Emotions flare as Blue Jays down White Sox

(TSX / STATS) -- CHICAGO -- Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Marcus Stroman waited for the ball to be tossed around the diamond after he struck out Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson in the seventh inning.

Stroman noticed something he did not like. Anderson kept talking as he headed to the dugout.

Moments later, both benches cleared as the players jawed at one another.

"I asked him what he was saying," Stroman said. "He continued to talk more, so I walked toward the dugout. I thought he had a problem. I don't understand why he would be running his mouth on the way back to the dugout. It made zero sense to me."

Umpires restored order before any physical altercations took place. Stroman settled his emotions on the mound to guide the Blue Jays to an 8-4 win over the White Sox on Tuesday night.

The feud between Anderson and Stroman might not be finished, however. Anderson said the pitcher had words for him when he stepped out of the batter's box earlier in the at-bat, and he mumbled something from the mound after the strikeout.

"It was one of those things, I stepped out (of the batter's box), and he just complains and cries like he always does," Anderson said. "That's what it led to."

An outburst of offense by Toronto's hitters did little to quell the frustration for the White Sox.

Josh Donaldson went 2-for-3 with a double, a home run and three RBIs to lead the Blue Jays at the plate. Justin Smoak finished 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs as the team totaled 13 hits.

Toronto (50-57) snapped a four-game road losing streak. The Blue Jays improved to 9-3 in games when they record a dozen hits or more.

Omar Narvaez and Kevan Smith drove in two runs apiece for the White Sox. Chicago (41-63) dropped to 3-14 since the All-Star break.

"We still competed," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. "We still had an opportunity to go out there and do some things."

Stroman (10-5) reached double-digit victories for the first time since his rookie season in 2014. He limited the White Sox to four runs and seven hits in seven innings.

An emphasis on the two-seam fastball helped Stroman set the tone for the game.

"He battled," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "They had a good approach on him, they shot some balls the other way. He hung in there for seven strong innings."

White Sox right-hander Mike Pelfrey (3-9) gave up six runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings.

"My command is terrible," Pelfrey said in disgust.

Toronto scored three runs in the sixth inning to make it 7-2. Russell Martin ripped a two-run single and Donaldson followed with a double off the wall in left-center field to drive in one more.

Chicago cut the deficit to 7-4 on Smith's pinch-hit home run in the sixth.

In the seventh, Steve Pearce doubled to score Kendrys Morales and extend Toronto's lead to 8-4.

Donaldson gave the Blue Jays an early 1-0 lead with a solo home run to center field in the first. The blast marked Donaldson's 12th home run of the season and his second in as many games.

Donaldson increased Toronto's advantage to 2-0 with a sacrifice fly in the third. His line drive to center field scored Darwin Barney, who doubled to lead off the inning.

Chicago evened the score at 2 on a two-out, two-run double by Narvaez in the fourth.

Toronto regained a 4-2 lead on Smoak's two-run homer in the fifth. It was Smoak's 31st home run, which trails only Aaron Judge (34) and Giancarlo Stanton (33) for most in the majors.

White Sox right fielder Alen Hanson robbed Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista of a home run in the fifth when he leaped and extended his glove just beyond the outfield wall to make the catch.

NOTES: White Sox DH Matt Davidson left the game with a bruised right wrist that he sustained when he was hit by a pitch in the fourth inning. X-rays were negative, and Davidson's status is day to day. ... White Sox OF/3B Nicky Delmonico made his big league debut several hours after he was promoted from Triple-A Charlotte. Delmonico, 25, went 1-for-4. ... Blue Jays OF Nori Aoki was activated to the 25-man roster and available off the bench one day after the team acquired him from the Astros in exchange for LHP Francisco Liriano. ... The White Sox placed OF Willy Garcia on the seven-day disabled list because of a concussion. Garcia was injured Monday when he took a knee to the head from 2B Yoan Moncada while both players were chasing a pop fly. ... The Blue Jays designated LHP Brett Oberholtzer for assignment.

Illinois governor’s veto could jeopardize school funding

By SARA BURNETT and SOPHIA TAREEN
Associated Press

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner used his veto power Tuesday to strip millions of dollars for Chicago Public Schools from a school funding overhaul, a move that could mean no districts get state money before classes begin.

The Republican removed help for Chicago Public Schools’ pensions along with money the district formerly received in the form of a block grant, along with other rewrites.

“With my changes, Illinois can achieve historic education funding reform that is fair and equitable to all Illinois’ children,” Rauner said at a Capitol news conference.

The bill now returns to the Democrat-controlled Legislature, where a three-fifths vote in both chambers is needed to either override Rauner’s changes or approve them to be able to send money to schools this year. Both options will be difficult. If neither chamber can muster the votes, the legislation dies.

Ahead of Rauner’s news conference, Democrats warned any veto would undo years of work aimed at overhauling a school-funding formula that’s considered the most inequitable in the nation.

