CHICAGO (AP) – Michael Barrett and Carlos Zambrano homered off Mark Buehrle during a seven-run first inning, and the Chicago Cubs hung on to beat the Chicago White Sox 15-11 Sunday afternoon and avoid a three-game sweep.

Buehrle (9-5) allowed a career-high 11 runs and 13 hits over five innings as the White Sox lost for just the third time in 16 games.

Barrett hit a solo homer and Zambrano added a two-run shot in the first inning as the Cubs took a 7-2 lead. Neifi Perez hit a three-run drive off Buehrle in the fifth that made it 11-5, and Angel Pagan homered off Cliff Politte leading off the seventh to make it 12-7.

Pagan, who turned 25 on Sunday, added a two-run shot in the eighth to make it 15-10.

Barrett had a career high four hits, and Perez tied a career high with four RBIs as the Cubs earned their second victory in 10 games.

Although he delivered at the plate, Zambrano struggled through six-plus innings.

He allowed seven runs and seven hits, including a three-run homer by Juan Uribe and pinch-hit shot by Jim Thome leading off the seventh. Zambrano left with an 11-6 lead and runners on first and third.

Bob Howry got the final four outs for his second save.

Thome’s homer was his American League-leading 27th. Joe Crede’s two-run homer off Scott Williamson in the eighth cut the Cubs’ lead to 13-9. And Tadahito Iguchi made it 13-10 with a solo shot off Scott Eyre with two out in the inning.

Uribe finished with four RBIs.

In his previous start against the White Sox on May 21 at U.S. Cellular Field, Zambrano (7-3) had to be restrained after A.J. Pierzynski homered in the fourth inning and pointed toward the sky – as the pitcher does when he comes off the mound. Zambrano said he was upset that Pierzynski said something as he rounded the bases – not the pointing – and added he was yelling at White Sox third-base coach Joey Cora to keep Pierzynski under control. A day earlier, Pierzynski knocked over Cubs Barrett, who punched him in the face and set off a bench-clearing brawl.

Pierzynski was involved in another big hit this weekend, only no punches were involved. His three-run homer off Ryan Dempster with two out in the ninth lifted the White Sox to an 8-6 victory on Saturday.

Buehrle, who pitched a two-hitter and beat the Cubs 6-1 on May 19, simply didn’t have it this time.

The White Sox scored twice in the top of the first, but the Cubs sent up 10 batters in the bottom half.

Derrek Lee drove in the first two runs with a double to left-center, took third on a wild throw to second by Rob Mackowiak and scored the third run on Aramis Ramirez’s sacrifice fly to left.

Barrett then drove a 2-1 pitch out to center for his ninth homer. Back-to-back doubles with two out by Matt Murton and Perez made it 5-2, and Zambrano pulled the first pitch over the left-field wall before Pierre struck out. It was the switch-hitter’s third homer.

Notes: Alex Cintron started at third for the White Sox instead of Crede, who is 1-for-18 against Zambrano. Crede entered the game in the bottom of the seventh and hit his 16th homer in the eighth. … Pagan started in right for Jacque Jones, who is just 1-for-27 in his career against Buehrle.

AP-ES-07-02-06 1717EDT