Sun-Times Wire
Driving on a suspended license without insurance is never a good idea, especially when you’re speeding with half a kilogram of cocaine in the vehicle.
When Indiana State Police pulled over a Chicago woman about 9:37 a.m. Monday on U.S. 41 near CR 200S in west central Indiana, it was initially speeding, a statement from ISP said.
A trooper was on patrol on U.S. 41, just north of Boswell near the Illinois state line, when he stopped the silver 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt, ISP said.
The driver, 25-year-old Camille A. Rouse of Chicago, was then found to have a suspended license in Illinois and no insurance on the vehicle, according to ISP.
So the trooper did a walk around the car with his K-9 partner Colt, who alerted near the trunk. Inside was an estimated 500 grams of what appeared to be cocaine, police said.
Rouse was charged with possession of marijuana and possession of narcotic drugs, and more charges are pending, police said. She was being held at the Benton County Jail in Fowler.
Tuesday, June 20, 2017
Cubs hold on to beat Padres
(TSX / STATS) -- CHICAGO -- Anthony Rizzo had another big night as a leadoff batter on Monday, going 2-for-3 with a triple, bunt single and sacrifice fly in a 3-2 Chicago Cubs victory over the San Diego Padres.
But a play at the plate that stopped Rizzo from scoring a run raised ire from the Padres and shrugs from Rizzo and the Cubs.
Rizzo tripled to open the Cubs sixth, bolted for home after Kris Bryant's liner to center was caught. Rizzo barreled into Padres catcher Austin Hedges after he caught a throw from center fielder Matt Szczur and defended the plate.
"It's a cheap shot," said Padres manager Andy Green. "I'm not saying he's a dirty player, nobody's saying that (but) he clearly deviated from his path to hit our catcher. He took our catcher out."
But the Cubs first baseman, who was tagged out on the play, said it was just good, hard baseball.
"By no means do I think that's a dirty play at all," Rizzo said. "I went pretty much straight in. He caught the ball and went towards the plate so I went in -- I slid in there -- it was a hard slide. ... I play this game hard for a 162 games-plus so I can't see that being dirty."
Hedges apparently suffered a bruised thigh in the collision and did not return for the seventh inning.
"I don't expect him to play tomorrow," said Green. "I don't know how long he's out for."
Javier Baez went 2-for-3 and scored a go-ahead run on a throwing error as the Cubs (35-34) beat the Padres for the first time this season after three losses last month in San Diego.
Reliever Hector Rondon (2-1) worked one inning -- a scoreless seventh -- for the victory.
Right-handed reliever Kirby Yates (1-1) took the loss after allowing one run on two hits in the seventh.
Cubs reliever Wade Davis faced five batters in the ninth and had runners on second and third with one out after two wild pitches. But he struck out Wil Myers swinging and got Hunter Renfroe to ground out to earn his 14th save.
Neither San Diego left-hander Clayton Richard nor Chicago left-hander Jon Lester figured in decisions.
The Padres (28-43) dropped their second straight and third in four games despite homers from leadoff batter Jose Pirela and second baseman Yangervis Solarte.
Rizzo, playing this sixth game in the leadoff spot, extended his hitting streak to a career-high 13 games. He has reached base in all six games leading off, just the fifth Cubs player to do so since 1946.
Lester worked six innings and allowed two runs on five hits. He walked one and struck out seven.
The Cubs tied the game 2-2 in the seventh on Willson Contreras' sixth homer of the season, coming with none out on Richard's 1-2 pitch.
Richard departed with one out, and Baez greeted Yates with a single to shallow right. Albert Almora Jr. then doubled to left, and Baez scored on Pirela's throwing error for a 3-2 Cubs lead.
Richard allowed two runs on five hits over 6 1/3 innings. He walked three and struck out three.
The Padres claimed an instant 1-0 lead on leadoff batter Pirela's first-inning home run. Pirela sent Lester's 1-1 pitch to center field for his third homer of the season.
In the bottom of the first, Rizzo spoiled the Padres' infield shift toward first base by placing a perfect bunt down the third-base line that wasn't picked up until he had reached first.
"It's not your prototypical lead off the game," said Rizzo.
Solarte made it 2-0 in the third with a first-pitch homer to left field. It was his 10th of the season and third since Saturday, when he clubbed two against the Milwaukee Brewers.
The Cubs got one run back in the third when Rizzo sent a one-out sacrifice fly deep to left field to drive in Almora from third.
Chicago had runners at first and second with none out in the fifth, but Lester struck out while bunting foul and Jon Jay grounded into an inning-ending double play.
The Cubs were without right fielder Jason Heyward, who sat out Monday after suffering a laceration to his left hand in the second inning of Sunday's game at Pittsburgh while attempting to make a sliding catch.
NOTES: San Diego designated RHP Zach Lee for assignment on Monday and claimed LHP Dillon Overton off waivers from Seattle and optioned him to Triple-A El Paso. ... San Diego needs just one win this week to take the season series from Chicago after the Padres recorded a three-game sweep and held the Cubs to 12 collective hits last month at Petco Park. ... The Padres will send RHP Jhoulys Chacin (6-5, 5.10 ERA) against Cubs LHP Mike Montgomery (0-3, 2.65 ERA) in Tuesday's middle game. ... The three-game Cubs-Padres series is also Chicago's shortest homestead of the season. After Wednesday's finale, the Cubs embark on an 11-day, 11-game road trip that takes them to Miami, Washington and Cincinnati. ... The Cubs have been at the .500 mark 14 times this season. ... 1B Anthony Rizzo led off for the sixth time on Monday and went 2-for-3 with a bunt single and triple.
But a play at the plate that stopped Rizzo from scoring a run raised ire from the Padres and shrugs from Rizzo and the Cubs.
Rizzo tripled to open the Cubs sixth, bolted for home after Kris Bryant's liner to center was caught. Rizzo barreled into Padres catcher Austin Hedges after he caught a throw from center fielder Matt Szczur and defended the plate.
