Amaya hits game-tying single, Swanson has 2 hits as Cubs beat White Sox 3-1

Miguel Amaya hit a tiebreaking two-run single in the eighth inning, Dansby Swanson had two hits just hours after his wife won an Olympic gold medal and the Chicago Cubs beat the White Sox 3-1 on Saturday night to complete a two-game sweep.

Nico Hoerner led Chad Kuhl (0-2) in the eighth inning, taking second on Swanson’s single. Pete Crow-Armstrong brought the runners forward with a sacrifice bunt and Amaya hit a two-run single to give the Cubs a 3-1 lead and their eighth win in 10 games.

Swanson capped a memorable day by scoring twice, giving him 1,001 career hits and a run. He did it hours after his wife, Mallory, scored the lone goal as the U.S. women’s national team defeated Brazil for the Olympic gold medal.

Justin Steele threw six innings, allowing one unearned run and six hits. The left-handed pitcher struck out eight batters and walked two.

Porter Hodge (1-1) retired all three batters in the seventh. Jorge López threw around a single and a walk in the eighth, striking out Korey Lee and Corey Julks to end that threat.

Héctor Neris worked the ninth inning for his 17th save in 21 chances. He threw a pitch that covered the leadoff batter, allowing Brooks Baldwin to reach the leadoff batter, then retired the next three batters to help the North Siders complete a four-game season sweep of the South Siders. The Cubs (59-60) also put themselves in position to reach .500 for the first time since June 5, when they defeated the White Sox at Wrigley Field to improve to 31-31.

The White Sox lost for the 24th time in 25 games, dropping a franchise-record 63 games below .500 at 28-91. They are 0-2 since firing manager Pedro Grifol and replacing him on an interim basis with Grady Sizemore.

The White Sox took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Miguel Vargas reached on an error by second baseman Hoerner and scored on a single by Baldwin.

The Cubs tied the game in the fifth when Cody Bellinger singled with two outs and scored from third on Isaac Paredes’ double to left. Baldwin, the White Sox shortstop, took the pitch from Andrew Benintendi and held on to the ball instead of trying to get the runner to the plate.

White Sox starter Chris Flexen threw three hits in four scoreless innings. The right-handed pitcher surrendered four hits and threw 78 pitches in his 17th consecutive winless outing since beating Tampa Bay on May 8.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cubs: LHP Jordan Wicks (right oblique strain) started Saturday for Triple-A Iowa.

NEXT

Cubs: The Cubs have not announced a starter for Monday’s game at Cleveland. The Guardians are expected to go with RHP Ben Lively (10-7, 3.59 ERA).

White Sox: LHP Ky Bush (0-1, 6.75) makes his second career start when the White Sox open a three-game series against the Yankees on Monday. New York has not yet announced a starter. ___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Andrew Seligman, The Associated Press