MEMORABLE SOX GAMES VS. CUBS

What better day to look back at some memorable White Sox-Cubs game than the day the Chicago team renew their rivalry.

Here goes …

*Oct. 9, 1906: The “Hitless Wonder” White Sox knocked off the heavily-favored Cubs 2-1 in Game 1 of the only all-Chicago World Series. The light-hitting Sox went on to upset the Cubs, who won a record 116 games, in six games.

*Oct. 14, 1906: The Sox scored seven times in the first two innings en route to a clinching win in Game 6 of the 1906 World Series at South Side Park. George Davis and Jiggs Donahue each had three RBIs as the “Hitless Wonders” White Sox upset the 116-win Cubs for their first title.

*June 25, 1964: Ron Hansen, Tom McCraw, and Gerry McNertney hit successive homers in the third inning in the White Sox 11-1 win over the Cubs in the annual Boys Benefit Game before 52,712 at Comiskey Park. The turnout was so great, the Sox, who were the visitors, allowed fans to stand in a roped off area on the field for the first time since the late 1920s.

*Aug. 14, 1972: Ernie Banks came out of retirement for one more game in the Cubs’ 3-1 win over the White Sox in the Boys Benefit charity exhibition game before 38,153 fans at Comiskey Park. Banks, who retired after the 1971 season, played the last three innings and first base and struck out in the ninth. He was given many standing ovations, according to press reports of the day.

*April 7, 1994: Starting in right field, White Sox farmhand Michael Jordan singled, doubled and drove in two runs in a 4-4 exhibition tie with the Cubs before 37,825 at Wrigley Field.

*June 16, 1997: The Cubs defeated the White Sox 8-3 at Comiskey Park in an interleague game in the first meaningful clash between the rivals since the 1906 World Series.

*June 17, 1997: Dave Martinez’s two-run homer in the first led the White Sox to their first interleague victory over the Cubs — a 5-3 win at Comiskey Park.

*June 18, 1997: Wilson Alvarez fired a four-hitter as the White Sox topped the Cubs 3-0 in two hours at Comiskey Park. The win enabled the Sox to win two-of-three in the inaugural interleague series between the Windy City rivals.

*June 5, 1998: Brant Brown’s homer in the 12th lifted the Cubs to a 6-5 win over the Sox in the inaugural interleague game between the teams at Wrigley Field.

*June 6, 1998: Charlie O’Brien clubbed the Sox first official homer at Wrigley Field in a 6-5 loss to the Cubs.

*June 12, 1999: Ray Durham spearheaded an 18-hit attack by going 4-for-6 in the White Sox 8-2 win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

*June 13, 1999: Mike Caruso’s two-run homer in the eighth delivered the White Sox a 6-4 sweep-completing win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Sox second baseman Ray Durham was 9-for-18 in the series.

*July 9, 1999: Carlos Lee’s sacrifice fly scored Ray Durham with the winning run in the ninth in the White Sox 3-2 win over the Cubs at Comiskey Park.

*June 9, 2000: Ray Durhan’s one-out single to left in the 14th scored Herbert Perry with the winning run in the White Sox 6-5 win over the Cubs at Comiskey Park.

*July 7, 2000: RBIs in the 12th inning by Frank Thomas and Herbert Perry secured the White Sox a 4-2 win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

https://www.mlb.com/video/lee-s-walk-off-grand-slam-c539750283

*June 8, 2001: Carlos Lee’s walkoff grand slam powered the White Sox to a 7-3 win in 10 innings over the Cubs before 45,936 at Comiskey Park. Lee’s slam was the first in extra innings in any interleague clash, including the World Series.

*June 16, 2002: Carlos Lee hit a grand slam off Kerry Wood and a go-ahead two-run blast off Carlos Zambrano and finished with seven RBIs in the White Sox 10-7 win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

*June 28, 2002: Paul Konerko was 4-for-4 with a double, two home runs and four RBIs in the White Sox 13-9 win over the Cubs at Comiskey Park.

*June 20, 2003: A first-inning grand slam by Miguel Olivo helped the White Sox cruise to a 12-3 win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

*June 27, 2003: Jose Valentin’s one-out homer in the ninth was the difference in the White Sox 4-3 win over the Cubs at U.S. Cellular Field. The blast came a half inning after the Cubs had tied the game with two runs.

