Patrick Wisdom, Alec Mills Lead Cubs Past White Sox

CHICAGO (AP) — Patrick Wisdom backed Alec Mills with two more homers and the Chicago Cubs beat the Chicago White Sox for the first time this season, winning 7-0 on Saturday night.

Rafael Ortega connected for a grand slam against Lance Lynn as the fourth-place Cubs improved to 6-19 in August. They dropped their first four games against the crosstown White Sox this year, including an ugly 17-13 loss Friday night.

Mills (6-6) worked into the ninth inning in his first win since Aug. 4. He left with one out and runners on first and second, and Codi Heuer finished the four-hitter against his former team.

Wisdom hit solo drives in the fourth and fifth innings in his fourth career multihomer game — all coming this season. He also went deep twice Friday night on his 30th birthday.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, he became the first rookie in franchise history to post consecutive multihomer games.

Wisdom has seven homers in his last eight games overall and 25 on the year, tops among NL rookies. He had four homers in 43 big league games coming into this season.

The White Sox had won three of four, scoring in double digits in consecutive games for the first time since April 2017. But the AL Central leaders were shut down by Mills in by far his best outing of the year.

The 29-year-old right-hander struck out three and walked two. He had lost his last two starts, yielding nine runs and 19 hits in 9 2/3 innings.

After Wisdom connected in the fourth, the Cubs loaded the bases on two walks and Robinson Chirinos' single. Ortega then drove an 0-2 pitch from Lynn deep to right for his eighth homer of the season and No. 11 in 216 big league games overall.

It was the second career slam for Ortega, who also hit one for the Braves against the Dodgers on Aug. 18, 2019.

Lynn (10-4) allowed a season-high seven runs in five innings in his first loss since June 19. The All-Star right-hander struck out seven and walked two.

STRUGGLING KEUCHEL

Dallas Keuchel needs a strong finish to earn a spot in a possible playoff rotation for the White Sox — and he knows it. The veteran left-hander is 2-5 with a 6.79 ERA in his last 10 starts.

"I have been the weakest starter in the rotation for much of the year," Keuchel said a day after he was tagged for six runs in the first inning against the Cubs.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Cubs: INF David Bote was placed on the 10-day injured list after he sprained his right ankle when he stepped on a ball during batting practice. Bote got hurt before Friday's loss to the White Sox. INF Alfonso Rivas and RHP Scott Effross were promoted from Triple-A Iowa, and RHPs Ryan Meisinger and Jake Jewell were designated for assignment. ... C Willson Contreras (sprained right knee) threw, hit, ran the bases and caught a bullpen session. Manager David Ross said he'll probably head out early next week for a rehab assignment. ... RHP Adbert Alzolay (left hamstring strain) threw a bullpen session.

UP NEXT

Right-handers Kyle Hendricks (14-5, 4.09 ERA) and Dylan Cease (10-6, 3.92 ERA) pitch in the series finale Sunday. Hendricks is coming off a no-decision against Colorado, working seven innings of four-run ball in the Cubs' 6-4 victory. Cease is 3-0 with a 3.09 ERA over his last six starts for the White Sox, striking out 45 in 35 innings.

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