and he knows his stuff. When Miggy was out for a little while, it almost felt like (Ross) was back there with me the whole time. "That's a testament to his work ethic ... to how much time and effort he puts in to try to do the best job possible. The comfort level has been there from day one, whether Miggy or Dave is back there." Maddon said Arrieta always has had the proper arsenal of pitches to dominate hitters. "Then it is up to him to understand who is he pitching against and, among these weapons, what works best against this guy," Maddon said. "He truly understands that." Arrieta said he and his catchers feel comfortable enough with each other to have frank discussions about which pitches to throw. "We're honest about everything," Arrieta said. "Like Joe says: 'You check your ego at the door.' If I'm not doing something the way David or Miguel think I should, they will let me know, just like they would anybody else. That's what I expect from them. ... I would do the same for my other teammates. "We understand that at times we might have to have difficult conversations, regardless of what it's about. But that's part of it. We all love each other; we're here for each other. If there is something difficult to address, we address it and move on." --

Chicago Tribune Cubs insist Lester better off focusing on hitters, not baserunners By Mark Gonzales Catcher David Ross claims a lot of responsibility for making sure Jon Lester focuses on batters and isn't rattled by baserunners. And following the path of a former Cubs great with similar issues, Ross is determined to make sure Lester maintains his concentration on the strike zone. "I got a chance to be in an environment that Greg Maddux had been in, and he didn't care, either, about guys running," said Ross, who played for the Braves five years after Maddux left. "He wasn't quick to the plate. He could throw to first. But the main focus in all this is, let's get the hitters out. Don't miss over middle when we're trying to get hitters." The issue of holding runners resurfaced Thursday when the Brewers stole five bases and frequently took big leads against Lester. On one pickoff throw, the left-hander was charged with an error when his wild toss to first baseman Anthony Rizzo ended up down the right-field line. Pitching coach Chris Bosio and Ross defended Lester, pointing to the fact he allowed only two runs while striking out 10 in six innings of a 9-2 victory. "It's a work in progress," Bosio said. "(Lester) is putting in the work, putting in the time. We're going to catch some people. "We're trying to lock in more on the hitters and getting them out. Jon is getting guys out. I want my guys focusing on the hitter." Ross said they're working on altering times to the plate to disrupt baserunners' timing. "We all have shortcomings," Ross said. "Listen, I'm batting .182. (Lester) is working to get better on it, and you saw that Thursday. The good thing is he's trying to get better at something he's not good at. He kept them at two runs, got a quality start and the win. That's the main focus. Extra innings: Reliever Rafael Soriano (right shoulder) could start throwing simulated games soon, manager Joe Maddon said. ... The forecast remains murky for reliever Neil Ramirez, who has been on the disabled list since July 29 with left abdominal soreness. ... Left-hander Zac Rosscup was activated from the DL and optioned to Triple-A Iowa. -- Chicago Tribune As Cubs eye Chase Utley, Chris Coghlan gives them a lift from 3rd spot By Mark Gonzales Chris Coghlan made a strong case Friday to stay in the third spot in the order while helping the Cubs extend their season-high winning streak to eight games. With Coghlan smacking two home runs and driving in four runs in an entertaining 6-5 win over the White Sox, the Cubs improved to 12-0 with Coghlan in the third spot. So what could be better? The Cubs are one of a handful of teams pursuing six-time All-Star second baseman Chase Utley, who cleared waivers with the Phillies. The Giants and Angels also are interested in Utley, 36, who is 11 for his last 22 after missing 61/2 weeks because of an ankle injury.