*June 28, 2003: D’Angelo Jimenez’s RBI single in the ninth off enabled the Sox to beat the Cubs 7-6 at U.S. Cellular Field. Aaron Rowand tied the game with a homer in the eighth as the Sox posted a walkoff win over the Cubs for the second day in a row.

*June 27, 2004: Miguel Olivo and Timo Perez launched home runs off Greg Maddux in the White Sox 9-4 win over the Cubs at U.S. Cellular Field.

*May 20, 2005: Jermaine Dye and A.J. Pierzynski combined to go 5-for-8 in their White Sox debuts against the Cubs in a 5-1 win at Wrigley Field.

*May 21, 2005: Paul Konerko’s two-run single in the eighth gave the Sox the lead for good in a four-run outburst in a 5-3 win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

*June 24, 2005: Frank Thomas, A.J. Pierzynski and Joe Crede homered in the White Sox 12-2 rout of the Cubs at U.S. Cellular Field.

*May 19, 2006: Mark Buehrle fired a two-hitter and did not allow an earned run and Jim Thome homered in the White Sox 6-1 win over Greg Maddux and the Cubs at U.S. Cellular Field.

*May 20, 2006: Tadahito Iguchi homered twice and drove in six as the White Sox knocked out the Cubs 7-0 in the game that featured a bench-clearing brawl at U.S. Cellular Field.

*July 1, 2006: A.J. Pierzynski’s stunning three-run homer with two out in the ninth off Ryan Dempster delivered the White Sox an 8-6 win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

*May 20, 2007: Nick Masset got the win in his first big league start and A.J. Pierzynski hit a grand slam in the White Sox 10-6 win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

*June 28, 2008: Carlos Quentin’s opposite field home run in the seventh off Carlos Marmol got the Sox past the Cubs 6-5 at U.S. Cellular Field.

*June 29, 2008: Carlos Quentin, Brian Anderson and Jim Thome homered as the White Sox finished off a three-game sweep of the Cubs with a 5-1 win at U.S. Cellular Field.

*June 27, 2009: Gordon Beckham’s two-out single plated pinch-runner Josh Fields with the winning run in the ninth in the White Sox 8-7 win over the Cubs at U.S. Cellular Field.

*June 28, 2009: John Danks fired seven innings and allowed just four hits and Alexei Ramirez and Jermaine Dye homered in the White Sox 6-0 win over the Cubs at U.S. Cellular Field. Danks walked four and struck out five before Scott Linebrink tossed two perfect frames with four strikeouts.

*Sept. 3, 2009: Carlos Torres tossed seven shutout innings for his first big league victory in the White Sox 5-0 win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Torres, making his third big league appearance/start, gave up five hits and no walks in outdueling Ryan Dempster.

*June 11, 2010: Alex Rios and A.J. Pierzynski each had four hits and a homer in support of Jake Peavy in the White Sox 10-5 win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Peavy gave up two runs on six hits in seven innings for his 100th career win.

*June 12, 2010: Paul Konerko drove in both runs in the White Sox 2-1 win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Mark Buehrle fashioned 6.2 shutout innings as the Sox extended their win streak — which still stands as their longest in the interleague series — to six over the Cubs.

*June 13, 2010: The Cubs Ted Lilly and the White Sox Gavin Floyd matched no-hit zeroes for 6.2 innings at Wrigley Field. Floyd lost his no-hitter in the seventh while Lilly’s was ruined by Juan Pierre in the ninth. The Cubs scratched out a run in the seventh and held on.

*May 18, 2012: Gordon Beckham’s homer in the eighth off Jeff Samarddzija delivered the Sox a 3-2 win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

*May 19, 2012: Thanks to home runs from Dayan Viciedo, A.J. Pierzynski and Adam Dunn, the White Sox built a 7-0 lead en route to a 7-4 win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field. John Danks pitched 6.1 shutout innings for his third win.

*May 20, 2012: Jake Peavy fanned seven in 6.1 shutout innings as the White Sox finished off a three-game sweep with a 6-0 win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Gordon Beckham, Adam Dunn and Tyler Flowers homered as the Sox executed their first three-game sweep of the Cubs at Wrigley Field since 1999 and only the second one in interleague action.

