Chicago's Rivalry Belongs to the Cubs Again: White Sox Drop Crosstown Finale After Late Rally

CHICAGO: Andrew Benintendi gave the White Sox one final opportunity to change the ending.

His three-run home run in the eighth inning cut the Cubs' advantage and brought the South Siders within one run.

But the comeback did not continue.

Daniel Palencia completed the ninth inning, and the Cubs defeated the White Sox 5–4 Sunday at Rate Field, securing the weekend series and finishing with a 5–1 advantage in the season's Crosstown Classic.

For the White Sox, the result represented a frustrating conclusion to a weekend that had begun with a 12–5 victory.

The first game suggested Chicago's South Side club might reverse its earlier struggles against the Cubs.

The final two results demonstrated why the North Side team remained in a stronger competitive position.

The Cubs respond to Friday

The White Sox had opened the series by scoring 12 runs.

But the Cubs responded with a 6–1 victory Saturday.

That win restored balance to the weekend and set up a deciding Sunday matchup.

The North Side club entered the finale with an opportunity to claim five victories in six meetings against its rival.

The White Sox needed another productive offensive performance to secure a series win.

For much of the afternoon, the Cubs maintained the advantage.

Chicago's South Side club struggled to convert opportunities and trailed entering the later innings.

Benintendi nearly changes everything

The White Sox entered the eighth inning needing offense.

Benintendi supplied it.

With two outs, he connected on a three-run home run against Cubs reliever Ryan Brasier.

The blast turned what had appeared to be a comfortable Cubs advantage into a one-run game.

For the White Sox, the sequence offered a chance to complete another late comeback.

The team had been considerably more competitive since the All-Star break.

That improvement created confidence that the result might still change.

But the Cubs kept the lead.

Palencia prevents the finish

Palencia entered the ninth with Chicago's North Side club leading 5–4.

The White Sox needed one run to tie and two to win.

Luis Robert Jr. reached base when a pitch struck his right forearm with two outs.

The baserunner created another opportunity, but Chicago could not extend the rally.

Palencia finished the inning.

The Cubs won.

For the White Sox, the final sequence emphasized how difficult it can be to complete a comeback against a strong bullpen.

Benintendi had supplied the major swing.

The South Siders could not produce the additional hit required.

The rivalry reflects the standings

The Cubs finished 5–1 against the White Sox in 2025.

That record reflected the larger competitive difference between the clubs.

The North Side team was pursuing October baseball.

The South Side team was attempting to develop young contributors and establish a more competitive foundation.

But the final result also offered evidence that the White Sox were becoming more capable of challenging stronger opponents.

They had won Friday convincingly.

They nearly recovered Sunday.

Those performances are encouraging, even if the series result remains disappointing.

For now, Chicago's season series belongs to the Cubs.

The White Sox must continue working toward the consistency required to change that outcome.