Utley is batting .208 in 71 games, but the Cubs apparently believe the left-handed hitter has a few miles left. The Cubs have been very careful about not surrendering any significant prospects for an impending free agent. Utley, a native of Southern California, would need to waive his no-trade rights. General manager Jed Hoyer said there was "nothing imminent" regarding any deals or waiver claims. "We'll keep looking at what's available," Hoyer said. "We like the way the club is playing right now." Meanwhile, manager Joe Maddon continues to get the most out of his available players. "I wouldn't be surprised with anything, honestly," said Maddon, who is fully aware President Theo Epstein and Hoyer are weighing upgrades against a 25-man roster with plenty of harmony. "This time of year, it's hard to piece it together sometimes. I'm really pleased with what we have." Maddon has been Coghlan's staunchest defender. Despite batting .220 (9-for-41) from the third spot, Coghlan has been part of an offense that has become less vulnerable. Leadoff hitter Dexter Fowler tripled and scored in the first, and he led off the third with a double before Kyle Schwarber walked and Coghlan hit a three-run homer. Anthony Rizzo is batting .431 in his last 15 games, and No. 5 hitter Kris Bryant had two hits to extend his hitting streak to 11 games. "We said all year this is a lineup where any given person on any given day could help us win, and that's what good lineups do," Rizzo said. Maddon and Coghlan sensed it was a matter of time before more favorable results would surface. "I'm figuring this hitting thing out where you just put it in the seats, and that way nobody can rob you," Coghlan quipped. "I wish it could be that easy to do. "In all seriousness, it's having guys getting on base, high on-base guys up there, guys who can do damage." Coghlan returned to left field as Starlin Castro made his first major-league start at second base. Castro recorded his eighth three-hit game to raise his average to .242. Former starter Clayton Richard pitched two scoreless innings that allowed the Cubs to overcome a 5-4 deficit. "When you're winning like we are right now, to not buy in makes you look like a bad guy," Maddon said. "So you want to buy in. The thought is to keep that thing rolling." -- Chicago Tribune Alexei Ramirez's taunting backfires in White Sox's loss to Cubs By Paul Sullivan Taunting the Cubs is a tradition unlike any other on the South Side, where one World Series championship in 97 years trumps no championships in 106. But when White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez got in on the act Friday afternoon during the City Series opener at U.S. Cellular Field, making hand gestures at Pedro Strop while taking a lead off second base in the eighth inning of a one-run game, it only fueled the fire of the emotional Cubs reliever.

"I was a little pumped," Strop said. "He kind of stole my attention a little bit. ... He gave me that 'no, no, no' (gesture). I felt like he was kind of showing me up. I'm like, 'Oh, yeah, I'm aware of the situation.' " Strop ignored Ramirez and calmly struck out Tyler Saladino on a 3-2 pitch to end the threat, then morphed into a fist-pumping, gyrating, index-finger-to-the-sky celebration that would've sent Bob Costas into cardiac arrest. The Cubs wound up with a dramatic 6-5 victory before a crowd of 36,386, running their winning streak to eight while beating former teammate Jeff Samardzija. On a wild, windy day in which Samardzija served up three home runs and coughed up two leads, the Strop-Ramirez staredown took center stage. "I wasn't trying to disrespect him," Ramirez said through an interpreter, adding: "I don't know if he took that in a bad way, probably because of the intensity of the game. I don't know what happened there." Sox manager Robin Ventura didn't mind Strop's reaction. "Everybody has reactions in big games," he said. "I've seen worse, so ... you don't really react to it." The Cubs have won 14 of 15, and the great debate in barrooms across Chicagoland is "Jake or Lester in the wild-card game?" That would be Jake Arrieta, whom Cubs fans are already on a first-name basis with, and Jon Lester, whom they're still getting to know. Cubs manager Joe Maddon says he loves barroom debates, so I asked him Friday what he tells people who ask him. "They haven't asked me," he said. "But let's just win a division and not worry about it." Catching the Cardinals is not likely, and even a wild-card spot isn't a certainty, of course. But we tend to get ahead of ourselves in Chicago, whether it's thinking about summer during the polar vortex or complaining about Jay Cutler's interceptions before he has even thrown one. Maddon doesn't mind if Cubs fans are already scheduling October plans. "If you're a fan, you're supposed to do those things," he said. "I'm not supposed to; they are supposed to." So what should we tell them when they ask? Jake or Lester? "Just tell them to talk it through and give me their best advice, please," he replied. So if you have any advice on this matter, tweet me and I'll forward it to Maddon. Just don't tweet @JedHoyer because that's not really his account. Hoyer, the Cubs general manager, said Maddon gave the "right answer" to the Jake vs. Lester question. "Let's have a five-game series and forget about it," Hoyer said. "First, it's great we have two guys you can have that discussion about. The fact that both guys are pitching so well lately, it's probably why we're here in a lot of ways. "But I look at it that this is a moment in time. We've been hot. We put ourselves in a great position. There's a long way to go and this is a big series." It's also a big series for the Sox, who are in denial about their dwindling wild-card chances. They needed a dominant outing from Samardzija, but he didn't come through.