*June 20, 2012: Starter and winning pticher Gavin Floyd, Matt Thornton, Jesse Crain and Will Ohman combined on a four-hitter in the White Sox 7-0 win over the Cubs at U.S. Cellular Field. Gordon Beckham homered as the Sox avoided a three-game sweep.

*May 5, 2014: Marcus Semien’s RBI double in the 12th gave the White Sox the lead for good in a 3-1 win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Matt Lindstrom fanned Luis Valbuena with two on to end the game and end a four-game skid to the Cubs.

*May 6, 2014: Gordon Beckham’s go-ahead homer in the eighth sent the White Sox to a 5-1 win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Ex-Cub Zach Putnam got the win with two perfect innings of relief.

*May 7, 2014: Leadoff man Gordon Beckham socked a tiebreaking three-run homer in the fourth as the Sox won their third straight over the Cubs with an 8-3 triumph at U.S, Cellular Field.

*July 10, 2015: J.B. Shuck’s sac fly in the eighth was the difference in the Sox 1-0 win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Shuck’s sac fly scored Emilio Bonifacio, who was hit by a pitch, stole second and took third on an Adam Eaton bunt.

*July 11, 2015: Winning pitcher Chris Sale struck out 11 in seven innings as the White Sox topped the Cubs 5-1 at Wrigley Field. The Sox took the lead for good in the first on Tyler Saladino’s first big leage hit — a run-scoring triple that scored Adam Eaton.

*Aug, 16, 2015: Winning pitcher Chris Sale fanned 15 in seven one-hit shutout innings in the White Sox 3-1 win over the Cubs before 39,475 at U.S. Cellular Field. Home runs by Jose Abreu, Alexei Ramirez and Melky Cabrera helped Sale notch his 11th win.

*July 25, 2016: Tyler Saladino’s RBI single in the ninth delivered the White Sox a 5-4 walkoff win over the Cubs before 39,510 at U.S. Cellular Field.

*July 26, 2016: James Shields fired 7.2 shutout innings for the win as the White Sox topped the Cubs 3-0 before 39,553 at U.S. Cellular Field. The victory, which featured RBIs from Adam Eaton, Jose Abreu and Todd Frazier, gave the Sox at least a tie in the season series with the Cubs for the third consecutive season.

*July 27, 2016: Starter Anthony Ranaudo became the first White Sox pitcher to homer against the Cubs in an 8-1 loss at Wrigley Field. Ranaudo went deep in the fifth off Jason Hammel during an outing in which he took the loss in which he surrendered three runs on two hits with four walks and three strikeouts in 6.2 innings.

*July 24, 2017: Anthony Swarzak earned his first career save in the White Sox 3-1 win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field. This was the first meeting between the rivals after the Cubs had won the World Series. Adam Engel’s homer in the sixth put the Sox on top to stay. Two days after this save, Swarzak was dealt to Milwaukee for minor league outfielder Ryan Cordell.

*July 25, 2017: Carlos Rodon made history despite absorbing a loss in the White Sox 7-2 setback to the Cubs at Wrigley Field. The left-hander became the first pitcher in big league history to fan 11-or-more-batters over four innings or less in an outing where he also had a two-run double. Rodon also became the first Sox pitcher since Bart Johnson on April 20, 1971 to record a double and two RBI in game.

*May 13, 2018: Despite issuing seven walks, Lucas Giolito got the win in the White Sox 5-3 victory over the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Nicky Delmonico’s RBI triple and Matt Davidson’s sac fly in the sixth off loser Kyle Hendricks fronted the Sox for good.

*Sept. 21, 2018: Winning pitcher Reynaldo Lopez fanned eight and Kevan Smith and Daniel Palka homered in the White Sox 10-4 win over the Cubs before 34,027 at Guaranteed Rate Field. Lopez gave up one run on five hits in seven innings and was handed the lead in the second on Smith’s three-run homer off Jose Quintana. … Two days later, the latest Sox-Cubs series ended with the Sox holding a 60-58 lead in the interleague series.

Advertisements

TODAY (JUNE 17) IN SOX HISTORY: A WIN OVER THE CUBS AND OTHER GEMS!

There is no White Sox game today … so what?

There are no off-days for the @SoxNerd.

