White Sox avoid Chapman, down Cubs 3-0 behind Shields
CHICAGO (AP) - James Shields allowed four singles in 7 2/3 innings, Adam Eaton homered and the White Sox stayed unbeaten since Chris Sale's suspension by beating the Cubs 3-0 Tuesday night in Chicago's crosstown rivalry.
The Cubs lost their second straight and never got to use new closer Aroldis Chapman hours after he joined the team and struggled answering questions related to an altercation last year with his girlfriend.
Shields (5-12) struck out five and continued an impressive turnaround from a terrible first three starts after being acquired from San Diego last month. Nate Jones finished the eighth and David Robertson worked the ninth for his 24th save in the White Sox's fourth straight win since their ace was sent home for destroying throwback jerseys.
Jose Abreu had two hits, including an RBI single in the first off Kyle Hendricks (9-7) that ended his streak of 22 2/3 innings without allowing an earned run.
Eaton added a solo homer in the fifth on a day where both teams faced off-field issues.
Chapman arrived after being acquired from the New York Yankees and immediately faced scrutiny from reporters over his offseason domestic violence incident and ensuing 29-game suspension. Chapman said he couldn't recall a conversation with Cubs personnel about off-field conduct that Chicago described in a team release when it announced the trade.
President of baseball operations Theo Epstein said the Spanish-speaking Chapman did not understand the reporters' questions, adding that Chapman was "pretty nervous" and insisting the closer understands what the Cubs expect.
Minutes later, White Sox manager Robin Ventura asserted he can work with Sale despite the ace's critical comments of the manager for not sticking up for him when he was suspended five days for destroying jerseys he didn't want to wear Saturday.
Shields, who allowed 22 runs in his first three starts with the White Sox, walked four. He got Dexter Fowler to pop out with the bases loaded to end the second and worked out of another jam in the sixth.
Hendricks, who struck out seven, exited after Todd Frazier's two-out bloop single in the sixth. Travis Wood entered and walked three straight batters to force in a run.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Cubs: Manager Joe Maddon said OF Jorge Soler (left hamstring) needs nine or 10 more at-bats at Triple-A Iowa before he'll return. ... Kris Bryant was the DH, but not because of any injuries during a head-first slide into second base a night earlier. "It'll be nice to get off my feet a little bit," he said. "After (the slide), I felt fine."
White Sox: 2B Brett Lawrie (left hamstring) missed his fifth straight game. ... LHP Carlos Rodon (left wrist) expects to start Aug. 3 at Detroit after throwing 58 pitches in a rehab start Monday for Triple-A Charlotte. "Everything felt good," he said.
CUTTING UP
The White Sox wore their 1983 throwback jerseys for the fourth straight game. Those were the uniforms the White Sox switched to Saturday after Sale ripped up the 1976 set.
"We had to wear them on Saturday and we always wear them on Sundays," Frazier said. "So we said 'Let's go, wear them again.'"
HOT TICKET
There was a second straight sellout crowd of just under 40,000. The only other full house for the White Sox was the home opener.
UP NEXT
The Cubs host the final two games of the series, with RHP Jason Hammel (9-5, 3.35 ERA) to start Wednesday night. RHP Anthony Ranaudo (1-0, 17.18), acquired from Texas in a May trade, will make his White Sox debut.