"It hurts, man," he said. "I take things personally. I enjoy having success. I enjoy doing well. But you have to understand that the work you're doing is always good work." Anthony Rizzo, whose fifth-inning homer was the decisive blow, felt a twinge of sympathy for Samardzija. "It's tough facing one of your buddies," he said. "You just have to put your head down, treat it like he's just another pitcher and not get your friendship in the middle." The City Series resumes Saturday with Arrieta taking the mound against Jose Quintana. Taunting is optional. -- Chicago Tribune White Sox's Samardzija fails to deliver against former team By Colleen Kane Jeff Samardzija stalked around the mound, fidgeting and muttering in frustration Friday afternoon as former Cubs teammate Chris Coghlan made his second home-run trot. A few pitches later, former teammate Anthony Rizzo gave the White Sox right-hander more time to stew. A day that might have been hard to imagine when Samardzija was a kid growing up in Northwest Indiana turned into an evening he would like to forget in the Sox's 6-5 loss in the opener of the City Series at U.S. Cellular Field. In his first start against the team that traded him in July 2014, Samardzija gave up six earned runs, five of which were driven in by the Coghlan and Rizzo homers. Samardzija didn't pitch against the Cubs at Wrigley Field this season, and his only other performance against them came in spring training, when he gave up four home runs. "You approach every game as an important game, it doesn't matter who you're playing," Samardzija said. "Obviously it was a little different playing against some of those guys and being on the team for so long. But there were a lot of new faces, and they're playing good baseball right now. They play every out, and they don't make any mistakes." In three starts since the July 31 trade deadline, when the Sox opted to keep Samardzija, he has a 12.91 ERA. In six stars since the All-Star break, his ERA is 7.28. "It hurts, man," Samardzija said. "I take things personally. I enjoy having success. … But you have to understand that the work you're doing is always good work. You keep working hard and keep trying to fix what you feel like you're doing wrong." Samardzija could be forgiven for the first run. Right fielder Avisail Garcia helped Cubs leadoff man Dexter Fowler to a triple when he misplayed a sinking line drive that bounced far behind him. Fowler scored on Kyle Schwarber's sacrifice fly for the 20th earned run in the first inning against Samardzija this season. Fowler doubled to start the third, but Samardzija was more upset about walking Schwarber on a day when balls were carrying unusually far. Coghlan followed with a three-run homer. Garcia's two-run double in the first and Adam Eaton's two-run, opposite-field homer in the fourth kept the Sox close.