With the Cubs series less than 24 hours, it’s interesting to note that 22 years ago today the Sox recorded their first regular-season win over the Cubs.

Before a record crowd of 44,249, the Sox used a two-run homer in the first from ex-Cub Dave Martinez en route to a 5-3 victory.

Winning pitcher Doug Drabek squelched a Cub rally in the sixth when he fanned Ryne Sandberg with two on. Chris Snopek added an insurance run with a seventh-inning homer as the Sox evened the series 1-1.

Here’s a look at what else happened on this date in Sox history …

*1914, RED RULES: Red Faber fired the first of his three career one-hitters in a 5-0 win vs. Philadelphia at Comiskey Park. Faber’s one-hitter was the second one-hit shutout by a Sox pitcher in a week. Seven days earlier Joe Benz turned the trick vs. Washington in Chicago.

*1915, GREAT SCOTT: Jim “Death Valley” Scott twirled a four-hitter in the White Sox 3-0 win at Philadelphia. Eddie Collins, John Collins and Lena Blackburne drove in runs as Scott moved to 8-3.

*1916, BEATING THE BABE: Joe Jackson went 3-for-3 with an RBI off losing pitcher Babe Ruth in the White Sox 5-0 over Boston at Comiskey Park. Nemo Leibold drove in two as starter Joe Benz and Dave Danforth combined on a five-hitter.

*1926, EARL THE PEARL! Earl Sheely’s three-run homer in the second sent the White Sox to a 6-2 win over the Yankees before 12,000 at Comiskey Park. Ted Blankenship held Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig hitless in eight at bats in the complete game two-hitter.

*1929, ART THE GREAT: Art “The Great” Shires’ two-run homer highlighted a four-run fourth in the White Sox 6-4 win at Philadelphia. The colorful Shires finished with four RBI in support of winning pitcher Red Faber.

*1941, HOAG WILD! Myril Hoag’s tiebreaking single in the ninth scored Joe Kuehl with the winning run in the White Sox 8-7 win at New York. Eddie Smith got the final two outs with two on to hand the Sox their first win on this date since 1929.

*1943. LUKE DELIVERS: Luke Appling’s two-out RBI in the 13th helped the White Sox walk off with a 4-3 win over St. Louis at Comiskey Park. Jimmy Grant went 4-for-6 with a homer and Gordy Maltzberger fired four shutout innings of relief for the win as the Sox triumphed for the second day in a row.

*1945, PITCHERS CAN HIT, TOO: Starting and winning pitchers Thornton Lee and Joe Haynes went a combined 4-for-5 with two RBI as the White Sox swept a doubleheader from Detroit 6-1 and 7-5 at Comiskey Park.

*1951, NICE START: Luis Aloma threw a five-hitter in his first career start as the White Sox capped a doubleheader sweep with a 9-0 Game 2 win at Philadelphia. After winning the opener 4-1, Aloma yielded five singles and one walk while fanning three to improve to 8-2 in his career.

*1952, SWEET SWEEP: Eddie Robinson’s walkoff single in the 10th handed the White Sox a doubleheader sweep-completing 2-1 win over the A’s at Comiskey Park. After winning the first game 13-1, Robinson drove in Minnie Minoso with the winner in the nightcap.

*1955, SWING AND MISS PAYS OFF: George Kell delivered the go-ahead single in the ninth after swinging and missing at intentional ball four in the White Sox 2-1 win at New York. After Kell’s whiff, he delivered an RBI single off Whitey Ford which scored Nellie Fox with the tie-breaking run.

*1956, 20-2! Minnie Minoso had four hits and Walt Dropo had four RBI as the White Sox thumped Washington 20-2 in the first game of a doubleheader before 15,136 at Comiskey Park. Dick Donovan was the winner and was 2-for-4 with two RBI in the White Sox first 20-run game in 22 seasons

*1958, PIERCE FIERCE: Billy Pierce blanked the Red Sox on five hits in the White Sox 4-0 win before 16,748 at Comiskey Park. Billy Goodman drove in two runs as the White Sox extended their winning streak to four.