"It's a cheap shot," said Padres manager Andy Green. "I'm not saying he's a dirty player, nobody's saying that (but) he clearly deviated from his path to hit our catcher. He took our catcher out."
But the Cubs first baseman, who was tagged out on the play, said it was just good, hard baseball.
"By no means do I think that's a dirty play at all," Rizzo said. "I went pretty much straight in. He caught the ball and went towards the plate so I went in -- I slid in there -- it was a hard slide. ... I play this game hard for a 162 games-plus so I can't see that being dirty."
Hedges apparently suffered a bruised thigh in the collision and did not return for the seventh inning.
"I don't expect him to play tomorrow," said Green. "I don't know how long he's out for."
Javier Baez went 2-for-3 and scored a go-ahead run on a throwing error as the Cubs (35-34) beat the Padres for the first time this season after three losses last month in San Diego.
Reliever Hector Rondon (2-1) worked one inning -- a scoreless seventh -- for the victory.
Right-handed reliever Kirby Yates (1-1) took the loss after allowing one run on two hits in the seventh.
Cubs reliever Wade Davis faced five batters in the ninth and had runners on second and third with one out after two wild pitches. But he struck out Wil Myers swinging and got Hunter Renfroe to ground out to earn his 14th save.
Neither San Diego left-hander Clayton Richard nor Chicago left-hander Jon Lester figured in decisions.
The Padres (28-43) dropped their second straight and third in four games despite homers from leadoff batter Jose Pirela and second baseman Yangervis Solarte.
Rizzo, playing this sixth game in the leadoff spot, extended his hitting streak to a career-high 13 games. He has reached base in all six games leading off, just the fifth Cubs player to do so since 1946.
Lester worked six innings and allowed two runs on five hits. He walked one and struck out seven.
The Cubs tied the game 2-2 in the seventh on Willson Contreras' sixth homer of the season, coming with none out on Richard's 1-2 pitch.
Richard departed with one out, and Baez greeted Yates with a single to shallow right. Albert Almora Jr. then doubled to left, and Baez scored on Pirela's throwing error for a 3-2 Cubs lead.
Richard allowed two runs on five hits over 6 1/3 innings. He walked three and struck out three.
The Padres claimed an instant 1-0 lead on leadoff batter Pirela's first-inning home run. Pirela sent Lester's 1-1 pitch to center field for his third homer of the season.
In the bottom of the first, Rizzo spoiled the Padres' infield shift toward first base by placing a perfect bunt down the third-base line that wasn't picked up until he had reached first.
"It's not your prototypical lead off the game," said Rizzo.
Solarte made it 2-0 in the third with a first-pitch homer to left field. It was his 10th of the season and third since Saturday, when he clubbed two against the Milwaukee Brewers.
The Cubs got one run back in the third when Rizzo sent a one-out sacrifice fly deep to left field to drive in Almora from third.
Chicago had runners at first and second with none out in the fifth, but Lester struck out while bunting foul and Jon Jay grounded into an inning-ending double play.
The Cubs were without right fielder Jason Heyward, who sat out Monday after suffering a laceration to his left hand in the second inning of Sunday's game at Pittsburgh while attempting to make a sliding catch.
NOTES: San Diego designated RHP Zach Lee for assignment on Monday and claimed LHP Dillon Overton off waivers from Seattle and optioned him to Triple-A El Paso. ... San Diego needs just one win this week to take the season series from Chicago after the Padres recorded a three-game sweep and held the Cubs to 12 collective hits last month at Petco Park. ... The Padres will send RHP Jhoulys Chacin (6-5, 5.10 ERA) against Cubs LHP Mike Montgomery (0-3, 2.65 ERA) in Tuesday's middle game. ... The three-game Cubs-Padres series is also Chicago's shortest homestead of the season. After Wednesday's finale, the Cubs embark on an 11-day, 11-game road trip that takes them to Miami, Washington and Cincinnati. ... The Cubs have been at the .500 mark 14 times this season. ... 1B Anthony Rizzo led off for the sixth time on Monday and went 2-for-3 with a bunt single and triple.
Monday, June 19, 2017
Rizzo, Lackey send Cubs past Pirates
(TSX / STATS) -- PITTSBURGH -- Anthony Rizzo batted leadoff for the fifth time in a row -- and fifth time in his career -- when the Chicago Cubs played in a weekend series finale on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
He's getting the hang of it, apparently.
"The game can't start until I get in the batter's box," Rizzo said with a smile after Chicago's 7-1 win.
No, and lately it doesn't get started until he leads off the game with a hit. On Sunday, it was a double to left on Jameson Taillon's first pitch. He came around to score, part of a 3-for-5 day that included his 16th homer, two RBIs and three runs scored.
Rizzo is 5-for-5 leading off games and has tied a career high with a 12-game hitting streak.
"If we win ballgames, I'll be the leadoff hitter for the rest of my career," Rizzo said, still being jovial. "But no, the objective is the pitchers are going to throw strike one. They want to get into a groove. You've got to be ready to hit."
Willson Contreras was 3-for-5 with two doubles and three RBIs, and rookie Ian Happ added his eighth homer for the Cubs (34-34), who took two of three against the Pirates -- their first road series win in more than six weeks, since winning two of three at PNC Park on April 24-26.
It all started with Rizzo.
"Gosh, the way he started the game again, got the momentum rolling," Chicago manager Joe Maddon said. "We had good at-bats up and down the lineup."
Cubs starter John Lackey (5-7) allowed one run, a solo homer by Jordy Mercer, in six innings of two-hit ball, striking out four and walking three for his first win since May 16. In the interim, he had been 0-4 with a 6.75 ERA in five starts.
"I'm just going to try to enjoy the rest of the season, try to calm down a little bit and just enjoy myself a little bit more," Lackey said. "Didn't give in to some guys and had a couple walks, but felt pretty good.
"It's very weird -- you can pitch very similar and get lots of different results sometimes."
Relievers Carl Edwards Jr., Hector Rondon and Brian Duensing each pitched a scoreless inning for the Cubs to polish off a combined three-hitter.
