Chicago Sports Weekly Report: Cubs slump against Marlins; White Sox see bit of life

"UNB! Network" Chicago Sports Report

CHICAGO -- Yes, the Chicago Cubs are still leading the NL Central at 50-26.

They beat the Cincinnati Reds 11-8 on Monday and beat them 7-2 on Tuesday, and the series finale is Wednesday, where they will start Kyle Hendricks on the mound, who has a 2.06 ERA in his last seven starts, to help the Cubs earn the series sweep against the Reds.

That game begins at 11:35am CT.

But the Cubs went into this series against the Reds coming off a 3-1 series loss to the Miami Marlins.

They lost to the Marlins 4-2 on June 23, then beat them on June 24, but then lost the next two against the Marlins, 9-6 on June 25 and 6-1 on June 26.

Obviously the Cubs have rebounded with these two wins against the Reds, and winning on Wednesday and earning the series sweep would definitely be a fantastic rebound.

But let's look at the White Sox, where in past Chicago Sports Weekly Report's we've said have been struggling.

They sit fourth in the AL Central at 38-39.

On Tuesday, they lost their series opener to the Minnesota Twins 4-0, but they did win their recent series against the Toronto Blue Jays 2-1.

They beat Toronto 3-2 on June 24, but lost to them 10-8 on June 25, but rebounded on June 26 and beat the Blue Jays 5-2.

Melky Cabrera currently leads the White Sox in batting average (.294), followed by Adam Eaton (.277) and Jose Abreu (.263).

Todd Frazier as of now leads the White a Sox in RBIs (49), followed by Jose Abreu (47) and Melky Cabrera (39).

The White Sox sit behind the Detroit Tigers (39-38), the Kansas City Royals (40-36) and the Cleveland Indians (46-30) in the division standinfs.

The White Sox play game two of their current series against the Twins on Wednesday night at 7:10pm CT.

Sale first to 12 wins, White Sox beat Red Sox 3-1

BOSTON (AP) — Tim Anderson gave Chicago White Sox ace Chris Sale the earliest lead possible, and Sale used it to become the majors' first 12-game winner.

Sale tied his season high with nine strikeouts, Anderson led off the game with his first career homer and the White Sox beat the Boston Red Sox 3-1 on Tuesday night.

"I felt really good out there. I had good command and just confidence, too," Sale said.

That confidence was evident as Sale (12-2) held Boston to four hits over seven innings. He got to a dozen wins before the season's midpoint.

Chicago led the whole way after Anderson homered to left on the first pitch from Clay Buchholz (3-7) in the right-hander's return to Boston's rotation after spending about a month in the bullpen.

Buchholz recovered after the rocky start and pitched pretty well, just not nearly as well as Sale.

"He was great. I think this is one of his better ones," Chicago manager Robin Ventura said of Sale. "He navigated it very well tonight. I think he was throwing strikes, a great changeup in some tough spots and got a strikeout when he needed it, too."

Todd Frazier hit his 20th homer and David Robertson got his 18th save for the White Sox, who won consecutive games for just the second time in June.

Boston sputtered against Sale and the relievers that followed. The Red Sox left eight runners on base and were 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position.

"He kept everybody off balance, mixed up pitches throughout counts and did what he does a lot of times," said Mookie Betts, who drove in Boston's only run.

Sale also had a 2-0 lead before even throwing a pitch. Adam Eaton doubled on Buchholz's second pitch and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Melky Cabrera.

"Before I even stepped on the field we're sitting there 2-0," Sale said. "The way T.A. started that game off, it just gives you a spark, gives you a little bit more of a jolt."

Sale's biggest challenge came after Travis Shaw and Sandy Leon started the third inning with back-to-back singles. Shaw scored on a sacrifice fly by Betts, and the Red Sox loaded the bases with two outs before Sale struck out Hanley Ramirez swinging.

"I wasn't really focused on this or that," Sale said. "I know that these guys are a good hitting team, especially at their house. So I was just trying to keep the ball down and not let things get too far out of hand."

BIG HITTER

Anderson has five hits in eight games since the White Sox moved him to the top of the order on June 13. He did it again Tuesday with a shot that ended up in the seats above the Green Monster, not far from where Frazier's homer landed in the fourth to put Chicago up 3-1.

"I kind of felt like he was going first-pitch fastball, so I was just on it and made sure I didn't miss it," Anderson said. "It was a great feeling to get my first one out of the way."

BUCHHOLZ RECOVERS

Buchholz allowed only one run after Chicago's two-run first inning. He struck out five and threw only 78 pitches in five innings. He admitted not relishing the assignment to the bullpen, but thought maybe a step back would help him stay in a rotation very much in need of quality starters.

"Overall I felt pretty good," Buchholz said. "They've got a good lineup. It's a tough lineup to pitch to, especially when you're going up against Chris Sale."