*1961, NEW GUY PAYS DIVIDENDS: Recently-acquired Andy Carey was 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBI as the White Sox began a 12-game winning streak by deating Minnesota 5-1 before 9,022 at Comiskey Park. Juan Pizarro pitched into the seventh inning and struck out seven for the win. Veteran Warren Hacker tossed 2.1 shutout innings for his third save. The winning streak, which included victories over Minnesota, Cleveland, Washington and Detroit, was the longest by the Sox since a 13-gamer in 1908.

*1966, BERRY NICE: Ken Berry’s homer in the third put the White Sox on top to stay in a 3-1 win at Minnesota. Floyd Robinson and Lee Elia padded the lead with RBIs and Tommy John went the distance and gave up one run on six hits with no walks and six strikeouts to move to 5-4.

*1967, NO NECK COMES ENOUGH: Walt Williams two-out double in the eighth scored Walt Weis with the game’s only run in the White Sox 1-0 win over the New York Yankees before 12,685 at Comiskey Park. Joel Horlen turned in eight sterling innings to improve to 8-0. Hoyt Wilhelm got through the ninth for his third save as the first-place White Sox moved two games ahead of Detroit.

*1968, VOSS IS BOSS: Bill Voss’ pinch-triple in the seventh carried the White Sox to a 2-1 win over the Cleveland Indians before 28,081 at Comiskey Park. Vos, batting for Gerald McNertney, brought home pinch-runner Sandy Alomar and Buddy Bradford with the one-out three-bagger. Cleveland got an unearned run in the ninth off Eddie Fisher (2-3) but Bob Locker got the final two outs for his sixth save

*1970, BATTERY-CHARGED WIN: Jerry Janeski gave up two runs in seven innings and drove in three while catcher Duane Josephson scored four times in the White Sox 6-2 victory over the New York Yankees before 8,472 at Comiskey Park. Janeski’s bases-loaded single in the second scored Josephson, who had four hits, and Syd O’Brien and gave the Sox the lead for good. Bill Melton homered in the fifth, his 10th, as the Sox halted a four-game skid.

*1972, BIG TUB O’ GOO: Terry Forster retired Carl Yastrzemski, Reggie Smith and Rico Petrocelli in the ninth with a man on for his eighth save in the White Sox 5-4 win over Boston in the first game of a doubleheader at Fenway Park. The Sox scored on a bases loaded walk by Walt “No Neck” Williams and on a double play ball by Rich Morales. Bill Melton accounted for the White Sox first three runs with a home run in the first inning. Wilbur Wood earned his 11th win.

*1975, DANDY DERON: Deron Johnson drove in three with a homer in the first and Bobby Coluccio, Carlos May, Bill Melton and Buddy Bradford all drove in two as the White Sox pounded the Rangers 13-3 in Texas. Coluccio and Brian Downing each had three hits in support of Jim Kaat, who won his 10th game.

*1978, A BLOMBERG BLOMB! A four-run first, highlighted by a two-run double by Ron Blomberg, sent the White Sox to a 6-1 win over Kansas City before 26,798 at Comiskey Park. Greg Pryor also had two RBIs while Ken Kravec pitched into the seventh inning for his sixth victory. Jim Willoughby earned his eighth save by tossing 2.1 scoreless innings.

*1979, BIG TRIPLE: Jorge Orta’s bases-loaded triple keyed a four-run third as the White Sox toppled the Red Sox 6-1 before 26,675 at Comiskey Park. Ken Kravec cruised with the lead, allowing just six hits while going the distance for his eighth victory.

*1980, A FIRST FOR HOYT: LaMarr Hoyt picked up his first Major League win in the White Sox 5-3 victory over the Indians in Cleveland. Hoyt fired 2.2 shutout innings in relief of Ken Kravec. The Sox took the lead in the eighth when Jim Morrison scored on a passed ball and Greg Pryor scored on Henry Cruz’s single.

*1982, WAY TO BE TONY B: Tony Bernazard drove in a career-high four and Steve Kemp had three RBIs in the White Sox 11-7 win at Oakland. Vance Law had three of the Sox 16 hits as the team swept a three-game series. Steve Trout got the win and Kevin Hickey retired all four batters he faced for the save.

*1983, LAW AND ORDER: Vance Law’s RBI in the eighth gave the Sox the lead for good in a 6-3 win over Oakland before 24,629 at Comiskey Park. The Sox erased a 3-1 deficit with two in the seventh and three in the eighth. Kevin Hickey got the win in relief after Dennis Lamp had turned in 4.1 scoreless frames of relief. Salome Barojas earned his fourth save by pitching the ninth.

