Cubs use monster inning to bury Sox 6/21/08

06/21/2008 4:00 PM ET
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Cubs use monster inning to bury Sox
Edmonds drills two of club's four homers in the fourth
By Carrie Muskat / MLB.com

CHICAGO -- Who would've imagined Jim Edmonds getting a standing ovation at Wrigley Field?

Edmonds notched two of the four homers hit in a wild nine-run fourth inning, and Aramis Ramirez drove in four runs to power the Cubs to an 11-7 victory Saturday over the White Sox, and take a 2-0 lead in the intracity Interleague series.

Edmonds, who played for the one team Cubs fans hate more than the White Sox, the St. Louis Cardinals, now is the third Cub ever to hit two homers in one inning, joining Mark Bellhorn (Aug. 29, 2002), and Sammy Sosa (May 16, 1996). Ramirez, who was Friday's hero with a walk-off solo shot, hit an RBI single in the first and added a three-run homer in the fourth. Mike Fontenot also connected in the fourth.

The four homers in one inning tied a club record, done twice before on April 27, 2000, against Houston, and May 12, 1930, against the New York Giants. The nine runs were the most scored in one inning since the Cubs tallied 10 on June 10, 2004, against St. Louis at Wrigley. And yes, Edmonds was in center field that day for the Redbirds.

Jason Marquis (6-3) picked up the win, giving up five runs on eight hits over seven innings. He served up two homers himself, as Jermaine Dye gave the White Sox a 2-0 lead with a first-inning blast, his second in as many games. DeWayne Wise launched the second pitch from Marquis in the fourth for his first home run since Oct. 3, 2004, which also was against the Cubs when he played for Atlanta.

The Cubs sent 12 batters to the plate in the rowdy fourth. Edmonds and Fontenot got things started by hitting back-to-back blasts off Jose Contreras (6-6). One out later, Ryan Theriot walked and Marquis singled. Kosuke Fukudome, Eric Patterson and Derrek Lee each followed with RBI singles, Ramirez connected on his 13th homer, and Contreras departed. Edmonds greeted Boone Logan with his second blast of the inning to go ahead, 10-4.

Carrie Muskat is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.