Final Score: Chicago White Sox 3, Chicago Cubs 2

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Gordon Beckham spoiled Kerry Wood's retirement with a go-ahead, solo homer in the eighth as the White Sox took a 3-2 victory over the Cubs in the opener of a three-game series at Wrigley Field.

With the game tied at 2-2 in the eighth, Beckham lifted Jeff Samardzija's splitter into the bleachers in left field to give the White Sox a one-run edge.

"I'm glad it came when it did," Beckham said about his homer. "It was just good to help the team win. That's what is important to me."

After Samardzija walked Adam Dunn, Wood entered for presumably the last time. The 34-year-old announced before the game that he was planning on retiring after his next appearance.

He fanned Dayan Viciedo on three pitches before being removed to a standing ovation from the Wrigley faithful with his son Justin on the top step of the dugout to great him.

"It was time," remarked Wood after the game. "We saw how things were going this year. I definitely didn't want to go out with my last inning being me throwing my glove in the seats. I thank the organization and I thank Dale (Sveum) for giving me the opportunity to do that."

Paul Konerko hit a two-run blast in the first, while Matt Thornton (2-3) got the win for retiring the final two batters in the seventh. Addison Reed recorded his fourth save with a scoreless ninth for the Sox, who have won two straight.

Samardzija (4-2) took the loss after tossing 7 1/3 innings and yielding three runs on six hits with eight strikeouts. He also knocked in a run as the Cubs dropped their fourth straight.

After Beckham reached on an infield single in the first, Konerko launched a two-run blast into the bleachers in left to put the Sox on top 2-0.

The Cubs got one back in the bottom half as David DeJesus launched a leadoff double and Tony Campana followed with a bunt single. DeJesus then scored on Starlin Castro's sacrifice fly to cut the difference in half.

It was a scary moment in the third when Konerko left the game after being hit on the left side of his face with Samardzija's 2-2 offering.

White Sox starter Philip Humber responded in the fourth by throwing over the head of Cubs first baseman Bryan LaHair before walking him on four pitches. Both benches were warned.

Ian Stewart stroked a leadoff single in the seventh and Darwin Barney moved him to third with a double into the left-field corner to mark an end to Humber's afternoon.

Thornton entered to face Samardzija, who helped his own cause by slapping a game-tying single through the hole on the left side of the infield.

Beckham then broke the deadlock in the eighth by lifting a fly ball to left field that carried into the bleachers to give the White Sox a 3-2 lead.

Dunn coaxed a one-out walk, which marked the end of Samardzija's day as Wood shook bullpen coach Lester Strode's hand on his way out to the mound at Wrigley Field for the final time.

Game Notes

Humber threw 6 1/3 innings and allowed two runs on five hits and two walks...Konerko's homer moved him into second all-time with 55 interleague homers. Jim Thome holds the record with 59....The Cubs optioned pitcher Chris Volstad to Triple-A Tucson while recalling catcher Blake Lalli, who made his major league debut in the eighth inning...Cubs catcher Geovany Soto is expected to miss three weeks with a torn left meniscus.