TRAINER'S ROOM

White Sox: They placed RHP Zach Putnam on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation of the ulnar nerve in his right elbow. ... RHP Chris Beck was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte.

Red Sox: DH David Ortiz was not in the starting lineup, almost getting the night off before pinch hitting in the ninth and drawing a walk. Ramirez was the DH and struck out three times.

UP NEXT

White Sox: LHP Jose Quintana (5-7, 2.63) has gone 0-6 with one no decision over his last seven starts.

Red Sox: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (1-2, 6.97), who was moved back a day in the rotation for an extra bullpen session, will start his fifth game of the season.

Carpenter, Holliday homer as Cardinals beat Cubs 4-3

CHICAGO (AP) — Adam Wainwright called the most recent homestand a reality check for St. Louis. He's not quite ready to call this a turning point for the Cardinals.

Matt Carpenter and Matt Holliday homered to back Wainwright, and St. Louis beat the Chicago Cubs 4-3 on Tuesday night.

The Cardinals won their second straight game after going 0-5 on their first winless homestand of at least two series since 1983.

"I think a reality check set in where we're going to have to learn how to win and play in those close games better," Wainwright said. "When we come in here to this great city and this great team, we're going to have to play some tough games, some close games, and you're going to have to learn how to win those games."

The Cardinals made it consecutive one-run wins over the Cubs after three straight one-run losses to Texas. And while Wainwright called it an "overstatement" to "say this is a statement series," there are certainly some promising signs coming from St. Louis.

Carpenter and Holliday connected against Jason Hammel (7-3) in a three-run third inning that made it 4-1. Wainwright (6-4) pitched into the seventh and improved to 10-1 in 21 games — 16 starts — at Wrigley Field.

The Cardinals put themselves in position to sweep their first trip to Chicago since last year's NL Division Series, though it won't be easy with the major league-leading Cubs sending reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta to the mound.

"They're really, truly buying into the idea that we've got to look like the kind of team that we should do that," manager Mike Matheny said. "When we do that, we'll throw ourselves in the ring with anybody."

Chris Coghlan scored two runs for Chicago, whose longest losing streak is three games. The only other time the Cubs dropped two straight at home was when San Diego swept a doubleheader on May 11. But they came up short in this one, hitting into three double plays and going 0 for 9 with runners in scoring position.

"I have no complaints about the last two nights — zero," manager Joe Maddon said. "We played well. We played good baseball."

Wainwright allowed three runs and six hits in 6 2/3 innings.

Chicago's Addison Russell doubled off the wall in left leading off the seventh. Jonathan Broxton came in with two outs and walked Coghlan, putting runners on first and third, but first baseman Brandon Moss made a diving stop on Jason Heyward's grounder to end the threat.

Kevin Siegrist worked the eighth, and Trevor Rosenthal handled the ninth for his 14th save in 16 chances. Shaky in Monday's win, he gave up a one-out single to Russell and walked Javier Baez with two outs before pinch-hitter Matt Szczur grounded into a force play to end the game.

Hammel went 5 2/3 innings, allowing four runs and six hits.

STRETCH TO START

The Cubs optioned right-hander Adam Warren to Triple-A Iowa to prepare him for a major league start. The Cubs plan to have him start two minor-league games and make one for them before the All-Star break. Warren might make another start after that.

Chicago will have played 24 consecutive days before the break. Stretching Warren will give the starters an extra day of rest.

HE SAID IT

Moss on the Cardinals: "We're playing good baseball. We didn't play terrible baseball at home, we just made a couple mistakes and lost some heartbreakers."

TRAINER'S ROOM

Cardinals: C Brayan Pena (left knee surgery) was hitting .179 through 11 minor league games. His rehab stint will expire next week.

Cubs: The Cubs placed LHP Clayton Richard on the 15-day DL because of a blister on his left middle finger.

UP NEXT

The Cubs send Arrieta (11-1, 1.74 ERA) to the mound while the Cardinals go with RHP Michael Wacha (2-7, 4.56) in the finale of the three-game series. Arrieta got the win at St. Louis on May 25 despite allowing a season-high four runs over five innings. Wacha is 0-7 in his last 10 starts.

Chicago Sports Weekly Report: Cubs continue to rock, White Sox still in slump

CHICAGO – Recently in 2016, we've been seeing major U.S. cities break their professional sports championship droughts.

We saw Pittsburgh break their dry spell with the Penguins winning the NHL's Stanley Cup, and on Sunday we saw the Cleveland Cavaliers break Cleveland's championship drought.

Chicago, however, is not in a drought, as the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup three times recently, in 2010, 2013, and 2015.

But the MLB's Chicago Cubs are in a dry spell of their own, having not won the MLB's World Series since 1908.