Pittsburgh (31-38) had won five of its previous seven games and missed a chance to move within 1 1/2 games of the second-place Cubs in the National League Central.
Taillon (3-2) took a step back as he made his second start since returning from surgery for testicular cancer. He gave up four runs and eight hits through five innings, with four strikeouts and one walk.
Taillon beat Colorado in his first game off the DL with five innings of scoreless work with five hits, five strikeouts.
"I think they're looking for fastballs early, and then some breaking balls didn't work his way at all," Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said. "The curveball was inconsistent and the misfires he did have were barreled. They were up in the zone, so his overall command was probably a culprit."
But not anything major, Taillon said.
"I felt good. Felt sharp. A couple pitches I would've like to have back, but I felt like it was coming out of my hand clean," he said. "My mechanics felt good. A couple execution problems, but I felt fine."
Chicago took a 1-0 lead in the first. Rizzo, after his double to the left field corner, moved to third on Happ's bunt and scored on Contreras' double.
Lackey got out of a two-on, none-out jam in the second -- shortstop Javier Baez bobbled what could have been a double-play grounder -- with three fly balls.
The Cubs scored two in the third before there was an out, on Contreras' two-run double, for a 3-0 lead, and added another in the fourth on John Jay's RBI single to make it 4-0.
Mercer lined a leadoff homer just inside the foul pole in left to bring the Pirates within 4-1 in the fifth. It was the 20th homer allowed by Lackey this season.
"He hung that ball -- a slider or a curveball or whatever it was," Mercer said. "Those are good to backspin. Those balls can go a long ways at times. I was able to just get underneath it. I hit it on a line, but I didn't think it was going to go out."
Rizzo's two-run shot to left in the seventh provided 6-1 advantage.
Happ, a rookie playing in his hometown for the first time this weekend, launched a two-out homer, his eighth, into the Chicago bullpen in center to make it 7-1 in the ninth.
"Awesome weekend. Just special, family being here, friends being here," said Happ, adding that he procured the home run ball hit in the park he formerly knew only as a spectator growing up.
NOTES: Chicago LF Jason Heyward left the game in the fourth inning because of a left hand abrasion. He got that in the second inning sliding to attempt to catch a foul ball. ... Pittsburgh reinstated C Chris Stewart from the 10-day DL and optioned C Jacob Stallings to Triple-A Indianapolis. ... Cubs SS Addison Russell, who twisted an ankle rounding second Saturday night, was available to play but given the day off. ... The Seattle Mariners claimed minor league RHP Pat Light from the Pirates.
He's getting the hang of it, apparently.
"The game can't start until I get in the batter's box," Rizzo said with a smile after Chicago's 7-1 win.
No, and lately it doesn't get started until he leads off the game with a hit. On Sunday, it was a double to left on Jameson Taillon's first pitch. He came around to score, part of a 3-for-5 day that included his 16th homer, two RBIs and three runs scored.
Rizzo is 5-for-5 leading off games and has tied a career high with a 12-game hitting streak.
"If we win ballgames, I'll be the leadoff hitter for the rest of my career," Rizzo said, still being jovial. "But no, the objective is the pitchers are going to throw strike one. They want to get into a groove. You've got to be ready to hit."
Willson Contreras was 3-for-5 with two doubles and three RBIs, and rookie Ian Happ added his eighth homer for the Cubs (34-34), who took two of three against the Pirates -- their first road series win in more than six weeks, since winning two of three at PNC Park on April 24-26.
It all started with Rizzo.
"Gosh, the way he started the game again, got the momentum rolling," Chicago manager Joe Maddon said. "We had good at-bats up and down the lineup."
Cubs starter John Lackey (5-7) allowed one run, a solo homer by Jordy Mercer, in six innings of two-hit ball, striking out four and walking three for his first win since May 16. In the interim, he had been 0-4 with a 6.75 ERA in five starts.
"I'm just going to try to enjoy the rest of the season, try to calm down a little bit and just enjoy myself a little bit more," Lackey said. "Didn't give in to some guys and had a couple walks, but felt pretty good.
"It's very weird -- you can pitch very similar and get lots of different results sometimes."
Relievers Carl Edwards Jr., Hector Rondon and Brian Duensing each pitched a scoreless inning for the Cubs to polish off a combined three-hitter.
Pittsburgh (31-38) had won five of its previous seven games and missed a chance to move within 1 1/2 games of the second-place Cubs in the National League Central.
Taillon (3-2) took a step back as he made his second start since returning from surgery for testicular cancer. He gave up four runs and eight hits through five innings, with four strikeouts and one walk.
Taillon beat Colorado in his first game off the DL with five innings of scoreless work with five hits, five strikeouts.
"I think they're looking for fastballs early, and then some breaking balls didn't work his way at all," Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said. "The curveball was inconsistent and the misfires he did have were barreled. They were up in the zone, so his overall command was probably a culprit."
But not anything major, Taillon said.
"I felt good. Felt sharp. A couple pitches I would've like to have back, but I felt like it was coming out of my hand clean," he said. "My mechanics felt good. A couple execution problems, but I felt fine."
Chicago took a 1-0 lead in the first. Rizzo, after his double to the left field corner, moved to third on Happ's bunt and scored on Contreras' double.
Lackey got out of a two-on, none-out jam in the second -- shortstop Javier Baez bobbled what could have been a double-play grounder -- with three fly balls.
The Cubs scored two in the third before there was an out, on Contreras' two-run double, for a 3-0 lead, and added another in the fourth on John Jay's RBI single to make it 4-0.
Mercer lined a leadoff homer just inside the foul pole in left to bring the Pirates within 4-1 in the fifth. It was the 20th homer allowed by Lackey this season.
"He hung that ball -- a slider or a curveball or whatever it was," Mercer said. "Those are good to backspin. Those balls can go a long ways at times. I was able to just get underneath it. I hit it on a line, but I didn't think it was going to go out."
Rizzo's two-run shot to left in the seventh provided 6-1 advantage.
