CHICAGO _ Gray skies over Wrigley Field. Cool afternoon temps. The Cubs jump out to a 5-0 lead. Willson Contreras hits a homer off Chris Beck. The Cubs win in a laugher.
It all happened Friday. It all happened again Saturday.
This final score was 8-4 as the Cubs further established a chasm between the two teams. The Cubs (21-15) won their fifth straight, unbothered by a 2-hour, 15-minute rain delay. The Sox (a major-league worst 9-27) lost for the seventh time in a row.
Contreras had another big day, going 3-for-5 with three RBIs. After driving in nine runs in his first 30 games this season, the Cubs' star catcher has 10 RBIs in his last two.
Javier Baez also thrived Saturday, smacking James Shields' first pitch down the right-field line for a triple in his first game of the season batting leadoff. He later beat out a grounder to first, sprinting to the bag before Shields could collect Jose Abreu's toss. And Baez contorted his body to avoid a Tim Anderson tag on a stolen base.
Anthony Rizzo hit a three-run home run in the first, his sixth of the season. David Bote also had a nice game as a fill-in starter at second base; he went 2-for-3 with a walk.
Jon Lester (52/3 innings, 1 earned run, 4 hits, 3 walks, 5 strikeouts) pitched well enough to improve to 3-1.
Shields steadied the ship after allowing five early runs but still fell to 1-4.
Beck and Aaron Bummer, who issued a four-pitch walk with the bases loaded, allowed the Cubs to extend their lead to 8-1.
Not many fans remained when Matt Davidson finally gave Sox fans something to smile about _ a three-run homer off Carl Edwards Jr. It was Davidson's 10th.
The Cubs were closing in on an easy victory in the ninth when Trayce Thompson lined one to right field that Kris Bryant let glance off his glove for an error.
Manager Joe Maddon summoned closer Brandon Morrow, and he delivered by striking out Yolmer Sanchez and Daniel Palka. After walking Anderson to load the bases, he induced a groundout from potential tying run Jose Abreu to end the game.
Composite score from the two games: 19-6.
The Cubs will go for the sweep Sunday by sending Kyle Hendricks (3-2, 3.02) to the hill against Lucas Giolito (1-4, 7.25).
