81

The White Sox earned a chance to sweep their North Side rivals by coming back twice to edge the Cubs 6-5 on Saturday. Carlos Quentin's 18th home run, a solo shot to right field in the top of the ninth of a 5-5 game, provided the winning margin. Q's homer was one of three on the day for the Sox. Jermaine Dye also slugged his 18th, in the first inning, and Alexei Ramirez led off the fourth with his fifth home run. Joe Crede drove in a run with a double off the wall in left and saved at least a couple with a diving catch of a line drive in the hole between short and third.

Javy Vazquez didn't really have it, giving up five runs on five hits and three walks in 4.1 innings. But fortunately, the bullpen was brilliant. Boone Logan, Nick Masset, Matt Thornton, Scott Linebrink, and Bobby Jenks combined to shut down the Cubs over the last 4.2 innings. Thornton, who picked up his fourth win, was particularly impressive, fanning four of the five batters he faced and throwing in the mid to upper 90s for his entire stint. Linebrink earned his 18th hold, and Jenks notched his 18th save, after giving up a leadoff double and having a man on third with only one out. Collectively, they're the best relief pitchers in baseball.

The Update talked with Quentin after the game and found out some interesting information about Saturday's hero. Q told us his favorites in a number of categories:

• fast-food restaurant, Qdoba
• movie, The Queen
• old TV show, Quincy
• book, Don Quixote
• fictional character, Quasimodo
• U.S. President, John Quincy Adams
• car, Nissan Quest
• fruit, quince
• number in Spanish, quince
• Who album, Quadraphenia

If you talk to him, ask him some more favorites and post your answers as comments to this edition of The Update.

Going into Sunday night's game with the Cubs, the Sox have chopped the Magic Number to 81 and hold a one game lead over the Twins, who beat Milwaukee in a Sunday day game after losing to the Brewers the day before. Go Sox! Sweep the Cubs!