Happ, a rookie playing in his hometown for the first time this weekend, launched a two-out homer, his eighth, into the Chicago bullpen in center to make it 7-1 in the ninth.
"Awesome weekend. Just special, family being here, friends being here," said Happ, adding that he procured the home run ball hit in the park he formerly knew only as a spectator growing up.
NOTES: Chicago LF Jason Heyward left the game in the fourth inning because of a left hand abrasion. He got that in the second inning sliding to attempt to catch a foul ball. ... Pittsburgh reinstated C Chris Stewart from the 10-day DL and optioned C Jacob Stallings to Triple-A Indianapolis. ... Cubs SS Addison Russell, who twisted an ankle rounding second Saturday night, was available to play but given the day off. ... The Seattle Mariners claimed minor league RHP Pat Light from the Pirates.
Happ pitches into seventh as Blue Jays beat White Sox
(TSX / STATS) -- TORONTO -- The Toronto Blue Jays pulled a different version of a bloop and a blast Sunday afternoon and then went on to defeat the Chicago White Sox 7-3 to avoid a three-game sweep.
With two outs in the sixth inning, Troy Tulowitzki hit a trickler up the third base line that hit the bag and went for an infield single against White Sox starter James Shields.
Russell Martin followed with his seventh home run of the season, a drive to center that hit off the top of the wall, to tie the score.
The inning continued when Anthony Swarzak (3-2) replaced Shields and allowed a single to Steve Pearce and a triple to Ryan Goins that put the Blue Jays in the lead to stay.
Kendrys Morales added a two-run homer and Pearce hit an RBI double, both in the seventh inning, to complete the scoring.
"I knew he put a good swing on it," Shields said of Martin's homer. "(Josh) Donaldson hit pretty much a similar ball earlier in the game. I left it up a little bit, but it was off the plate a little bit, too, and he put a good swing on it and unfortunately it hit the top the wall.
"If Tulowitzki didn't hit that dribbler down the line, I think we'd have been out of the inning there."
Martin said, "It felt pretty good off the bat. It wasn't a bad pitch. I think it was a cutter-slider. I definitely barreled it, but it wasn't a no-doubter by any means, then I saw on the replay it hit off the top of the wall."
Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said, "Russell probably has as much, or more than anybody, on the team opposite field power. So, when he's driving the ball that way, he gets his share of home runs. I just think he needs some at-bats, he was out those 10 days (with a stiff neck).
"It really takes some at-bats to get going. He's getting on base all the time. He's always been a top defensive catcher. What separated him is ability to hit, which a lot of catchers can't do."
The White Sox (31-37) had won six straight games at the Rogers Centre dating to 2015.
J.A. Happ (2-4) allowed eight hits, no walks and three runs in 6 2/3 innings. The left-hander struck out nine in earning his second straight win. It was Happ's fourth start since coming off the disabled list (elbow inflammation).
"The last two have been a lot better. I feel like I'm throwing in my lanes a little better on each side of the plate," Happ said. "There's a little more life on my fastball as well."
Shields, who was on the disabled list with a strained right lat, made his first start since April 16 and did not factor in the decision. The right-hander allowed seven hits, one walk and three runs while striking out three in 5 2/3 innings.
"We kept trying to grind and Shields was containing them pretty good up to that homer," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. "Even then I thought at that point we were still kind of battling and Swarzak came in, obviously we didn't get the results we wanted then but again all our guys have been doing a great job for us all season long."
Swarzak allowed three hits and two runs in two-thirds of an inning to take the loss.
The White Sox started the fifth inning with singles by Willy Garcia, Kevan Smith and Yolmer Sanchez to take a 1-0 lead. Melky Cabrera bunted the runners to second and third and Jose Abreu hit a two-run single to increase the lead to 3-0.
The Blue Jays scored once in the bottom of the fifth. Pearce singled, took second on a groundout to third by Goins and scored on a single by Kevin Pillar.
Danny Barnes replaced Happ after Cabrera's two-out double in the seventh and ended the inning on Tim Anderson's flyout to center.
Left-hander Dan Jennings replaced Swarzak with one out in the bottom of the seventh after Jose Bautista ended an 0-for-11 drought with a single.
Morales blasted his 15th homer of the season to left and the Blue Jays led 6-3. Justin Smoak singled and was forced at second by Tulowitzki. Michael Ynoa replaced Jennings and allowed an RBI double to Pearce.
Barnes pitched around a walk in the eighth and Roberto Osuna pitched a perfect ninth.
NOTES: White Sox RHP Miguel Gonzalez (A/C joint inflammation in right shoulder) was put on the 10-day disabled list retroactive to Thursday. RHP James Shields was reinstated from the DL to fill the roster spot. ... White Sox LHP Carlos Rodon (left biceps bursitis) allowed seven hits and three runs in 5 2/3 innings Saturday with Triple-A Charlotte in his third rehabilitation start. He has been on the DL since April 2. ... White Sox CF Leury Garcia (sore left wrist) did not start for the seventh straight game. ... Blue Jays RHP Marco Estrada (4-5, 4.54 ERA) will face Rangers RHP Austin Bibens-Dirkx (2-0, 3.28 ERA) on Monday in the opener of a four-game series at Texas. ... White Sox LHP Derek Holland (5-6, 3.79) will start the opener of a three-game series against the Twins, who had not listed a starter, at Minnesota on Tuesday.
With two outs in the sixth inning, Troy Tulowitzki hit a trickler up the third base line that hit the bag and went for an infield single against White Sox starter James Shields.
Russell Martin followed with his seventh home run of the season, a drive to center that hit off the top of the wall, to tie the score.
The inning continued when Anthony Swarzak (3-2) replaced Shields and allowed a single to Steve Pearce and a triple to Ryan Goins that put the Blue Jays in the lead to stay.
Kendrys Morales added a two-run homer and Pearce hit an RBI double, both in the seventh inning, to complete the scoring.