But as we have mentioned in previous versions of the Chicago Sports Weekly Report, the Cubs are performing so well right now that they may be in prime position to finally win that World Series that their fans have been waiting for generations to see.

The Cubs are 47-20 and are currently leading the NL Central division.

On Sunday, in Wilson Contreras' first MLB at-bat with the Cubs, he crushed a ball that went to become a two-run homer in the Cubs' 10-5 win over the Pirates to sweep the series.

"It's incredible," Contreras said. "I don't have the words to explain how happy I am."

A fan even returned that two-run homer ball to Contreras, which he found in his locker.


"It's a dream come true," he said.

The story of Contreras on Sunday shows the positivity of the Cubs at this point in the season. But the MLB's other Chicago franchise is not having anywhere near as much luck as the Cubs.

The Chicago White Sox are sitting fourth in the AL Central with a record of 33-36, three games below .500, at .478.

The White Sox trail the Indians by 5 1/2 games in the division. The Indians beat the White Sox 3-2 on Sunday.

"We were trying everything," said manager Robin Ventura after Sunday's loss. "It's a tough one to lose."

Nationals outlast Cubs in 12 innings, 5-4

WASHINGTON (AP) — First, Stephen Strasburg and Jason Hammel dueled to scintillating draw. Then, the Washington Nationals and Chicago Cubs engaged in a back-and-forth drama that stretched into extra innings.

Afterward, both sides agreed: It was a game better suited for late fall than the middle of June.

Jayson Werth singled in the winning run with two outs in the 12th inning, giving the Nationals a 5-4 victory Wednesday before a sellout crowd of 42,000, largest of the season in Washington.

The Nationals won two of three in this showdown between the NL East and NL Central leaders.

"It kind of had a playoff feel, the way it was fought and played, especially at the end," Chicago's Anthony Rizzo said. "It was a fun game, a crazy game, the kind you see in October."

Facing Adam Warren, Werth hit a liner off the wall in center field to score Michael Taylor, who hit an RBI single against Trevor Cahill (0-2) earlier in the inning.

"It was awesome," Taylor said. "It's the kind of game you want to part of."

Addison Russell had given the Cubs the lead in the 12th with a run-scoring single off Yusmeiro Petit (2-0).

"They have a good team. We have a good team," Werth said. "It was a battle, a good series."

Strasburg gave up one run in seven innings for the Nationals, and Hammel did the same for Chicago. After they departed, both teams received shoddy bullpen work.

Pinch-hitter Stephen Drew gave Washington a 2-1 lead with a homer in the eighth off Pedro Strop. It was the Nationals' club-record ninth pinch-hit home run of the season, the third by Drew.

With closer Jonathan Papelbon on the disabled list, Washington manager Dusty Baker summoned Matt Belisle to protect the lead in the ninth. Belisle promptly gave up a leadoff double to Kris Bryant, and Baker turned to Oliver Perez to end it.

Rizzo greeted the left-hander with a two-run shot to right.

Cubs closer Hector Rondon added his name to the list of ineffective relievers in the bottom half. He issued a leadoff walk to Bryce Harper and an RBI single to Wilson Ramos.

"The two best teams in baseball going at it, exchanging punches," Hammel said. "It was exciting. We had our chances to do it and they answered back."

He added: "Just a hard-played series on both sides. An October preview, maybe."

Hammel remained 9-0 lifetime against the Nationals after giving up five hits, striking out four and walking nine. He ended his outing by getting Anthony Rendon to ground out with a runner on third.

Strasburg struck out eight, allowing six hits and a walk. He wasn't involved in the decision, so he's 10-0 with a 2.90 ERA after 14 starts this season.

"Fastball command got better as the game went on," the right-hander said.

Ben Zobrist opened the game by hitting a 1-2 pitch from Strasburg over the wall in right. Jason Heyward followed with a double and was cut down trying to steal third.

Chicago didn't put another runner in scoring position until the seventh, when Albert Almora Jr. doubled with one out.

The Nationals got a first-inning run when Ben Revere singled and scored on a wild pitch. After Ramos led off the Washington second with a single, Hammel retired 13 straight.

WEST COAST DISTRACTIONS

The Nationals face San Diego and the Dodgers on the road over the next seven days, a journey that will test the team's focus. "I've seen the West Coast destroy teams," Nationals manager Dusty Baker said. "Everybody has friends, relatives, couple fleas, couple parasites. It's no joke, going to the coast."

UP NEXT

Cubs: After taking Thursday off, Chicago sends Jake Arrieta (10-1, 1.86 ERA) to the mound Friday afternoon against the Pirates at Wrigley Field.

Nationals: Tanner Roark (5-4, 2.93) starts Thursday night to launch a four-game series against San Diego. Roark's lone complete game in the majors came against the Padres.

