CHICAGO — Carson Kelly delivered a tiebreaking single in the seventh inning and finished with four RBIs as the Chicago Cubs defeated the White Sox 10-5 on Friday night, ending their crosstown rival’s five-game winning streak before a sellout crowd of 38,723 at Guaranteed Rate Field.
The victory marked the first home sellout for the White Sox this season and came after the Cubs had squandered earlier leads of 1-0 and 4-1. Kelly’s key hit came against reliever Bryan Hudson with the bases loaded, pushing the Cubs ahead for good at 5-4.
Kelly added a two-run double in the eighth inning that helped Chicago build a 10-4 advantage. He also contributed an RBI single in the fourth inning as part of the Cubs’ 14-hit attack.
Seiya Suzuki broke an 0-for-17 slump with an RBI single that gave the visitors a 4-1 lead earlier in the game. The Cubs’ offense showed resilience after the White Sox had clawed back into contention.
Jarred Kelenic hit his first home run for the White Sox, a 446-foot drive in the ninth inning off Javier Assad. Colson Montgomery, Miguel Vargas and Kelenic each hit solo homers for Chicago’s South Side rivals.
Trent Thornton earned the win with two perfect innings of relief in which he struck out two batters. Jordan Hicks struggled in the eighth, walking four and allowing four runs while recording just two outs.
The game featured strong pitching contrasts, with the Cubs capitalizing on opportunities created by White Sox relievers. Hudson took the loss after surrendering the decisive single in the seventh.
According to the box score details, the Cubs collected 14 hits while the White Sox managed to stay close through power hitting until the late innings. The contest highlighted the intensity of the crosstown rivalry even in a season where both teams have faced challenges.
White Sox manager Pedro Grifol noted after the game that his team’s bullpen issues proved costly against a patient Cubs lineup. “We had chances but couldn’t keep them off the bases in key moments,” Grifol said in postgame remarks reported by the Associated Press.
Cubs skipper Craig Counsell praised Kelly’s contributions, emphasizing how the catcher’s timely hitting shifted momentum. The performance came at a time when Chicago has been searching for consistent production from the middle of the order.
The series continues Saturday with Cubs right-hander Jameson Taillon (2-2, 3.94 ERA) scheduled to face White Sox right-hander Davis Martin (5-1, 1.62 ERA). Both teams will look to build on or recover from Friday’s result.
Friday’s outcome leaves the White Sox with a 5-1 stretch snapped, while the Cubs improved their record in interleague and rivalry play. Attendance figures reflected renewed interest in the matchup despite the clubs’ respective standings positions.
Looking ahead, the clubs will meet again Sunday before the Cubs return to National League action. The result underscored how small-ball execution and bullpen reliability can decide these tightly contested games.