"I knew he put a good swing on it," Shields said of Martin's homer. "(Josh) Donaldson hit pretty much a similar ball earlier in the game. I left it up a little bit, but it was off the plate a little bit, too, and he put a good swing on it and unfortunately it hit the top the wall.
"If Tulowitzki didn't hit that dribbler down the line, I think we'd have been out of the inning there."
Martin said, "It felt pretty good off the bat. It wasn't a bad pitch. I think it was a cutter-slider. I definitely barreled it, but it wasn't a no-doubter by any means, then I saw on the replay it hit off the top of the wall."
Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said, "Russell probably has as much, or more than anybody, on the team opposite field power. So, when he's driving the ball that way, he gets his share of home runs. I just think he needs some at-bats, he was out those 10 days (with a stiff neck).
"It really takes some at-bats to get going. He's getting on base all the time. He's always been a top defensive catcher. What separated him is ability to hit, which a lot of catchers can't do."
The White Sox (31-37) had won six straight games at the Rogers Centre dating to 2015.
J.A. Happ (2-4) allowed eight hits, no walks and three runs in 6 2/3 innings. The left-hander struck out nine in earning his second straight win. It was Happ's fourth start since coming off the disabled list (elbow inflammation).
"The last two have been a lot better. I feel like I'm throwing in my lanes a little better on each side of the plate," Happ said. "There's a little more life on my fastball as well."
Shields, who was on the disabled list with a strained right lat, made his first start since April 16 and did not factor in the decision. The right-hander allowed seven hits, one walk and three runs while striking out three in 5 2/3 innings.
"We kept trying to grind and Shields was containing them pretty good up to that homer," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. "Even then I thought at that point we were still kind of battling and Swarzak came in, obviously we didn't get the results we wanted then but again all our guys have been doing a great job for us all season long."
Swarzak allowed three hits and two runs in two-thirds of an inning to take the loss.
The White Sox started the fifth inning with singles by Willy Garcia, Kevan Smith and Yolmer Sanchez to take a 1-0 lead. Melky Cabrera bunted the runners to second and third and Jose Abreu hit a two-run single to increase the lead to 3-0.
The Blue Jays scored once in the bottom of the fifth. Pearce singled, took second on a groundout to third by Goins and scored on a single by Kevin Pillar.
Danny Barnes replaced Happ after Cabrera's two-out double in the seventh and ended the inning on Tim Anderson's flyout to center.
Left-hander Dan Jennings replaced Swarzak with one out in the bottom of the seventh after Jose Bautista ended an 0-for-11 drought with a single.
Morales blasted his 15th homer of the season to left and the Blue Jays led 6-3. Justin Smoak singled and was forced at second by Tulowitzki. Michael Ynoa replaced Jennings and allowed an RBI double to Pearce.
Barnes pitched around a walk in the eighth and Roberto Osuna pitched a perfect ninth.
NOTES: White Sox RHP Miguel Gonzalez (A/C joint inflammation in right shoulder) was put on the 10-day disabled list retroactive to Thursday. RHP James Shields was reinstated from the DL to fill the roster spot. ... White Sox LHP Carlos Rodon (left biceps bursitis) allowed seven hits and three runs in 5 2/3 innings Saturday with Triple-A Charlotte in his third rehabilitation start. He has been on the DL since April 2. ... White Sox CF Leury Garcia (sore left wrist) did not start for the seventh straight game. ... Blue Jays RHP Marco Estrada (4-5, 4.54 ERA) will face Rangers RHP Austin Bibens-Dirkx (2-0, 3.28 ERA) on Monday in the opener of a four-game series at Texas. ... White Sox LHP Derek Holland (5-6, 3.79) will start the opener of a three-game series against the Twins, who had not listed a starter, at Minnesota on Tuesday.
Friday, June 16, 2017
Davidson, Cabrera lead White Sox past Orioles
(TSX / STATS) -- CHICAGO -- Matt Davidson's locker has been the popular postgame gathering place for reporters this week.
Home runs in four consecutive games will bring that kind of attention, but the Chicago White Sox rookie designated hitter is taking it all in stride.
"I'm just trying to ignore everything outside and take every pitch for what it's worth and be relaxed up there," said Davidson, who went 2-for-4 with a home run and scored twice on Thursday in a 5-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. "It proves that (with) all the hard work you've done that it can happen and it can happen consistently."
Melky Cabrera also went 2-for-5 with two RBIs as the White Sox (29-36) took three of four in the series while the Orioles (32-33) slipped back below the .500 mark with their seventh loss in eight games.
Baltimore starter Chris Tillman (1-5) suffered his fifth straight loss while Chicago starter David Holmberg had no decision after allowing just one run in a 4 1/3-inning outing.
"Chris has a good track record and he's going to pitch better and hopefully today's the start of that," said Orioles manager Buck Showalter. "They made him earn everything. He gave us a chance, we're just not scoring any runs."
Right-handed reliever Anthony Swarzak (3-1) worked 1 2/3 innings for the victory.
Chicago got off to a slow start despite early scoring opportunities. The White Sox loaded the bases in the second inning and had runners on first and second but came up empty in both innings.
Davidson gave Chicago a 1-0 lead with a solo home run to left to lead off the last of the fourth. It was his team-leading 14th of the season.
"It's something the whole organization has been hoping that he's capable of doing so he's showing signs obviously that he can do it," said White Sox manager Rick Renteria.
Holmberg, meanwhile, was sharp through the first four innings, allowing just three baserunners while recording three strikeouts.
But the Orioles threatened in the fifth with runners at first and second with none out, and Holmberg departed after Ruben Tejada flied out to center.
Catcher Caleb Joseph greeted Swarzak with a double to center to score Jonathan Schoop from second base to tie the game 1-1. But Swarzak limited further damage as he struck out Joey Rickard and got Adam Jones to line out to right.
Holmberg was charged with the run.
"Everything went pretty good, I tried to keep them off the bases for the most part," said Holmberg. "They've got pretty big power all throughout the lineup. A couple guys got on there in the fifth and I think we did a pretty good job of keeping it to one run there."