Sale wins MLB-best 11th as White Sox beat Tigers, 5-3

CHICAGO (AP) — Chris Sale was dominant for much of Wednesday night, though the left-hander believes the key to his success was how he handled the one stretch where he struggled.

Sale allowed three runs in seven innings to become the first 11-game winner in the majors, leading the Chicago White Sox to a 5-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers.

He survived a shaky third inning in which he allowed all three runs and five of the six hits he surrendered.

"I tried to keep my emotions in check. There was a lot of ballgame left," said Sale, who was 1-2 with a 6.75 ERA in his previous four starts. "Sometimes you get out there and get frustrated.

"That's a hard enough team that can beat you by themselves. You don't want to help them out. So just focus and try to get back on."

Sale (11-2) allowed just two baserunners in his final four innings. He threw a season-high 119 pitches, giving a tired Chicago bullpen much-needed rest.

Nate Jones worked a perfect eighth inning and David Robertson pitched the ninth for his 16th save in 18 chances.

Rookie Tim Anderson, who was moved into the leadoff spot on Monday, had three hits and three runs scored, and Todd Frazier drove in the go-ahead run as Chicago won two of three in the series between AL Central rivals.

Jose Iglesias had a two-run home run for the Tigers. Mike Pelfrey (1-7) allowed four runs in six innings.

"He had a couple of leadoff walks, but he pitched well, though," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. "His velocity was good. He got ground balls, got a couple of double plays. He certainly kept us in the game and gave us a chance to win."

After the potent Detroit offense battered Chicago starters early and often in the first two games of the series, Sale looked to restore order and retired the first six batters as the White Sox took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a sacrifice fly by Melky Cabrera.

But then the Tigers started the third with four straight hits, including Iglesias' homer, to take a 2-1 lead. The advantage grew to 3-1 later in the inning on a two-out, run-scoring single by Nick Castellanos following an intentional walk to Miguel Cabrera.

Detroit might have scored more, but James McCann, who led off the third with a double, was thrown out at the plate by center fielder J.B. Shuck for the first out while trying to score on a single by Mike Aviles.

Sale settled down from there.

Chicago pushed across single runs in the fourth and fifth innings, on RBI ground outs by Brett Lawrie and Adam Eaton, to tie it at 3. Frazier added a sacrifice fly in the seventh to put the White Sox on top 4-3, and put Sale in line for the win.

Anderson led off the seventh with a single and advanced to third on a ground-rule double by Eaton.

Chicago added an insurance run in the eighth on a RBI triple by Schuck.

"You put your guys in a hole and they get you out of it and get you a win as well," Sale said. "It's huge taking a series before going on the road. Hopefully that gives us a boost."

MISSED SALE

Victor Martinez, who sat out his third straight game with a balky right knee, is 18 for 36 with four homers and nine RBIs against Sale. Ausmus said he wasn't tempted to put Martinez in the lineup, even though he pinch hit in the ninth inning.

"We need Victor for the entire season," Ausmus said. "Unfortunately, one of the days he needs to have off is against someone he's done pretty well against."

ONLY THE BEST

Iglesias has two homers on the season, off Sale and Max Scherzer of the Washington Nationals.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Tigers: OF Cameron Maybin was back in the lineup after sitting out Tuesday to rest his left wrist. He broke it in spring training and it still gives him occasional pain.

UP NEXT

Tigers: RHP Justin Verlander (6-5, 3.77 ERA) pitches the opener of a four-game at Kansas City on Thursday night. LHP Danny Duffy (2-1, 2.94) goes for the Royals.

White Sox: LHP Jose Quintana (5-7, 2.66 ERA) looks to snap a six-game losing streak Friday night against Indians RHP Trevor Bauer (4-2, 3.69) in the opener of a three-game series at Cleveland. Quintana has received a total of four runs of support in his last six starts.

Blackhawks make waves on Wednesday

The Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday acquired a second-round pick (50th overall) in the 2016 National Hockey League Draft and a third-round pick in the 2017 NHL Draft from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for forwards Bryan Bickell and Teuvo Teravainen.

Bickell, 30, has notched 65 goals and adding 70 assists in 384 games with the Blackhawks, spanning nine seasons. A member of the 2013 and 2015 Stanley Cup championship teams, he was the Blackhawks' second-round selection (41st overall) in the 2004 NHL Draft.

Teravainen, 21, recently completed his third NHL season—all with the Blackhawks—and has collected 17 goals and 27 assists in 115 games. Chicago first selection (18th overall) in the 2012 NHL Draft, Teravainen was a member of the team’s 2015 Stanley Cup championship.

The Blackhawks also agreed to a one-year contract with forward Richard Panik.

Details of the contract were not released.

Panik would have become a restricted free agent July 1.

Panik, 25, had six goals and eight points in 30 regular-season games after he was acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs for forward Jeremy Morin on Jan. 3.