Cubs 8, White Sox 6

Hero: Tyler Colvin went 3-for-5 and smacked a three-run homer - his 10th of the season - in the third inning off left-hander John Danks (7-6) to give the Cubs a 3-2 advantage and their first lead of the series.

The left-handed hitting Colvin is now 11-for-36 (.306) against southpaws.

Goat: Carlos Marmol struggled in a non-save situation, allowing three runs, two hits, and three walks to the White Sox in the bottom of the ninth. Marmol, however, escaped the mess when he struck out Alex Rios with two runners aboard to end the game and the Sox's 11-game winning streak.

Key Play: Things weren't looking promising for the Cubs and Ryan Dempster (6-6) in the bottom of the first inning. The Sox already had two runs on the board and runners at second and third with two outs and the dangerous A.J. Pierzynski at the plate. Pierzynski, a .311 hitter with six homers and 27 RBI in 39 lifetime games against the Cubs, struck out to halt the damage.

Comment: The Cubs improved to 39-45 against the White Sox all-time and 37-41 in interleague play.

Next: Something has to give Monday night (CSN, 7:05 p.m.) when the Cubs (33-42) host the Pittsburgh Pirates (25-50). The pathetic Pirates have lost six in a row, 18 of their last 20, and 17 in a row on the road. They have, however, taken seven of nine from the Cubs. Twenty-eight percent of Pittsburgh's wins have come against the North Siders.

Randy Wells (3-6, 5.21 ERA), who is 0-6 with a 6.24 ERA in his last 10 starts, will oppose Pittsburgh left-hander Paul Maholm (4-6, 4.24). Maholm has allowed 11 runs - nine earned - in his last two starts.