In the bottom of the fifth, Renteria and right fielder Avisail Garcia were ejected by first base umpire Paul Emmel after arguing a third strike call on Garcia's one-out at-bat.
Chicago loaded the bases on Tillman for the second time in the game in the sixth, this time with none out as the White Sox scored four times.
Cabrera bounced a one-out single up the middle to score Davidson and Yolmer Sanchez for a 3-1 lead.
That spelled the end for Tillman, who was replaced by right-handed reliever Jimmy Yacabonis.
He walked Tim Anderson to again load the bases and issued a base on balls to Jose Abreu to bring home Kevan Smith to make it 4-1.
Leury Garcia's sacrifice fly to deep center drove in Cabrera, and Yacabonis then walked Frazier -- the third of the inning -- to again put three runners on base.
Right-handed reliever Miguel Castro got Davidson on a called third strike to finally end the inning.
Tillman gave up five runs on a season-high 11 hits through 5 1/3 innings. He struck out six and walked one.
"I never really felt like I was in a huge jam, I feel like from the get-go I was able to make pitches," Tillman said. "Guys got on base early, but I know that most of those situations you're just one pitch away and you've got to focus on making that pitch."
Welington Castillo slammed a leadoff solo home run in the ninth off Chicago reliever David Robertson.
NOTES: Baltimore took the seven-game season series from Chicago, winning four games. The Orioles are 7-0-2 in the last nine series against the White Sox. ... Thursday's loss in the series finale at Guarantee Rate Field left Baltimore 11-23 on the road. ... The Orioles return home Friday for a three-game inter-league series against St. Louis, sending RHP Kevin Gausman (3-5, 6.49 ERA) against Cardinals RHP Carlos Martinez (5-5, 2.95 ERA). ... Chicago begins a six-game, seven-day road trip on Friday, visiting Toronto and Minnesota. The White Sox send LHP Jose Quintana (2-8, 5.30 ERA) against Blue Jays RHP Joe Biagini (1-5, 3.38 ERA) in the Rogers Centre opener. ... Chicago reinstated RHP Michael Ynoa from the 10-day disabled list (right hip flexor strain) prior to Thursday's game. He is 1-0 with a 4.35 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 16 appearances this season.
Home runs in four consecutive games will bring that kind of attention, but the Chicago White Sox rookie designated hitter is taking it all in stride.
"I'm just trying to ignore everything outside and take every pitch for what it's worth and be relaxed up there," said Davidson, who went 2-for-4 with a home run and scored twice on Thursday in a 5-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. "It proves that (with) all the hard work you've done that it can happen and it can happen consistently."
Melky Cabrera also went 2-for-5 with two RBIs as the White Sox (29-36) took three of four in the series while the Orioles (32-33) slipped back below the .500 mark with their seventh loss in eight games.
Baltimore starter Chris Tillman (1-5) suffered his fifth straight loss while Chicago starter David Holmberg had no decision after allowing just one run in a 4 1/3-inning outing.
"Chris has a good track record and he's going to pitch better and hopefully today's the start of that," said Orioles manager Buck Showalter. "They made him earn everything. He gave us a chance, we're just not scoring any runs."
Right-handed reliever Anthony Swarzak (3-1) worked 1 2/3 innings for the victory.
Chicago got off to a slow start despite early scoring opportunities. The White Sox loaded the bases in the second inning and had runners on first and second but came up empty in both innings.
Davidson gave Chicago a 1-0 lead with a solo home run to left to lead off the last of the fourth. It was his team-leading 14th of the season.
"It's something the whole organization has been hoping that he's capable of doing so he's showing signs obviously that he can do it," said White Sox manager Rick Renteria.
Holmberg, meanwhile, was sharp through the first four innings, allowing just three baserunners while recording three strikeouts.
But the Orioles threatened in the fifth with runners at first and second with none out, and Holmberg departed after Ruben Tejada flied out to center.
Catcher Caleb Joseph greeted Swarzak with a double to center to score Jonathan Schoop from second base to tie the game 1-1. But Swarzak limited further damage as he struck out Joey Rickard and got Adam Jones to line out to right.
Holmberg was charged with the run.
"Everything went pretty good, I tried to keep them off the bases for the most part," said Holmberg. "They've got pretty big power all throughout the lineup. A couple guys got on there in the fifth and I think we did a pretty good job of keeping it to one run there."
In the bottom of the fifth, Renteria and right fielder Avisail Garcia were ejected by first base umpire Paul Emmel after arguing a third strike call on Garcia's one-out at-bat.
Chicago loaded the bases on Tillman for the second time in the game in the sixth, this time with none out as the White Sox scored four times.
Cabrera bounced a one-out single up the middle to score Davidson and Yolmer Sanchez for a 3-1 lead.
That spelled the end for Tillman, who was replaced by right-handed reliever Jimmy Yacabonis.
He walked Tim Anderson to again load the bases and issued a base on balls to Jose Abreu to bring home Kevan Smith to make it 4-1.
Leury Garcia's sacrifice fly to deep center drove in Cabrera, and Yacabonis then walked Frazier -- the third of the inning -- to again put three runners on base.
Right-handed reliever Miguel Castro got Davidson on a called third strike to finally end the inning.
Tillman gave up five runs on a season-high 11 hits through 5 1/3 innings. He struck out six and walked one.
"I never really felt like I was in a huge jam, I feel like from the get-go I was able to make pitches," Tillman said. "Guys got on base early, but I know that most of those situations you're just one pitch away and you've got to focus on making that pitch."
Welington Castillo slammed a leadoff solo home run in the ninth off Chicago reliever David Robertson.