*1984, OVERTAKING THE A’S: The White Sox took the lead in a three-run sixth on a bunt by Scott Fletcher in a 9-4 win at Oakland. The Sox padded the lead in the seventh on a two-run single by Joel Skinner and another RBI by Fletcher. Tom Seaver got through five for his sixth victory of the season and the 279th of his career while Juan Agosto threw four shutout innings for his first save.

*1992, IT’S RAINING MILESTONES: Tim Raines swiped his 704th base in the Sox 2-1 loss at Seattle. The steal pushed Raines past Hall of Famer Honus Wagner into sixth place on the all-time list.

*1999, PK SLAM: Paul Konerko’s grand slam helped the White Sox beat the Orioles 9-3 at Comiskey Park. Konerko’s blast came in the seventh off Jesse Orosco after the Orioles had pulled to within two runs in the top of the frame. The triumph was the Sox fifth in their last six games and also featured homers from Magglio Ordonez and Chris Singleton.

*2000, SOX HOLD ON IN NY: Magglio Ordonez’s three-run homer in the second inning helped the first-place White Sox build a 10-3 lead in a 10-9 win over the Yankees in New York. The victory was the White Sox sixth straight on their road trip, 10th in a row overall on the road and allowed them to take a 7.5 game lead in the Central Division. The Yankees scored four in the sixth and two more in the eighth before Keith Foulke subdued the Yankees to preserve the Sox 12th win in their last 13 games.

*2005, ON THE MARK: Mark Buehrle tossed an eight-hitter in the White Sox 8-0 win over the Dodgers before 28,870 at US Cellular Field. Buehrle struck out six and did not walk a batter while being backed by two double plays in improving to 8-1. He posted the second complete game shutout by a Sox pitcher in an interleague game and the first since Wilson Alvarez whitewashed the Cubs on June 18, 1997. Frank Thomas and Jermaine Dye both homered in the game that took just 2 hours and 24 minutes.

*2006, A BIG NINTH: Joe Crede’s RBI in the ninth highlighted a three-run ninth in the White Sox 8-6 win in Cincinnati. The Sox broke it open thanks to an error and an RBI by Juan Uribe in the ninth. Matt Thornton got the win – his first with the White Sox – while Bobby Jenks earned his 20th save as the team won for the third straight time in a streak that would reach nine.

*2008, BIG OUTPUT: Jermaine Dye, Joe Crede, Orlando Cabrera and Jim Thome homered in the White Sox 16-5 win over Pittsburgh at U.S. Cellular Field. Cabrera’s sac fly in the third gave the Sox the lead for good after the Pirates scored four in the second.

*2009, DANKS YOU VERY MUCH: John Danks fanned nine while giving up one run in seven innings in the White Sox 4-1 win over the Cubs at Wrigley. The Sox scored solo runs in the first, second, seventh and eighth as Danks earned his fifth win.

*2013, CLUTCH TRIPLE: Dayan Viciedo’s bases-loaded triple in the sixth fronted the White Sox for good in a 4-2 win at Houston. Nate Jones got the win in relief while Addison Reed worked a perfect ninth for his 20th save.

*2014, A GIANT WIN: Tyler Flowers bases loaded walk in the fourth fronted the White Sox for good in an 8-2 win over San Francisco in an interleague game before 25,278 at U.S. Cellular Field. Gordon Beckham’s homer off Matt Cain tied the game in the third as John Danks outpitched Matt Cain for his sixth win.

*2017, WIN IN CANADA: Matt Davidson homered in the first and Jose Abreu went deep in the sixth in the White Sox 5-2 win at Toronto. Mike Pelfrey gave up one run in six innings with five strikeouts for his third win.

@SOXNERD RELIC OF THE DAY: IT WAS 20 YEARS AGO TODAY

On this date in 1999, (as this ticket proves) my family and I made a rare visit to Wrigley Field.

The reason, of course, was to watch the White Sox play the Cubs in a still-novel interleague contest on a beautiful early Saturday afternoon.

With the exception of the behavior of a few fans, this day couldn’t have gone any better.

