Basisphilosophie » Hector Noesi gave the White Sox their

CHICAGO -- Gordon Beckham was struggling and the Chicago White Sox are banged up. That didnt stop them from completing a sweep of the rival Chicago Cubs. Beckhams tiebreaking homer in the eighth inning helped the White Sox beat the rival Cubs 5-1 on Tuesday night. Beckham was 1 for 6 in the White Soxs 3-1, 12-inning win Monday over the Cubs, but he matched a career high with four hits Tuesday. The fourth one, on a 1-2 pitch with two outs from Neil Ramirez (0-1), gave Beckham his first homer of the season and the White Sox the lead, one they held to sweep the two-game series at Wrigley Field before the teams start a two-game set Wednesday across town at U.S. Cellular Field. Entering Tuesday, Beckham was 3 for his last 17 and hitting just .167 on the season. But he took extended batting practice earlier in the day, and that paid off later. "It was great. I mean great night, completely blessed to have it and definitely comes at a good time," Beckham said. "Good win." The sweep was made more impressive by what the White Sox have been battling. Their best pitcher, starting third baseman, centre fielder and right fielder are all injured, and Adam Dunn was a late scratch and replaced in the lineup by Moises Sierra. Sierra had four hits, and the White Sox had their third straight win. "Theyre scrapping and finding a way to do it. Especially with all the injuries of guys going down you just kind of have to find your way sometimes and scratch and claw and take what you can get," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "Theyve been doing that, which is good." Theyve also been pitching well against the Cubs, who lost their third straight. Zach Putnam (1-0) had an 18.90 ERA in five games for the Cubs last season but threw two scoreless innings for the White Sox, who have won consecutive games against the North Siders for the first time since taking three in a row in 2012. The White Soxs starter had another good night but wasnt the beneficiary of Beckhams home run and the three ninth-inning insurance runs -- capped by pinch-hitter Jordan Danks two-run double off Pedro Strop -- that also gave the White Sox their third straight win after a four-game skid. Hector Noesi gave the White Sox their second straight strong start against their crosstown rivals. One day after Jose Quintana took a no-hitter into the sixth, Noesi went five innings and allowed one run while striking out six. "Not very good (the past two nights)," Cubs manager Rick Renteria said. It was also a departure from Noesis first start of the season, when he lasted just 3 2-3 innings and allowed four runs in an April 30 loss to Detroit. "I really would like to be a starter," Noesi said. "I feel comfortable." Like Noesi, Cubs starter Edwin Jackson saw one of his better outings end up in a no-decision. Jackson entered with a 5.24 ERA but went seven innings and gave up one run while striking out a season-high nine, following up Jeff Samardzijas nine-inning, one-run outing Monday. "That game yesterday ... Samardzija threw a hell of a game," Jackson said. "I cant lie and say that didnt give me some extra motivation today to come out and follow up that performance with a strong outing." The White Sox did, too, and finished a two-game sweep of the Cubs. "Its good. I mean we need to keep, no matter who it is, keep grinding out and getting some wins. Last three games has been good," Beckham said. "Weve found a way to win in some tight games and obviously pulled a bit today but its good team-building stuff." NOTES: Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer said there have been no trade talks yet. "Teams have to have a sense that they cant fill a hole internally," he said. "People dont usually come to that conclusion in May." ... White Sox manager Robin Ventura said LHP Chris Sale (left arm) was feeling "good" one day after a 40-pitch bullpen session and that hell have another session "in the near future." ... Cubs RHP Jose Veras, on the disabled list since April 26 with a strained left oblique, threw a scoreless inning Tuesday during a rehab stint for Double-A Tennessee. ... White Sox 3B Conor Gillaspie (left hand) is eligible to come off the DL Wednesday, and Ventura said "youre hoping that hes back pretty soon." ... The Cubs will play a day-night doubleheader at Cincinnati on July 8 to make up the game from April 28, which was postponed due to rain. Brett Favre Jersey .C. - The Panthers will be without starting defensive tackle Star Lotulelei for Saturday nights NFC divisional playoff game against Seattle after undergoing surgery