They urged Rauner not to engage in a “veto showdown” and to let Republican legislators continue closed-door negotiations that started over the weekend but fell apart Monday.

“If he vetoes the bill, the bill is dead,” said state Sen. Andy Manar, a Bunker Hill Democrat who sponsored the legislation. “That action will set us back decades.”

Rauner told reporters it would take a simple majority of legislators to approve his changes. But Democrats, citing a previous attorney general’s opinion, say more votes are necessary because the law would have to take effect immediately in order to get money to schools.

A new school formula is required as part of a state budget deal that legislators approved in July over Rauner’s veto, ending an impasse that reached a third year.

Without the new school funding legislation, districts won’t get paid. The first payment to schools is due Aug. 10.

No Illinois school has reported that it’ll be unable to open on time, according to the Illinois State Board of Education. However, many say they’ll only be able to last a few months.

In a southern Illinois district in West Frankfort, Superintendent Matt Donkin said there’s only enough money for the district with about 1,750 students to meet payroll “a few times.”

“That leaves a lot of uncertainty,” Donkin said this week, likening the start of school to getting ready for takeoff in a plane with insufficient crew and an engine running half-speed.

“I don’t know that you want to ride on that plane,” he said. “But those are the effects that these funding battles have had. And it’s not for the champagne and caviar in first class ... It’s for the books, for the supplies, for those last-minute things.”

Democrats approved the legislation in May but held on to it in what they said was an attempt to persuade Rauner not to use his threatened veto. The governor accused them of sitting on the bill to force a crisis, and set a Monday deadline for them to send him the measure.

Lawmakers from both parties agree the 20-year-old calculation currently used to fund public schools is unfair and forces school districts to rely heavily on property taxes, creating huge disparities in per-student funding. But they’ve clashed over how to fix it.

The proposed formula Democrats approved channels money to the neediest districts first after ensuring that no district receives less money than last school year. It also includes pension help for Chicago.

Democrats insist the proposal is fair since Chicago is the only Illinois district that pays the employer portion of teacher pension costs. Rauner has repeatedly called it a “bailout.”

He used his veto authority Tuesday to strip that money from the bill, saying it should be part of separate legislation governing pensions. But that cannot be done via an amendatory veto, even if Democrats were to agree. Instead, separate legislation would have to be approved.

Rauner also removed $250 million that the nation’s third-largest district received as a block grant. Republicans say the grant provides more money than Chicago would receive if the amount were calculated based on enrollment — the way other districts get certain funds.

Rauner said Tuesday the money he removed would be redistributed to other struggling districts under his plan, though that only happens if the Legislature approves the changes.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel accused Rauner of playing politics with children’s futures, saying it’s time he “ensure a child’s education isn’t determined by their zip code or his political whims.”

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This story has been corrected to show lawmakers approved a state budget in July, not earlier this month.

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Tareen contributed from Chicago.

Chicago mayor Emanuel blasts Illinois Gov. Rauner's veto

SPRINGFIELD, Ill -- Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is blasting Gov. Bruce Rauner’s rewrite of a school funding proposal that strips money from the city’s schools.

In a statement, Emanuel says the Republican governor has ignored “the needs of Illinois’ school children” and that the plan only advances Rauner’s “own personal brand of cynical politics.”

Rauner used his amendatory veto powers to strip money, including pension help, from Chicago Public Schools. He calls his changes more equitable and fair for schools statewide. It returns to the Legislature, where a three-fifths majority is needed in each chamber to overrule Rauner.

An overhaul of the 20-year-old way Illinois doles out funding to public schools is needed because the budget legislators approved last month calls for a new funding formula. There’s wide agreement the current calculation is unfair, but Republicans and Democrats disagree over how to change it.

Illinois Gov. Rauner vetoes power to withdraw money from Chicago Public Schools

UNB! News Services

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner has used his veto power to strip millions of dollars for Chicago Public Schools from a school funding overhaul in a move that could mean no districts get state money before classes begin.

The Republican on Tuesday removed help for Chicago Public Schools’ pensions along with money the district formerly received in the form of a block grant, along with other changes.

Rauner says the way public schools get money in Illinois will be more “fair and equitable” with his changes to a school funding bill.

Democratic Senate President John Cullerton had urged Rauner to “do the right thing” and sign the legislation.

The bill now returns to the Legislature, where three-fifths of lawmakers in both chambers must either approve or override Rauner’s changes. Both options will be difficult. If neither chamber can muster the votes, the legislation dies.

Many districts are concerned about how long schools can stay open without state money.

July violence pushes Chicago’s 2017 homicide total past 400

CHICAGO (AP) — July was another dangerous month in Chicago, with 74 homicides reported.

Police say that drove the total for the year past the 400 mark and put the city on pace to eclipse last year’s total.

The Chicago Police Department says there have been 402 homicides — 10 more than during the same period last year. If the pace holds, 2017 will end with more than the 762 homicides that last year marked highest yearly total in two decades.

