Cubs walk off White Sox in frustrating 7-5 extra-inning loss

The White Sox were heartbroken after suffering a heartbreaking 7-5 extra-inning loss to the Chicago Cubs in the Crosstown Classic opener. Despite a close and competitive game, the South Siders fell to the Cubs due to poor challenges and sloppy defense. The game started poorly for the White Sox as they went down in order, with Pete Crow-Armstrong and Seiya Suzuki answering with consecutive homers.

The Cubs capitalized on the White Sox's mistakes, scoring three runs in the fourth inning with Miguel Vargas and Randal Grichuk. The Cubs took a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the fifth when Alex Bregman singled and Ian Happ grounded into a force out, bringing in Suzuki. Tyler Schweitzer and Ryan Rolison struggled early in the sixth, but Ryan Zeferjahn came in and got the final out.

Andrew Benintendi became the hero of the game with a two-run homer in the eighth inning, tying the score at 5-5. Trevor Richards kept the Cubs quiet, despite a double to PCA. Jordan Hicks stepped in and took Suzuki out with a 102-mph pitch in the eighth. Luisangel Acuña walked to start the ninth, but a double play ended the inning.

The White Sox intentionally walked Pedro Ramírez in the bottom of the ninth to load the bases, but Hicks issued back-to-back walks, and the Sox had no challenges left, so they had to live with the 7-5 defeat.