In a possible October preview, the Chicago White Sox used 3 home runs & a strong outing from Mark Buehrle to beat the Chicago Cubs 5-1 & complete a 3-game sweep from U.S. Cellular Field.

The White Sox & Cubs have split 6 games this season with the home team winning each game. The all-time series after 11 years is tied dead-even, with both Chicago teams winning 33 games apiece.

The Cubs had a chance to score first in the top of the 2nd inning after Geovany Soto hit a 1-out double off White Sox starter Mark Buehrle.

2 batters later, Jim Edmonds singled to put runners at 1st & 2nd with 2 outs.

Henry Blanco then drew a walk to load the bases with 2 outs for Ronny Cedeno, who flied out to Brian Anderson in centerfield to end the scoring threat.

The White Sox also had a chance to score in the bottom of the 2nd inning after Jermaine Dye & Jim Thome hit back-to-back singles off Cubs starter Sean Marshall.

Marshall then came back to retire Joe Crede (strikeout), Nick Swisher (flyout to Mark DeRosa in leftfield) & Alexei Ramirez (pop out to Derrek Lee at 1st base) to end the scoring threat.

The Cubs had another chance to take the lead in the top of the 3rd inning after Kosuke Fukudome hit a lead-off single against Buehrle.

2 batters later, Derrek Lee drew a walk to put runners at 1st & 2nd with just 1 out for Aramis Ramirez.

Ramirez hit into an inning-ending doubleplay to end the scoring threat.

The White Sox took the lead for good on Carlos Quentin’s 4th inning solo homer (19th of season, tied for 1st in AL) to give themselves a 1-0 lead.

The White Sox struck for 2 more runs in the bottom of the 5th inning after Nick Swisher drew a lead-off walk from Marshall.

2 batters later, Brian Anderson hit a 2-run homer (4th of season) to give the Sox a 3-0 lead.

The Cubs finally scored in the top of the 7th inning after Mark DeRosa reached 1st base safely on a throwing error by Joe Crede at 3rd base, which advanced DeRosa to 2nd with just 1 out.

Jim Edmonds then singled to put runners at the corners with 1 out.

2 batters later, Ronny Cedeno hit an RBI single to score DeRosa from 3rd base, which made it a 3-1 Sox lead.

Kosuke Fukudome had a chance to bring the Cubs within a run with Edmonds on 2nd base, but struck out to end the inning.

The White Sox had a chance to add onto their lead in the bottom of the 7th inning after Nick Swisher hit a lead-off single against Marshall.

Alexei Ramirez then laid down a sac bunt, which advanced Swisher to 2nd base with just 1 out.

Marshall was then able to strike out Brian Anderson & get Orlando Cabrera to ground out to Ronny Cedeno at 2nd base to end the scoring threat.

The White Sox then struck for 2 more runs in the bottom of the 8th inning after Jermaine Dye drew a 2-out walk from Cubs reliever Jose Ascanio.

Jim Thome then hit a 2-run homer (15th of season) to give the White Sox a 5-1 lead. It was Thome’s 522nd career homer, which moved him past both Ted Williams & Willie McCovey for 16th place on baseball’s all-time list.

The White Sox then had a chance to blow the game wide open after Joe Crede singled & Nick Swisher was hit from a pitch by Ascanio with 2 outs.

Cubs acting manager Alan Trammell (Lou Piniella was ejected in the 2nd inning arguing a check-swing call against Sox 3rd baseman Joe Crede) then went to Michael Wuertz from the bullpen, who got Alexei Ramirez to fly out to DeRosa in left field to end the inning.

The Cubs tried to rally in the top of the 9th inning after Geovany Soto drew a lead-off walk against White Sox closer Bobby Jenks.

Mark DeRosa then doubled to put runners at 2nd & 3rd with nobody out for Jim Edmonds.

Edmonds then hit a sharp line drive that was caught by Nick Swisher. Swisher then threw to 2nd base to nail Mark DeRosa for a rally-killing double play.

Daryle Ward then grounded out to Alexei Ramirez at 2nd base to end the game & the 2008 Crosstown Classic with a 3-3 split. (Home team won all 6 games)

Mark Buehrle (6-6) gets the win for the White Sox & finished off a perfect month of June after pitching 7 innings & allowing just 1 run on 6 hits.

Sean Marshall (0-2) takes the loss in his final start in place of Carlos Zambrano. Marshall pitched 7 innings & allowed 3 runs on 5 hits.

Zambrano is expected to be activated off the 15-day DL on Friday & will start against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium.

Despite losing 8 of their last 12 games, the Cubs still own the best record in the National League & are just a half game behind Tampa Bay for baseball’s best record at 49-33.

The road trip will continue at AT&T Park in San Francisco tomorrow night, as the Cubs will meet up with the Giants for a 4 game series.

The Giants have not won a home series since May 9-11th, when they took 2 of 3 games against the Philadelphia Phillies.

It will be a battle of southpaws on Monday evening, as Cubs lefty Ted Lilly (8-5, 4.74) will be opposed by Giants lefty Barry Zito (3-11, 5.91).

Lilly’s ERA has lowered in each of the first 3 months of the season, as he finished 3-1 in 5 June starts with a 3.21 ERA.

Lilly is 2-1 against San Francisco in 4 career starts with a 6.08 ERA.

Lilly beat the Giants on July 19th, 2007 at Wrigley Field as he allowed 3 runs & 6 hits in 5 innings during the Cubs’ 9-8 win.

Zito will be looking to win back-to-back starts on Monday for the 1st time since September 24th & 3oth of 2007, when he beat the Dodgers & Padres in his final 2 starts of the ‘07 season.

Zito has yet to win a home start this season, as he is 0-7 in 8 starts with a 7.34 ERA.

Signing off for now,