The White Sox Finally Hit Back: South Siders Open Crosstown Series With a 12–5 Statement Against Cubs

CHICAGO: The first three games of the 2025 Crosstown Classic belonged entirely to the Cubs.

The next opportunity belonged to the White Sox.

Friday night at Rate Field, the South Siders produced the kind of offensive performance they had struggled to generate during the season's opening months, defeating their North Side rivals 12–5.

The result did not erase Chicago's earlier three-game sweep at Wrigley Field.

But it gave the White Sox a different result in a rivalry where recent competitiveness has rarely favored the club with the more difficult record.

A rivalry with an imbalance

The May series had been difficult for the White Sox.

The Cubs swept all three games at Wrigley Field, outscoring the South Siders 26–8.

That margin reflected the teams' different competitive positions.

The Cubs were pushing toward the postseason.

The White Sox were attempting to develop a young roster after their historically difficult 2024 season.

But the rivalry still provided opportunities for the South Side club to measure its progress against a familiar opponent.

Friday's matchup offered another test.

Twelve runs change the conversation

The White Sox scored 12 runs.

That number mattered because the team's offense had spent much of the year struggling to produce consistent scoring.

Against the Cubs, the South Siders generated enough offense to force Chicago's North Side club into a difficult position.

Shota Imanaga took the loss.

The Cubs could not overcome the deficit.

The White Sox completed a 12–5 victory that gave their fans a result worth celebrating.

For a developing team, strong performances against quality opponents provide useful evidence.

The Cubs were not a club simply playing out a disappointing season.

They were competing for playoff positioning.

Chicago's South Side team had defeated them convincingly.

One victory cannot decide the series

The White Sox still faced two more games against their rival.

A convincing opening result did not guarantee that the weekend would end favorably.

But it changed the immediate pressure.

The South Siders had already prevented another three-game sweep.

The Cubs needed to respond after a difficult pitching and defensive performance.

The rivalry had also shifted from one defined entirely by the North Side team's earlier dominance to one offering a meaningful South Side highlight.

Why the result mattered

For the White Sox, the long-term rebuilding process remains the primary story.

Their record still reflects substantial organizational challenges.

But Friday provided a demonstration of what the lineup could produce when several hitters contributed within the same game.

The club did not need to win through a one-run pitching duel.

It generated 12 runs and forced the Cubs to chase the scoreboard.

That approach offers a useful reference point for Venable.

The White Sox cannot depend on scoring 12 runs every night.

They can continue working toward the offensive execution that created those opportunities.

For one evening, the South Side had the advantage.

The White Sox made sure the scoreboard reflected it.