The White Sox were never really threatened en route to an 8-2 win.

Mike Sirotka had one of the best all-around days by a Sox pitcher in recent memory in this one.

The lefty out of LSU got the win with 7.2 shutout innings and collected two hits and scored as the Sox beat the Cubs for the second day in a row.

This one is known as the “Little Bar” game in our household because one of the borderline unruly fans around us was wearing a t-shirt with that expression on it. We later discovered that “Little Bar” is a drinking establishment in Florida.

That was my last appearance at Wrigley Field in the 20th Century and the only time both of my daughters (ages 8 and 6 at the time) have been to the Cubs’ homefield.

Since then, my wife and I have both been to Wrigley Field three times. My wife has attended to Foo Fighters shows and one Paul McCartney show while I have attended one Sox-Cubs game (a win in 2005) and concerts by McCartney and the Foo Fighters.

@SOXNERD RELIC OF THE DAY: FLY IT HIGH, FLY IT UGLY!

The flag celebrating the White Sox 1983 American League West Division title is framed and displayed on the dining level at Guaranteed Rate Field.

It is the last thing I see before heading into the scoreboard control room at the park.

The 1983 “Winning Ugly” White Sox carved out a permanent spot in team annals by winning 99 games and capturing the West crown by a record 20 games.

The Sox hoisted the championship flag above Comiskey Park on Sept. 18 the day after they won they West. Mike Squires, the longest-tenured Sox, helped raise the flag before a 6-0 win over Seattle before a charged gathering of 40,984 at 35th and Shields.

A LOOK AT SEBY ZAVALA … @SOXNERD STYLE

Some nuggets on catcher Seby Zavala, who was summoned from Triple-A Charlotte Saturday to take the roster spot of the injured Welington Castillo:

*Zavala will become the White Sox 1,775th player when he debuts. … He will be the team’s eighth player with a ‘Z’ last name and the first Z to catch for the club. … Catcher is the only position where a Z has not played for the Sox … The last Z to play for the Sox was outfielder Bob Zupcic in 1994. … Other Sox Zs: Dom Zanni, Dutch Zwilling, Richie Zisk, Gus Zernial, Rollie Zeider and Al Zarilla

*Zavala is ranked as the No. 22 prospect in the Sox chain by MLB.com

*Originally listed as No. 76, Zavala will wear 59 for the Sox, per the team’s website. … Zavala will be the Sox eighth No. 59 and the first to don it since pitcher John Snyder in 1999. … He will be the first catcher to wear the number for the Sox

*Zavala was hitting .218 with six homers and 18 RBI in 21 games for Charlotte this season … 13 of his 19 hits (6 doubles and 7 homers) went for extra-bases at Charlotte this season. … He compiled a .253 on-base percentage and a more-than-respectable.506 slugging percentage at Triple-A this season … He threw out 5-of-20 would-be stealers with two pickoffs at first in 2019

*Zavala reached double figures in homers in each of the last two seasons with a minor league career-high 21 bombs at Class-A affiliates Winston-Salem (13) and Kannapolis (8) in 2017

*Zavala was a MiLB.com White Sox Organizational All-Star from 2016 to 2018

*Zavala is a career .267 hitter with 51 homers since being picked by the Sox in the 12th round of the 2015 draft.

*A native of Fort Hood, Texas, Zavala played at San Diego State for the great Tony Gwynn. … He will be the first SDSU product to play with the Sox since 2013 (Addison Reed).

*Zavala hit .400 (2-for-5) with two runs and a double in the Cactus League for the 2019 Sox. His two hits on Feb. 23 in a start vs. Oakland were a single off Fernando Rodney and a double off Yusmeiro Petit.

*In 2018, Zavala hit .250 (4-for-16) with a homer and five RBI in 11 Sox Cactus League games. His homer was a three-run shot in the second off Neil Ramirez (now with Detroit) that gave the Sox the lead for good in a 16-1 rout of Milwaukee on March 25 in Glendale. … He was retired in his only spring training at bat in 2017

DIGGING DEEP ON GIOLITO’S SHUTOUT

A look (sometimes a deep look) at Lucas Giolito’s Thursday complete game shutout … @SoxNerd style:

*Giolito’s complete game shutout in the White Sox 4-0 win at Houston Thursday was the first by a Sox pitcher since Chris Sale blanked Tampa Bay on April 15, 2016

*Giolito’s whitewashing was the first by a Sox righty since Jeff Samardzija shutout Detroit on Sept. 21, 2015.

