Skip to main content
Da Windy City
Fansided

White Sox flaws resurface late as Cubs take control of Cross-Town Classic

Chicago kept pace through six innings before bullpen struggles and defensive issues shifted momentum late.
ByCasey McAleer|
Share on FacebookShare on XShare on Reddit
Google Discover
Mar 26, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Chicago White Sox manager Will Venable tales the ball from pitcher Jordan Hicks (44) as catcher Edgar Quero (26) looks on during a pitching change in the sixth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
Mar 26, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Chicago White Sox manager Will Venable tales the ball from pitcher Jordan Hicks (44) as catcher Edgar Quero (26) looks on during a pitching change in the sixth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images | Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

Chicago is enjoying the Cross-Town Classic this weekend, the time of the year when Chicago baseball rivalry is in the air. This year's showdown takes place on the south side, where the White Sox have gone 12-10, slightly better than the 10-12 performance they've had on the road.

The Cubs immediately applied pressure, but the White Sox were able to answer back the following inning. Colson Montgomery both hit home runs to keep the team competitive. The fourth through the sixth innings saw good offense from both teams culminating with the game being tied at 4-4.

White Sox flaws eventually resurfaced late against Cubs

The game changed in the seventh inning when the Cubs ran away with the game. The White Sox succumbed to the Cubs pressure and as a result, the momentum shifted in favor of the north siders. The game had been competitive until that point, but once it was gone, it didn't come back.

Right handed reliever Jordan Hicks had a particularly difficult outing, giving up four walks, a hit, and even a walked in run. Hicks only threw for two outs on 35 pitches, only 15 of which were strikes. This was a moment the White Sox desperately needed to stop the Cubs, because if they slowed the train down, the later comeback is much more manageable. Only 15 strikes in 25 pitches just doesn't cut it at the Major League level.

White Sox pitching gave up fourteen hits and six walks. The Cubs stranded eleven runners on base and still scored ten runs. This both shows how relentless the Cubs offense has become, but it also exposes the defensive issues that have been plaguing the White Sox. It all starts with the pitching.

Many fans are frustrated with manager Will Venable for leaving Hicks on the mound for as long as he did. Against a lineup as deep as the Cubs, the White Sox simply cannot afford extended bullpen lapses or free baserunners. Friday night showed that the South Siders can compete offensively, but it also showed how quickly games can spiral once the pressure starts building.

| More White Sox News and Rumors |

Add us as a preferred source on Google
Home/Chicago White Sox