Note: For an end of game Cubs score update, text SCORES to 80373

CHICAGO (1660 THE FAN) – Big bats were the name of the game Monday night in the Cubs’ 12-3 rout of their cross-town rival White Sox in game one of a three game set at US Cellular field.

Bryan LaHair put the Cubs’ on the board in the third inning, sailing a two-run homerun out to right center field. Starlin Castro added a two-run long ball in the fifth. Alfonso Soriano went deep two batters later in the inning on his 13^th homerun of the season.

Making his first major league appearance since undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery in April, Geovany Soto added a solo shot in the sixth. Luis Valbuena rounded out the homerun derby, slamming a three-run homer to right field, scoring Steve Clevenger and Darwin Barney.

Matt Garza went six innings, striking out six and giving up a pair of homeruns for the Cubs. The White Sox only runs came in the fifth and sixth innings off of homeruns from AJ Pierzynski and Paul Konerko. White Sox started Zach Stewart for six runs, all earned, giving up four homeruns in 5.2 innings of work.

Travis Wood faces Jake Peavy in Game 2 Tuesday night. Broadcast time on 1660 The Fan is 7:35 pm.