On a wild day at Wrigley Field when Kerry Wood retired, Paul Konerko got hit in the face with a pitch and manager Dale Sveum was ejected, the White Sox added to their recent success against the Cubs.Gordon Beckham hit a tiebreaking homer in the eighth inning and the White Sox beat the Cubs 3-2 Friday, their 16th win in the last 22 interleague games against their crosstown rivals.
“I think that was more than the typical game. It seemed like there was a lot of stuff going on,” Beckham said.
Beckham’s solo shot and a two-run drive by Konerko in the first were the only runs allowed by Cubs starter Jeff Samardzija (4-2).Konerko sustained a laceration above his left eye and swelling when he was hit by Samardzija’s pitch in the third inning and had to leave the game. He was to have more tests to determine the extent of the injury and his status for the remainder of the series.
“You never want that for anybody that you’re playing with or anybody on their team. You never want to see anybody hit in the head. It was pretty scary. He walked off, so we figured he was OK,” Beckham said.
White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski said he went to the clubhouse to check on Konerko.
“I saw him before he left,” Pierzynski said. “His eye was pretty swelled up, but he was pretty cognizant, didn’t say he was dizzy or anything. I’ve seen him get hit before and go to first. I was a little scared when he didn’t get right up, but he seemed fine and we’ll see how he feels tomorrow.”
Samardzija, who came to the plate to check on Konerko, said he wasn’t trying to hit the White Sox star.
“It’s unfortunate. There’re a lot of superstars that put up big numbers, get paid a lot of money and Paulie’s one of those guys who is a superstar and does it the right way. There’s not too many of those guys out there. He’s not about show or about himself,” Samardzija said.
“Paulie’s a good guy and that ball got away and unfortunately hit him up high. If I could take it back, I would. The only thing that makes me OK about it is he’s a tough guy. I hope he’ll be all right.”
White Sox starter Phil Humber threw high behind Cubs cleanup hitter Bryan LaHair in the fourth, prompting a warning from plate umpire Tim Timmons.Sveum, ejected in the fifth for arguing a call at second base, reiterated the Cubs weren’t trying to hit Konerko, especially since it was a splitter from Samardzija. And he said if Humber’s pitch was indeed retaliation, he would have appreciated it being thrown much lower.
“That one just got away from me and just one of those things that happens during a game,” Humber said.
Wood, who began his major league career with the Cubs in 1998 and struck out 20 Houston Astros batters in his fifth major league start, took the mound to rousing cheers after word got out that he intended to retire after the game. When he struck out Dayan Viciedo on three pitches — the only batter Wood faced — he was taken out as teammates congratulated him on the mound and Dunn doffed his batting helmet and clapped from first base.The 34-year-old Wood, hampered by injuries this season and throughout his career, left to a standing ovation and was hugged by his son as he reached the dugout. Moments later, Wood emerged for a curtain call, waving his cap to fans as James Russell threw warmup pitches.Wood played slightly more than 13 seasons in the big leagues, most of them with the Cubs.
“It’s time,” he said afterward.
Konerko’s 19th career homer in 66 games against the Cubs came one out after a first-inning single by Beckham and made it 2-0.But the Cubs responded in the bottom half. David DeJesus led off with a fly-ball double into the ivy in left field and Tony Campana had a bunt single when Humber slipped down trying to field it. Campana then stole second before Starlin Castro’s long sacrifice fly made it 2-1 and sent Campana to third. Humber then struck out LaHair and got Alfonso Soriano to fly out.The Cubs tied it in the seventh when Ian Stewart led off with a single and one out later Darwin Barney doubled to finish Humber after just 66 pitches. Matt Thornton (2-3) came in and Samardzija bounced his first pitch through the left side for an RBI single to tie the game and put runners at first and third. DeJesus popped out and so did Campana on a bunt attempt, ending the inning.Samardzija allowed six hits and three runs in 7 1-3 innings with two walks and eight strikeouts.Humber gave up five hits and two runs in 6 1-3 innings. He is 0-2 with three no-decisions since pitching a perfect game against Seattle on April 21.Addison Reed got his fourth save in four chances with a scoreless ninth that included a double by Barney when White Sox right fielder Alex Rios lost his two-out fly in the sun.
NOTES—White Sox 3B Brent Morel was a late scratch with a sore back that has bothered him off and on this season. He was replaced by Eduardo Escobar….Cubs C Geovany Soto will have surgery on a torn meniscus in his left knee and will miss three to four weeks….The Cubs called up catcher Blake Lalli from Triple-A Iowa and optioned struggling right-hander Chris Volstad (0-6) to their top farm club.