"I remember pitching at Wrigley, and the old adage is, 'Solo homers are OK,'" Samardzija said. "It's going to happen if the wind is blowing out. You just have to make sure there are no crooked numbers. A couple of them were solo, but ... that one to Coghlan really hurt." In an odd coincidence, Cubs pitcher Clayton Richard, who took over in the fourth for starter Kyle Hendricks, also is a Hoosier and beat out Samardzija for the title of Indiana Mr. Football in 2002. Richard went to Michigan, Samardzija to Notre Dame. Richard was drafted by the Sox, Samardzija by the Cubs. Both joined the other Chicago team this season, and Richard earned the victory Friday; Samardzija was saddled with his third consecutive loss for the first time since April 2013. "(Samardzija) goes through periods where he throws the ball well, spots it on the corners," Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "There are times where he gets the middle of the plate, and when you get the middle of the plate in the wrong counts, it's going to cost you." -- Chicago Tribune White Sox not upset by Cubs reliever Pedro Strop's celebration By Colleen Kane When Tyler Saladino struck out to end the eighth inning with two White Sox runners on base Friday at U.S. Cellular Field, Cubs reliever Pedro Strop celebrated with a monstrous double fist pump. It was the type of celebration that might irk an opposing team, but Sox center fielder Adam Eaton, who had struck out for the second out, understood the emotion. "I think fan bases like it — I do," he said. "It brings a little bit of flair to baseball that hasn't always been there. "The old-time guys would say, 'Save it. Get off the mound.' But other people, including me, think it can really push your team to the end. It was a big moment in the game and ended up being a key part. Hats off to him; he made his pitches." Strop's response was in part due to a hand gesture by Alexei Ramirez as Strop looked to keep him on second base during the Eaton and Saladino at-bats. Ramirez said he was signaling to Strop that he was staying near the base and didn't mean it to be disrespectful. In the end, Strop didn't allow Ramirez to go anywhere. "It was a very intense game, and I thought that we showed that," Ramirez said through a team interpreter. More emotion: Sox manager Robin Ventura said closer David Robertson was allowed to be upset about the lengthy replay delay in the ninth inning against the Angels on Wednesday. But Ventura doesn't think Angels manager Mike Scioscia is "bush league," as Robertson called him for arguing a dropped third strike call before and after the review. "I mean, guys are emotional," Ventura said. "Do I think Scioscia is? No, but when a guy is on the mound and he's emotional, he's in the middle of it, stuff gets said." Robertson, who blew the save in the ninth, was upset the argument happened at home plate so he couldn't warm up, but Scioscia denied his actions were "gamesmanship." Ventura left that open to interpretation. "It could have been," Ventura said. "He might have said that he's done it before, but I haven't seen it. But the umpire was also standing there too."

Extra innings: Outfield prospect Micker Adolfo had surgery on his left ankle to repair a fractured fibula and ligament damage. Adolfo, 18, is ranked the No. 8 prospect in the Sox system by MLB.com. He injured his ankle sliding during an Arizona Rookie League game. The Sox expect him to recover by spring training. … Second-base prospect Micah Johnson is rehabbing his strained left hamstring in Arizona. … Utility man Emilio Bonifacio was reinstated from the 15-day disabled list after recovering from a left oblique strain. The Sox optioned Leury Garcia to Triple-A Charlotte. -- Chicago Tribune Jed Hoyer lets good times roll with Cubs' rookies By Mark Gonzales General manager Jed Hoyer delicately responded to the notion that the Chicago Cubs might be a year ahead of schedule with four rookies in the lineup contributing to a 66-48 record. “I don’t think it’s quite this simple,” Hoyer said before the Cubs’ 6-5 win over the White Sox that extended their winning streak to eight games. “This year was always a little bit of a land of uncertainty, if you will. You don’t know what to expect when you have effectively four rookies who are playing every day while these guys are going to come along. “It doesn’t surprise me what these guys are doing. But I think us expecting them to do it, it would have been a little bit unfair. I don’t believe in the year too early. We’re playing good baseball right now. We’re in this position. But expecting these guys to produce at this level at this age would have been something that would have been unfair to them.” Hoyer warned that the rookies – Kris Bryant, Jorge Soler, Addison Russell and Kyle Schwarber – will continue to be tested. But the expectations are to be expected. “They’re doing it every day, so I don’t think it’s unfair to have expectations for these guys,” Hoyer said. “It’s probably unfair to forget how old they are. You don’t have some level of understanding. Going back to spring training, (manager) Joe Maddon said it’s not always going to be an oil painting. And there are going to be some of those nights along the way. At this point, they’re doing it and hopefully will keep doing it.“ -- Chicago Tribune Jon Lester lends support to John Farrell By Mark Gonzales John Farrell was one of the biggest influences when Jon Lester began his ascent as one of the top pitchers in the American League – especially after Lester was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2006. So it wasn’t so surprising that Lester already had spoken with Farrell after the Boston Red Sox’s manager and Lester’s former pitching coach revealed he was diagnosed with Stage 1 of the ailment. “Obviously, we go pretty far back,” Lester said after the Chicago Cubs’ 6-5 win over the White Sox. “I talked to him a little bit already. He seems very positive. Everything seems very positive. So that’s good. He’s in a very good place for it (at Massachusets General Hospital). Obviously it’s one of the better places, if not the best place in the country, to be at if you do have cancer.” Lester stressed that Farrell is in good hands, based on his experience with the hospital’s medical staff. “I don’t think you really give John too much advice,” Lester said. “If you know John, he’s pretty strong- willed. I’d imagine he’ll be fine. I’m sure it’s a little bit of a blow for his family. I’m sure he’ll be fine through this whole process.”