But the department says the number of shooting victims and shooting incidents for the year is more than 11 percent lower than during the same period last year. The department says the drop comes as it has expanded its use of high tech crime equipment and other measures.

Green tech company redeveloping ex-Chicago steel mill site

CHICAGO (AP) — A green technology development company says it will acquire the site of a former 440-acre steel mill on Chicago’s Southeast Side.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Emerald Living on Tuesday announced that the company has agreed to buy the former U.S. Steel South Works property. City officials say preliminary plans for the site are for a mixed-use developments including up to 20,000 housing units built with environmentally friendly technology.

The mammoth South Works complex produced beams and sheets of steel for 112 years until it shut down in 1992. City officials say that under the terms of the purchase and sale agreement announced Tuesday, Emerald Living has five months to close on the sale following a period of environmental review and other required due diligence.

White Sox rally from 6-0 deficit, beat Blue Jays

(TSX / STATS) -- CHICAGO -- Considering the way the month of July went for the Chicago White Sox, a little late magic can be viewed as a welcomed addition.

Adding a bit of drama to the mix never hurts, either.

Matt Davidson delivered a two-out RBI single in the ninth inning for the winning run as the White Sox rallied from six runs down to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-6 on Monday night.

Davidson's single followed an RBI hit by Jose Abreu. Chicago, which has won on walk-off hits on back-to-back days, earned just its third victory in 17 games.

"To win in the ninth inning is always fun," Davidson said. "We've got a little momentum going for us right now."

The White Sox scored a run in the seventh inning and four in the eighth to get within 6-5.

Roberto Osuna (3-2) gave up the hits to Abreu and Davidson in the ninth and took the loss. Chris Beck (2-1), who pitched a perfect ninth, got the win.

The White Sox rallied in the eighth on back-to-back home runs by Davidson -- who delivered a two-run shot and who homered on Sunday to cap a win over the Cleveland Indians -- and Yolmer Sanchez.

Abreu also had an RBI double in the inning as the White Sox produced another late victory after falling behind.

"I think if you're talking about fighting and playing nine innings of baseball, it validates that there is a reason why you continue to play," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. "No matter what the circumstances are, anything can happen in the game of baseball."

The late damage came off Toronto relievers after Blue Jays starter Marco Estrada gave up four hits and allowed only one run over seven innings. Estrada struck out five and walked one.

The Blue Jays scored three runs in the sixth inning to build a 6-0 lead. After three consecutive singles, Darwin Barney lifted a shallow fly ball to right field. When White Sox right fielder Willy Garcia attempted to make a sliding catch, charging rookie second baseman Yoan Moncada struck Garcia in the side of the head with his right knee.

Garcia's head snapped back and he dropped the ball after being hit by Moncada's knee as both players remained on the field for several minutes. Barney reached second base with the bases-clearing double.

Moncada, who was called up earlier this month from Triple-A, left the field on a cart with a knee contusion. Garcia, who sustained a head contusion, walked off under his own power.

"I thought at the first moment that it was bad, really ugly," Abreu said. "If you saw the play at the first moment, you're not going to think that they would be good after that. Thank God they are, and that's something that we have to be happy about."

The White Sox cut the deficit to 6-1 in the seventh inning on Alen Hanson's sacrifice fly. Sanchez, who replaced Moncada after the sixth-inning collision, led off the inning with a single. Hanson, who replaced Garcia, later lifted a fly ball to right field, knocking in Sanchez.

The Blue Jays took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Josh Donaldson delivered a two-out solo home run off White Sox starter James Shields. Center fielder Adam Engel gave chase and crashed into the fence, but Donaldson's solo shot sailed safely into the right field bleachers.

Russell Martin led off the fourth inning with a solo shot off Shields, who hadn't allowed a hit since surrendering the home run to Donaldson. Justin Smoak followed two batters later with his 30th home run of the season to extend the Toronto lead to 3-0.

Shields yielded six runs on eight hits in six innings.

Estrada held the White Sox without a hit for the first 4 1/3 innings. Once Estrada left the game, everything fell apart for the Blue Jays.

"We had a nice little lead -- we needed six outs and we couldn't close it out," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "When you've been in baseball as long as I have, you go through it. It's never easy, especially when you've got a comfortable lead."

NOTES: Blue Jays LHP Francisco Liriano was traded to the Houston Astros Monday for OF Norichika Aoki and OF Teoscar Hernandez. Aoki is expected to arrive in Chicago on Tuesday. ...The Blue Jays also traded RHP Joe Smith to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for LHP Thomas Pannone and RHP Samad Taylor. ... The Blue Jays called up LHPs J.P. Howell and Brett Oberholtzer on Tuesday to fill the roster spots. Howell has been on the disabled list with left shoulder soreness. Oberholtzer has spent all season with Triple-A Buffalo as a starting pitcher.