Wednesday to repair a broken bone in his foot. Custom Green Bay Packers Jerseys . But unfortunately for the Niagara Falls, Ont., native, a pulled muscle wouldnt allow him to go past the second set. Japan sealed its victory over Canada in the first-round Davis Cup tie after Nishikori downed an ailing Dancevic 6-2, 1-0. http://www.shoptheofficialpackers.com/Elite-Reggie-White-Packers-Jersey/ . -- Syracuse was dangerously close to letting another less talented opponent pull off the upset when C. Green Bay Packers Jerseys . -- Kurt Buschs Sunday at Martinsville Speedway, in some ways, was like his career wrapped into one afternoon. Bart Starr Jersey . The South Africa international, who rejoined the club last month on loan from Tottenham, opened the scoring in the sixth minute with a powerful shot into the roof of the net.RALEIGH, N.C. – The Maple Leafs were probably due for this. Despite reeling off wins in 10 of their previous 12 games, there was growing concern around the club that the tide was trending in a troublesome direction, one that would eventually catch up to them at some point. That thinking proved right for at least a night in North Carolina. The Leafs were dealt a minor wake-up call Thursday night in Raleigh, their season-long six-game win streak halted by a struggling Hurricanes squad that had tumbled to the very bottom of the league with six consecutive losses previously. It was just the second defeat in regulation for Toronto since Nov. 18 (10-2-1). When you start to get away from the little details of your game these are the things that creep up on you, said Peter Holland following the 4-1 defeat. The trouble started early. Listless from the point of puck-drop, the Leafs surrendered a pair of goals in a span of less than two minutes in the first frame, including one shorthanded. They also yielded 16 shots and lost more than 70 per cent of the faceoffs. Randy Carlyle felt his club was simply outworked in the early-going. Right from the get-go we were in trouble, said Stephane Robidas afterward. We didnt start the game on time. They took advantage of it. With some reconfigured line combinations, a bit more fight and a few less turnovers, the Leafs pushed back some in the middle period and cut the gap in half on the second goal of the year from Dion Phaneuf. But then with an all-too-perfect opportunity to even the score on a third period power-play, Cody Franson took a penalty. Franson cross-checked Nathan Gerbe, a player precisely one foot shorter than him. Andrej Sekera predictably scored for the home side on the ensuing power-play, the final nail in any comeback attempt. When we commit the undisciplined acts that we committed tonight it comes back and bites you, Carlyle said, referring repeatedly to that penalty specifically afterward. It just takes you right out of the hockey game. Carlyles concern has been brewing for the past couple weeks, even as the wins kept piling up. After a 6-2 win over the Ducks on Tuesday he observed that his teams play had slipped, referring to an increase in mistakes before the game in Carolina. While scoring in bunches, the Leafs have surrendered a worrisome number of shots and have been leaning more and more on their tandem in goal to mind that gap. It was a formula that ended up in failure last season and one they remain weary of repeating. You cant rely on your goalie to win games every night, said Robidas. Its not the right recipe to win. Jonathan Bernier faced 36 shots on this night and was ultimately outdueled by Cam Ward, who stopped all but one of the 26 that came his way. Carolina had scored just a single goal in each of their previous six losses, but had four on this night, including that shorthanded marker in the first. Justin Faulk finished that two-on-one rush with Morgan Rielly caught deep and flat-footed in the Hurricanes zone, the second of two first period goals for the home side. The first came when Chris Terry outmaneuvered Jake Gardiner for a rebound in front. If not quite the warning shot of that 9-2 loss to Nashville last month or the one-sided defeat in Buffalo a few nights before that, the loss was indeed a reminder of where the road will turn if the current formula is maintained. And its not a happy place. I dont think we need to fix the big picture here, Holland said, I think its just a couple little things we need to adjust again and then hopefully well end up back on the right side of the score-sheet. An opportunity to respond comes Saturday when the Flyers visit the ACC. Five Points 1. Lesson Learned? The Leafs have increasingly resembled the group from last year of late and that