NOTES: Baltimore took the seven-game season series from Chicago, winning four games. The Orioles are 7-0-2 in the last nine series against the White Sox. ... Thursday's loss in the series finale at Guarantee Rate Field left Baltimore 11-23 on the road. ... The Orioles return home Friday for a three-game inter-league series against St. Louis, sending RHP Kevin Gausman (3-5, 6.49 ERA) against Cardinals RHP Carlos Martinez (5-5, 2.95 ERA). ... Chicago begins a six-game, seven-day road trip on Friday, visiting Toronto and Minnesota. The White Sox send LHP Jose Quintana (2-8, 5.30 ERA) against Blue Jays RHP Joe Biagini (1-5, 3.38 ERA) in the Rogers Centre opener. ... Chicago reinstated RHP Michael Ynoa from the 10-day disabled list (right hip flexor strain) prior to Thursday's game. He is 1-0 with a 4.35 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 16 appearances this season.
Thursday, June 15, 2017
Castillo hits grand slam, Orioles beat White Sox 10-6
By ANDREW SELIGMAN
Associated Press
CHICAGO (AP) — The Baltimore Orioles kept insisting they would turn things around and break out of their slump. Maybe this is a start.
Welington Castillo hit his first career grand slam and drove in a personal-best five runs, and the Orioles snapped a six-game losing streak with a rain-delayed 10-6 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday night.
Castillo gave the Orioles an 8-5 lead with his drive against Miguel Gonzalez (4-8) in the fifth inning and helped prevent them from matching their longest slide of the season. Baltimore also evened its record at 32-32 after falling below .500 for the first time since Oct. 3, 2015.
“We needed a win, we got one today and hopefully we can keep it rolling,” Dylan Bundy said.
The Orioles have been struggling since a 22-10 start.
Things weren’t looking good for them early on, after Matt Davidson homered in his third straight game to help Chicago grab a 5-1 lead. But the Orioles turned this one around, pounding out 13 hits and overcoming two errors on the way to a lopsided victory.
Trey Mancini had a double and two singles. He scored three runs and drove in one.
Mark Trumbo added two hits and two runs, and a shaky Dylan Bundy (7-5) got the support he needed. The right-hander picked up the win after going 1-4 in his previous six starts. He gave up five runs and six hits in five innings.
Gonzalez got pounded for eight runs - matching his highest total since June 25, 2016 - and nine hits over five innings. The right-hander is 1-8 in his past nine starts.
“I’ve been there before and I’ve had success,” he said. “Right now I’m struggling. I just have to keep working between my starts and hopefully everything will turn around.”
The game was delayed 90 minutes at the start. And after getting outscored a combined 16-8 by the White Sox over the previous two games, the Orioles looked like they might get blown out again.
They jumped into it by scoring three in the fourth, with Hyun Soo Kim’s two-run single cutting it to 5-4. Castillo got caught in a rundown between second and third on the play for the third out, but did he ever make up for it in the fifth.
Gonzalez retired the first two batters before giving up singles to Trumbo and Mancini and walking Jonathan Schoop. That brought up Castillo, whose towering grand slam to the bushes beyond the center-field wall gave the Orioles an 8-5 lead.
“(Castillo) has had had a track record of that for awhile,” manager Buck Showalter said. “You always wonder how numbers are going to translate from league to league. He had to learn a lot of new hitters and new pitchers. ... He’s been a quick study. Very easy to pull for, really good teammate.”
GOING DEEP
Chicago’s Alen Hanson hit his first career homer in the ninth, but the Orioles got the win they needed.
DAVIS TO DL
The Orioles placed slugging first baseman Chris Davis on the 10-day disabled list because of a strained right oblique. Davis - batting .226 with 14 homers and 26 RBIs - exited Monday’s loss to Chicago. He had trouble sleeping Tuesday night and probably won’t start treatment for a few days, manager Buck Showalter said.
The Orioles selected infielder David Washington’s contract from Triple-A Norfolk and transferred outfielder Anthony Santander from the 10-day to the 60-day DL because of a strained right forearm.
MINAYA SENT DOWN
The White Sox optioned Juan Minaya to Triple-A Charlotte after the game. He has an 8.10 ERA in seven relief appearances.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Orioles: Manager Buck Showalter held OF Seth Smith out of the lineup for the second straight game because he’s “not 100 percent,” though he wouldn’t say what the issue was.
White Sox: James Shields is ready to return to the Chicago White Sox’s rotation. The 35-year-old right-hander is scheduled to start Sunday at Toronto after being sidelined the past two months because of a strained right back muscle.
UP NEXT
The Orioles and White Sox wrap up a four-game series, with RHP Chris Tillman (1-4, 8.01 ERA) starting for Baltimore and LHP David Holmberg (1-0, 2.74) pitching for Chicago.
___
More AP baseball coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
Associated Press
CHICAGO (AP) — The Baltimore Orioles kept insisting they would turn things around and break out of their slump. Maybe this is a start.
Welington Castillo hit his first career grand slam and drove in a personal-best five runs, and the Orioles snapped a six-game losing streak with a rain-delayed 10-6 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday night.
Castillo gave the Orioles an 8-5 lead with his drive against Miguel Gonzalez (4-8) in the fifth inning and helped prevent them from matching their longest slide of the season. Baltimore also evened its record at 32-32 after falling below .500 for the first time since Oct. 3, 2015.
“We needed a win, we got one today and hopefully we can keep it rolling,” Dylan Bundy said.
The Orioles have been struggling since a 22-10 start.
Things weren’t looking good for them early on, after Matt Davidson homered in his third straight game to help Chicago grab a 5-1 lead. But the Orioles turned this one around, pounding out 13 hits and overcoming two errors on the way to a lopsided victory.
Trey Mancini had a double and two singles. He scored three runs and drove in one.
Mark Trumbo added two hits and two runs, and a shaky Dylan Bundy (7-5) got the support he needed. The right-hander picked up the win after going 1-4 in his previous six starts. He gave up five runs and six hits in five innings.
Gonzalez got pounded for eight runs - matching his highest total since June 25, 2016 - and nine hits over five innings. The right-hander is 1-8 in his past nine starts.
“I’ve been there before and I’ve had success,” he said. “Right now I’m struggling. I just have to keep working between my starts and hopefully everything will turn around.”
The game was delayed 90 minutes at the start. And after getting outscored a combined 16-8 by the White Sox over the previous two games, the Orioles looked like they might get blown out again.
