Jim Harbaugh Fires In First Pitch At Cubs Game [VIDEO]
SARAH TROTTO, Associated Press
CHICAGO (AP) — Anthony Ranaudo homered for his first major league hit and took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, making his Chicago White Sox debut something he'll never forget.
Ranaudo hit an opposite-field homer in his ninth career plate appearance and didn't allow a hit until Kris Bryant's tying solo homer with one out in the sixth before the Chicago Cubs beat the White Sox 8-1 on Wednesday night.
At first, Ranaudo thought his big hit ended up in the Wrigley Field ivy for a double.
"I kind of pulled up at second base," Ranaudo said. "I looked back at home and realized it was a home run from the way everybody was reacting and stuff, and I had to finish out the jog. It was fun."
Javier Baez hit a tiebreaking two-run homer deep into the left bleachers in the seventh and Addison Russell added a grand slam in a five-run eighth.
Jason Hammel (10-5) allowed one run and five hits while striking out seven in seven innings. Hector Rondon pitched a perfect eighth, and Aroldis Chapman pitched a 1-2-3 ninth — striking out Jose Abreu and Avisail Garcia — in his Cubs debut.
Bryant's 26th homer tied the score 1-1 and matched his total last season when he was NL Rookie of the Year.
"I was locked in. Once he got that hit, I realized it," Ranaudo said of the no-hitter.
Baez went deep on a full-count pitch against Ranaudo (1-1) to chase the right-hander.
After Ben Zobrist's RBI double in the eighth, Russell followed two hitters later with his 12th homer to help the Cubs end a two-game slide and snap the White Sox's four-game winning streak.
Ranaudo allowed three runs and two hits — both homers — in 6 2/3 innings.
"I was nibbling a bit in that first inning, trying to be too perfect," Ranaudo said. "I think I settled in a little bit after that and was a lot more aggressive and kind of letting the ball eat."
Chapman had 20 saves in 21 chances this season with the Yankees before the Cubs acquired the hard-throwing lefty on Monday for a package of prospects.
"The adrenaline was pretty good even though it wasn't a save situation," Chapman said through translator, catcher Miguel Montero. "It was fun to hear the crowd cheering."
The 6-foot-7 Ranaudo, acquired from Texas on May 12, was 5-3 with 3.20 ERA at Triple-A Charlotte in 13 starts. In two games with the Rangers this season, the 26-year-old righty was 1-0, but had a 17.18 ERA and walked eight — including five in a May 10 game against the White Sox.
He was better than that in his 10th major league start and 14th appearance.
"The way it started out, it was maybe a little bit of nerves as he was out there, and he settled down. The kid was fantastic," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said.
The White Sox beat the Cubs 5-4 and 3-0 in the first two games of the crosstown series. The fourth game is Thursday night.
Ranaudo's homer was the first by a White Sox pitcher since Mark Buehrle went deep on June 14, 2009, at Milwaukee.
Ranaudo said he last homered in high school in New Jersey.
"That was definitely cool, definitely something I'll remember the rest of my life," he said.
CLEAR SALE-ING
Ventura expects nothing unusual when ace Chris Sale starts the finale of the crosstown series with the Cubs on Thursday night after serving a five-game suspension for destroying the White Sox 1976 vintage uniforms and being scratched minutes before his last scheduled start on Saturday.
"I think it's going to be fine," Ventura said. "Players always have their teammates' backs, and that's no different with our clubhouse."
Pitching coach Don Cooper offered unequivocal support for Sale.
"He's a passionate guy about a lot of different things," Cooper said. "We've seen examples of that before, but I know him to be a good kid and I'm looking for him to get back and move on and keep going."
TRAINER'S ROOM
White Sox: 2B Brett Lawrie (strained left hamstring) went on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to July 22. INF Carlos Sanchez was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte. ... LHP Carlos Rodon (sprained left wrist) threw a side session Wednesday that went well, Ventura said. He could possibly start Sunday against the Twins or Tuesday against the Tigers.
UP NEXT
White Sox: LHP Sale (14-3, 3.18) tries for a third time to become the majors' first 15-game winner. After reaching 14 wins on July 2 at Houston, Sale gave up eight runs in a loss to Atlanta in his final game before the All-Star break. In his only start after the break, he tossed eight innings of one-hit ball at Seattle - and exited with a 3-0 lead — but closer David Robertson allowed four runs the in the ninth.
Cubs: RHP John Lackey (7-7, 3.79) has dropped five straight decisions since his last win on June 8 at Philadelphia. In his last six starts, Lackey has a 6.38 ERA.
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