During the Cubs’ last pitching change, with the stands packed and pulsing with energy, shortstop Dansby Swanson turned to manager David Ross and asked if the Crosstown Classic is always like this.
It had been in all of Ross’ experiences.
“It’s the city, right? When you get two fan bases in the city, it’s spectacular to come to,” Ross said after the Cubs’ 7-3 win against the White Sox on Tuesday. “I told him even when we play him at our place, there’s a lot of Sox fans there, and it’s loud when they take the lead or do something well. I love that.”
In the Guaranteed Rate Field stands Tuesday, Cubs fans had more to cheer about than the home fanbase. And the North Side’s heroes came from opposite sides of the rivalry spectrum. Swanson, who recorded his first multi-homer game as a Cub, was experiencing it all for the first time. Right-hander Kyle Hendricks, who kept the White Sox at bay, was a mainstay.
“We love these series for sure,” Hendricks said after holding the White Sox to three runs through 6 ⅓ innings. “Doesn’t matter where both teams are at, the crowd always shows up.”
Hendricks made his 12th career start in the Crosstown Classic on Tuesday, the second-most starts by a Cubs pitcher against the White Sox in franchise history, trailing only Carlos Zambrano (13).
On Tuesday, Hendricks held the White Sox hitless through four innings. He finally gave up a hit and run in the fifth but bounced back with a perfect sixth inning.
It wasn’t until the seventh that Hendricks showed signs of weakness. He loaded the bases with the first three batters he faced. Then, Cubs right-fielder Seiya Suzuki saved him from surrendering a grand slam.
Suzuki tracked Yoan Moncada’s fly ball back to the wall, leaped with his back against the padding and pulled the ball back over the yellow line. Only one run scored.
“Unbelievable catch,” Hendricks said. “Changed the scope of that game right there. They could have been right back in it.”
A blooper from the White Sox’ Andrew Vaughn fell in between Hendricks and first baseman Cody Bellinger to drive in another run and end Hendricks’ outing.
Hendricks had a comfortable lead to work with in the back end of his start, thanks in large part to Swanson’s bat. The Cubs recorded a franchise first in the modern era, logging five stolen bases and four home runs – two of which belonged to Swanson.
In the second inning, Swanson took advantage of an error that put Suzuki on base. Swanson turned on a high fastball and drove it over the left field fence to push across the first two runs of the game. Then, Christopher Morel followed him with a solo homer.
The next time Swanson stepped up to the plate, in the fourth inning, White Sox pitcher Michael Kopech stayed away from the inner third of the plate for the first two pitches. But Swanson worked ahead in the count and got another inside heater. He put that one into the stands, too.
The Cubs continued to tack onto their lead, with a sacrifice fly from Bellinger, a home run from Nico Hoerner, who also recorded two stolen bases, and an RBI single from Swanson.
“It’s my first time playing here, and it’s my first time experiencing an inter-city rivalry, which was just so neat, the fans from both sides,” Swanson said. “And everyone seems to be into it. Kind of felt like college in a way.”
To make the experience sweeter, the Cubs recorded their fourth straight win and sixth in seven games.