*Giolito’s shutout was the second by a Sox pitcher vs. Houston and in Houston since John Danks’ 10-hitter on May 31, 2015

*Giolito fired the Sox first shutout by a righty in Texas since Alex Fernandez zeroed the Texas Rangers on three hits in Arlington on Aug. 2, 1996 … Told you I was digging deep!

*Giolito was the first Sox pitcher to hit a batter in his complete game shutout since Jose Contreras on Sept. 19, 2007

*Giolito issued the first walk in a Sox shutout since Samardzija also issued one on July 9, 2015 vs. Toronto. That, by the way, was the last complete game shutout by a Sox pitcher at home.

*Giolito’s first career shutout came on the heels of first career complete game (albeit a rain-shortened one). Giolito is the first Sox pitcher with consecutive complete games since Chris Sale on May 13 and May 19, 2016. Prior to Giolito, the last Sox righty to twirl back-to-back complete games was Jake Peavy April 23 and April 28, 2012. … Thanks to Chris Kamka (@ckamka) for a boost on this one

*Giolito threw the Sox first complete game shutout over a team with a winning record since Samardzija’s gem over 44-43 Toronto in 2015. Per Kamka, the last time a Sox chucker recorded a shutout over a team with a better winning percentage than Houston’s .660 was when Jake Peavy handcuffed Cleveland and its . 667 winning percentage on May 18, 2011.

*According to baseballreference.com, Giolito’s 82 strikes were the most in a White Sox complete game shutout in 24 seasons. The last time there were more strikes in a Sox shutout was when Fernandez dropped 86 strikes vs. Kansas City on Sept. 26, 1995.

BREAKING DOWN TILSON’S SLAM … @SOXNERD STYLE!

A few nuggets on New Trier grad Charlie Tilson’s grand slam for the White Sox on Wednesday (the Nerd is a 1983 graduate of New Trier):

*Tilson is the 645th player to homer for the Chicago White Sox

*John Castino, Mike Huff and Tilson are the only NT grads to homer in an MLB game … Tilson is the only Trevian/Indian to hit a slam

*”Start the party at New Trier!“ exclaimed Sox TV voice Jason Benetti on the WGN telecast

*Tilson’s slam came off a 98 mph delivery and traveled 404 feet with an exit velocity of 102 mph … The two-out shot in the sixth was part of the Sox 9-4 win in Houston

*Tilson’s grand slam was the first MLB HR by a NT grad since Huff went deep off Yankees Jack McDowell on 6-23-95 @ Yankee Stadium for Toronto

*The slam was Tilson’s first as a professional and accounted for his first professional four-RBI game

*Tilson’s slam was the first by a Sox player in Houston

*Sox with slams vs. Houston: Tilson 5-22-19, Adam Dunn 6-9-12, Iguchi 6-25-06, Crede 6-24-06, Podsednik 6-23-06, Konerko 10-23-05 (Game 2, World Series)

*Huff and Tilson are the only NT grads to HR for the Sox. … Huff’s two Sox HR: 8-13-91 @ Detroit and 5-10-93 @ Seattle

*Sox whose first carer home run was a grand slam: Tilson on 5/22/18; Danny Richar 8/17/2007; Norberto Martín 6/4/1994; Kevin Bell 6/22/1976; Vince Castino 7/23/1943; Tom Turner 6/24/1942; Spencer Harris 7/28/1925; Happy Felsch 6/18/1915 (thank you Chris Kamka)

*All-time NT MLB HR leaders: Castino 41, Huff 9, Tilson 1

*50 of the 51 MLB HR by NT grads are AL blasts. The only NT NL HR was Huff’s first career dinger for the Dodgers on 8-15-89

*With the triple play earlier in the game, the Sox became the fourth team in the last 40 years to have hit a grand slam and turned a triple play in the same game. The others: the Tigers in 2017; the Mets in 2002; and the Blue Jays in 1979.

—some of this may end up on the board at Guaranteed Rate Field. I tweet stuff like this at @soxnerd on Twitter