Lester, however, said there’s no way of preparing for the ailment. “It’s just one of those things you have to ride out,” Lester said. “You have to do what the doctors tell you to do. I don’t know the details of which he’ll be going through. I don’t know the type. Just know it’s lymphoma. It can be a million different things. “It sounded very curable and very positive, from what I read and saw. That’s the most important thing, but I don’t think you can prepare for a situation like that. You just have to grind through it. Cubs manager Joe Maddon has known Farrell, 53, since the early 1990s when Farrell was recovering from an injury in the Angels’ organization when Maddon was a roving instructor. “He’s a wonderful guy,” Maddon said. “I wish him well. He’ll be fine. But it makes you take a step back, but I know he’ll be OK.” -- Chicago Tribune Friday's recap: Cubs 6, White Sox 5 By Fred Mitchell The Cubs extended their winning streak to a season-high eight games with a 6-5 victory Friday over the White Sox in front of 36,386 at U.S. Cellular Field. The Cubs have won 14 of 15. The Sox had a three-game winning streak snapped. Turning point After the Sox had scored three in the fourth to take a 5-4 lead, Chris Coghlan and Anthony Rizzo hit back-to-back homers in the fifth to put the Cubs back in front. It was the fourth time this season and second day in a row the Cubs have hit back-to-back homers. On the mound Jeff Samardzija (8-8, 4.78) took the loss as he faced his former team for the first time. He went six innings, allowing six runs on nine hits. He walked two, struck out five and gave up three homers. Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks lasted only 3 1/3 innings, and former Sox pitcher Clayton Richard (3-0) earned the win in relief. At the plate Coghlan also hit a three-run homer in the third for a four-RBI day. Starlin Castro, who started at second base, went 3-for-4 as the Cubs and Sox each collected 10 hits. Adam Eaton has hit safely in 24 of his last 26 games for the Sox. In the field Sox right fielder Avisail Garcia charged a sinking line drive off the bat of leadoff man Dexter Fowler. The ball skipped past him and Fowler wound up with a triple in the first. He scored on a sacrifice fly by Kyle Schwarber. Key number 9 — The Sox honored the late Minnie Minoso by wearing his No. 9 on their uniforms. Key at-bats Hendricks struck out Jose Abreu with the bases loaded in the second. Pedro Strop struck out Tyler Saladino with two on and two out in the eighth.

The quote "It's a good roll. I mean, obviously, they have been playing well. They've been getting a lot of contributions from a lot of different guys." — Sox manager Robin Ventura on the Cubs' winning streak The quote II "It hurts, man. I take things personally. I enjoy having success. I enjoy doing well." — Samardzija on his second-half struggles Up next Cubs at White Sox, 6:10 p.m., ABC-7, CSN. -- Chicago Tribune Starlin Castro has chance to win second base job By Mark Gonzales Starlin Castro was delighted to get his first start at second base only three days after making his debut at the new position. And with the Chicago Cubs scheduled to face two left-handed starters in the next two games, Castro will get a chance to spark his subpar season and perhaps seize the second base job. “We’ll see how it all plays out,” manager Joe Maddon said before the game. “We’re all open-minded about that. This guy has been a big part of the past several years, and I’m a big fan of his work ethic and I think he cares a lot. All that stuff matters. He’s just had a tough year to this point. We’ll see how it plays.” Castro collected two hits in his first three at-bats, and he made an accurate flip to shortstop Addison Russell to start a double play in the first and stretched far for a force play at second in the fourth. Before the game, Castro expressed his appreciation for playing in his fourth consecutive game after losing his starting shortstop job to Addison Russell last Friday. “I feel pretty good they keep using me because I try to be in the game all the time and try to be prepared and not take me by surprise,” Castro said. --