has concern seeping in. The club went on a equally scorching 11-2-1 run prior to the Olympic break last February before spiraling out of a playoff position thereafter. The underlying numbers appear similar. Comparing Seasons 2014-15 2013-14 Record 10-2-1 11-2-1 Goals Per Game 3.85 3.64 Shots Against Per Game 34.2 35.7 Possession* 44.3% 43.1% *Entering Thursdays play Hopefully last years was a learning experience for us, that you cant take anything for granted, said Carlyle.ddddddddddddThings change dramatically and when the wave starts to go with you you want to ride it as long as you possibly can and when the wave goes against you youve got to find a formidable wall and build that and say enoughs enough. Among the bigger differences from last years Leafs to this years version is vastly improved depth, a much sturdier penalty kill and a step forward from the likes of Nazem Kadri and Peter Holland. I dont like to look back on the past because we cant change what happened and it was a negative, Carlyle said. What wed like to do is build on the positive of getting the points, but yet [recognize the need for improvement]. 2. Possession Showing slight improvement early in the season the Leafs have dipped again in the possession game, 27th overall coming into Thursdays play. Thats led to extended shifts in the defensive zone, a whole bunch of shots for Jonathan Bernier and James Reimer, and an obvious area for improvement for the teams head coach. We feel the majority of teams that are having success in the league are spending extended shifts in the oppositions zone and we havent done that on a consistent basis here in the last three or four games, Carlyle said. There was an old coach from Sudbury by the name of Al Arbour who said that the least amount of time you spend in your zone usually defers to you having success in the outcome of the hockey game. During the previous 12 games, of which they won 10, the Leafs had an even-strength possession of 44 per cent, third-worst in the league in that stretch. They managed a 42 per cent clip against Carolina. 3. Possession II Torontos best line previously at sustaining offensive zone pressure had been that of Nazem Kadri, Mike Santorelli and Daniel Winnik – all three hovering near 50 per cent on the year. Why? They keep it simple, Carlyle said. If theres not an opportunity to advance the puck on a three-on-two or two-on-one or odd-man rush they put the puck in and they skate off it. With todays rules you cant hold up in the neutral ice anymore so there should not be any reason to not get the puck in deep if the situation presents itself. Thats the issue, [its] more about reading when to do it and when not to do it. 4. Pushing for 1,000 Holland hit the 100-game mark as an NHL player on Thursday night. Hes more than 900 games behind the teams oldest player, the 37-year-old Robidas. Robidas is the type of player and personality the Leafs want their young players (like Holland) to watch carefully and emulate, studying just how a seventh-round pick from Quebec managed to stick around all these years. It didnt happen overnight. Robidas remembers eating McDonalds four or five times a week when he played junior hockey in Shawinigan, but when he turned pro with the Montreal Canadiens AHL affiliate in Fredericton he approached the clubs strength coach looking to make a change. Hey I want to get to the next level, Robidas recalled saying. Can you help me? And with that help he changed his nutrition, sleeping patterns, workout regimen and general routine for preparing to play. And come next season, if he remains healthy, Robidas will be in line to cross the 1,000-game threshold. If I didnt change I dont think Id be sitting here, he said. 5. Faceoffs If theres one point for improvement that Carlyle would like to see from the 24-year-old Holland its in the faceoff circle. Holland, who lost nine of 15 draws on Thursday, is amongst the worst regulars in the league at 44.6 per cent. As a team the Leafs sit 15th overall at 49.7 per cent. Stats-Pack 100 – Career games for Peter Holland. 18:58 – Ice-time for Roman Polak in his return to the Toronto lineup. 32 – Faceoff winning percentage for the Leafs on Thursday. 52-38 – Possession advantage for the Hurricanes. 5-3-3 – Leafs road record this season. Special Teams Capsule PP: 0-3 Season: 20.5 per cent PK: 2-3 Season: 83.5 per cent Quote of the Night Its not a 9-2 loss to Nashville, thats for sure. -Peter Holland, on whether Thursdays defeat classified as a minor wake-up call. Up Next The Leafs host the Flyers on Saturday night. 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