CHICAGO | The Cubs could look at it this way on their nearly all-night postgame flight to San Francisco: Being swept by your crosstown rival could set off a nice positive streak.
That's exactly what happened for the White Sox after the Cubs broomed them three in a row last weekend at Wrigley Field. They've won five of six ever since, culminating in a 5-1 victory Sunday night and three-game sweep over the North Siders that wrapped up the six-game crosstown wrasslin' match with a dead-heat 33-33 all-time record between the teams.
"It will be a different Monday in Chicago," Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "I bet you Sox fans can't wait to get up to work (today). I know it was tough for them last weekend."
Mark Buehrle's efficient six-hit pitching over seven innings in outdueling fellow lefty Sean Marshall -- who turned in the best Cubs starting line in six games -- proved the difference as the Sox ace thwarted several rallies.
Meanwhile, the Sox benefited from two Marshall mistakes: homers by Carlos Quentin (No. 19) in the fourth and Brian Anderson (No. 4 with one on) in the fifth. Jim Thome added two insurance runs via his 15th homer in the eighth off reliever Jose Ascanio.
Cubs frustration in their five-losses-in-six-games slide boiled over when manager Lou Piniella earned his first ejection this season when he argued that Joe Crede did not check his swing on a strike-two pitch in the second.
Piniella was thumbed by home plate umpire Rob Drake. He gestured at first base umpire Chad Fairchild, who failed to ring up Crede.
Piniella elected not to comment afterward, leaving the analysis to acting manager Alan Trammell, his bench coach.
"I think I saw Rob come out of the get-go (to confront a disagreeing Piniella) about a checked swing, and that's not something you're really supposed to argue about," Trammell said. "Lou was frustrated."
The Cubs could score only on Ronny Cedeno's seventh-inning single. They hit into two double plays against Buehrle and one each against reliever Scott Linebrink in the eighth and closer Bobby Jenks in the ninth.
The Sox found a way to stop top Cubs RBI man Aramis Ramirez after he destroyed them with four homers last weekend. Ramirez went 0-for-13 on the South Side.
"I just made a comment -- I don't know if they followed it -- but I just said we have to pitch Ramirez in," Guillen said. "When he's hot, it doesn't matter where you pitch him."
On the heels of his 5-for-5 day, Derrek Lee struck out three times Sunday.