They jumped into it by scoring three in the fourth, with Hyun Soo Kim’s two-run single cutting it to 5-4. Castillo got caught in a rundown between second and third on the play for the third out, but did he ever make up for it in the fifth.
Gonzalez retired the first two batters before giving up singles to Trumbo and Mancini and walking Jonathan Schoop. That brought up Castillo, whose towering grand slam to the bushes beyond the center-field wall gave the Orioles an 8-5 lead.
“(Castillo) has had had a track record of that for awhile,” manager Buck Showalter said. “You always wonder how numbers are going to translate from league to league. He had to learn a lot of new hitters and new pitchers. ... He’s been a quick study. Very easy to pull for, really good teammate.”
GOING DEEP
Chicago’s Alen Hanson hit his first career homer in the ninth, but the Orioles got the win they needed.
DAVIS TO DL
The Orioles placed slugging first baseman Chris Davis on the 10-day disabled list because of a strained right oblique. Davis - batting .226 with 14 homers and 26 RBIs - exited Monday’s loss to Chicago. He had trouble sleeping Tuesday night and probably won’t start treatment for a few days, manager Buck Showalter said.
The Orioles selected infielder David Washington’s contract from Triple-A Norfolk and transferred outfielder Anthony Santander from the 10-day to the 60-day DL because of a strained right forearm.
MINAYA SENT DOWN
The White Sox optioned Juan Minaya to Triple-A Charlotte after the game. He has an 8.10 ERA in seven relief appearances.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Orioles: Manager Buck Showalter held OF Seth Smith out of the lineup for the second straight game because he’s “not 100 percent,” though he wouldn’t say what the issue was.
White Sox: James Shields is ready to return to the Chicago White Sox’s rotation. The 35-year-old right-hander is scheduled to start Sunday at Toronto after being sidelined the past two months because of a strained right back muscle.
UP NEXT
The Orioles and White Sox wrap up a four-game series, with RHP Chris Tillman (1-4, 8.01 ERA) starting for Baltimore and LHP David Holmberg (1-0, 2.74) pitching for Chicago.
___
More AP baseball coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
Twice is nice: Rizzo hits another leadoff homer for Cubs
By MIKE FITZPATRICK
Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) — Anthony Rizzo has taken quite a liking to the leadoff spot.
One night after hitting a leadoff homer in his first career start atop the batting order, the Chicago Cubs’ 240-pound first baseman did it again. Rizzo drove Matt Harvey’s first pitch over the left-center fence at Citi Field for his 15th home run of the season Wednesday, prompting excited high-fives from giddy teammates in the dugout.
“I am statistically the greatest leadoff hitter of all-time,” Rizzo said after the game. “I would like to retire there just to talk smack to everyone that tries to do it.”
Chicago rookie Ian Happ followed with his seventh homer for a 2-0 lead over the New York Mets, who later rallied for a 9-4 victory.
Rizzo was asked about television broadcasters mentioning that he predicted his leadoff homer against Harvey before the game.
“I think that’s kind of bogus that they bring out what we talk about in the dugout a lot. That’s between me and my teammates and they’re putting that on TV,” he said. “We talk all the time here, just saying, ’Hey, it’s going to be 1-0, it’s going to be 1-0 again. But you can’t ever predict a home run off a pitcher, especially Matt Harvey, so to put it out there, I’m not too thrilled with all that. But I was saying it before the game, messing around, being loose.”
The previous night, Rizzo launched Zack Wheeler’s second pitch a projected 462 feet to center, sparking a 14-3 rout of the Mets. Happ hit a grand slam off Wheeler in the second inning.
Looking to energize his slumping team, manager Joe Maddon batted Rizzo first on Tuesday — making the All-Star slugger the seventh Chicago player to hit at the top of the lineup this year.
The defending World Series champions entered Tuesday with a .306 on-base percentage from the leadoff spot, which ranked 24th in the majors.
“You just go with it. It’s fun,” Rizzo said Wednesday. “Obviously you go back-to-back there, it gets the clubhouse really loose. Just statistically, by the books, to lead off the game, I’m the best there ever was. Right now.”
___
More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) — Anthony Rizzo has taken quite a liking to the leadoff spot.
One night after hitting a leadoff homer in his first career start atop the batting order, the Chicago Cubs’ 240-pound first baseman did it again. Rizzo drove Matt Harvey’s first pitch over the left-center fence at Citi Field for his 15th home run of the season Wednesday, prompting excited high-fives from giddy teammates in the dugout.
“I am statistically the greatest leadoff hitter of all-time,” Rizzo said after the game. “I would like to retire there just to talk smack to everyone that tries to do it.”
Chicago rookie Ian Happ followed with his seventh homer for a 2-0 lead over the New York Mets, who later rallied for a 9-4 victory.
Rizzo was asked about television broadcasters mentioning that he predicted his leadoff homer against Harvey before the game.
“I think that’s kind of bogus that they bring out what we talk about in the dugout a lot. That’s between me and my teammates and they’re putting that on TV,” he said. “We talk all the time here, just saying, ’Hey, it’s going to be 1-0, it’s going to be 1-0 again. But you can’t ever predict a home run off a pitcher, especially Matt Harvey, so to put it out there, I’m not too thrilled with all that. But I was saying it before the game, messing around, being loose.”
The previous night, Rizzo launched Zack Wheeler’s second pitch a projected 462 feet to center, sparking a 14-3 rout of the Mets. Happ hit a grand slam off Wheeler in the second inning.
Looking to energize his slumping team, manager Joe Maddon batted Rizzo first on Tuesday — making the All-Star slugger the seventh Chicago player to hit at the top of the lineup this year.
The defending World Series champions entered Tuesday with a .306 on-base percentage from the leadoff spot, which ranked 24th in the majors.
“You just go with it. It’s fun,” Rizzo said Wednesday. “Obviously you go back-to-back there, it gets the clubhouse really loose. Just statistically, by the books, to lead off the game, I’m the best there ever was. Right now.”
___
More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)