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Chicago White Sox are limited to 4 hits in a 4-1 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers: ‘We know we can get better’

The Chicago White Sox had one hit — a single by Jake Burger — against talented Los Angeles Dodgers starter Tony Gonsolin heading to the bottom of the fifth Wednesday.They were down three runs when the offense appeared to be gaining momentum.AdvertisementBurger led off with a homer to left. Gavin Sheets doubled and AJ Pollock walked.But the promising inning fizzled and the Sox were held in check the rest of the way, falling 4-1 in front of 25,078 at Guaranteed Rate Field.AdvertisementGonsolin got Danny Mendick to hit a grounder to shortstop Trea Turner, which turned into a force at second. Leury García struck out and Luis Robert flied out to center to end the team’s most serious threat.“It wasn’t the best night,” García said. “But we have to just keep working and try to get better. We know we can get better.”[ [Don’t miss] ‘You form a lot of bonds’: White Sox OF AJ Pollock enjoys reunion with his former Dodgers teammates ]The Sox were limited to four hits, two by Burger. Gonsolin (7-0) allowed one run on three hits with five strikeouts and a walk in six innings.“I give credit where credit is due: The pitcher has a (1.58) ERA and he’s undefeated,” Sox manager Tony La Russa said. “So evidently it wasn’t a piece of cake. But we did have two real good chances to add a run in the fourth and the (fifth).“We didn’t get them over, didn’t get them in. So when a guy is pitching that well, every chance you get, you’ve got to mark and we didn’t.”Dodgers starting pitcher Tony Gonsolin puts on his hoodie in the dugout after the sixth inning Wednesday, June 8, 2022, at Guaranteed Rate Field. (Charles Rex Arbogast/AP)The first four hitters in the Sox lineup — García, Luis Robert, Yoán Moncada and José Abreu — went a combined 0-for-15 with a hit-by-pitch for Robert in the fourth.“I feel like (bleep) at the plate,” said García, who struck out three times. “But I give it all I got. That’s all I got. I give it 100% and struck out three times. Nobody wants three strikeouts. But I just have to keep working and all the situations, they’re going to change.”Robert stole second in the fourth and advanced on a flyout to third, where he was stranded. The Sox left two more runners on in the fifth.AdvertisementAsked if he’s considering drastic changes to the lineup, La Russa said: “I consider everything. I also consider we won three in a row (entering Wednesday), so I’m not dumping a club just because they got beat one game where a guy with a 1.00 ERA shuts us down.”The Dodgers struck early against Sox starter Johnny Cueto (0-3).Turner singled with two outs in the first and Will Smith followed with a home run to left.Cody Bellinger led off the second with a homer to right, giving the Dodgers a 3-0 lead.“It was just a pitch that I hung in the middle of the strike zone and he took advantage of it,” Cueto said through an interpreter of Bellinger’s homer. “But after that, I got better.“It was just a mistake, that pitch, and after that I focused on trying to (locate) my pitches down in the zone.”AdvertisementCueto retired 15 of the final 17 batters he faced, allowing only a walk in the fifth and a single in the sixth. He exited after six innings, allowing the three runs on four hits with five strikeouts and one walk.“He’s buzzard luck as far as we haven’t been scoring a lot, but we don’t score at all for him,” La Russa said. “But he’s a pro. He keeps going out there and keeping us close. … He’s very impressive.”White Sox starting pitcher Johnny Cueto delivers during the first inning Wednesday, June 8, 2022, at Guaranteed Rate Field. (Charles Rex Arbogast/AP)The Sox have been held to three runs or fewer in four of Cueto’s five starts. The one time they surpassed the mark was in his Sox debut May 16 in Kansas City, where Robert hit a two-run homer in the 10th for a 5-3 victory.“My focus is just to do my best every time I’m on the mound,” Cueto said. “I can’t focus on what happens around me. I just do my job and focus on that.”The solid pitching continued for the Sox, but so did the offensive inconsistencies.“Our offense got shut down and there were some at-bats that were not fun to take,” La Russa said. “I know the guys aren’t happy with them. To me, when a guy is pitching well against you and you have a couple of situations, you at least get a mark. You’ve got to mark.Advertisement“If it turns out to be a crooked number, that’s good too. But we didn’t do it.”

Sports

Boston Celtics take a 2-1 NBA Finals lead, while Stephen Curry is hurt late in the Golden State Warriors’ 116-100 loss

BOSTON — Jaylen Brown scored 27 points, Jayson Tatum added 26 and the Boston Celtics beat back another third-quarter onslaught by the Golden State Warriors in a 116-100 victory Wednesday night that gave them a 2-1 lead in the NBA Finals.Marcus Smart added 24 points.AdvertisementStephen Curry led Golden State with 31 points and six 3-pointers. He had 15 points in a 33-25 third quarter for the Warriors but was hurt late in the fourth after Al Horford rolled into his leg on a loose ball. It was similar to a play during the regular season in which Smart dived into Curry’s legs while chasing a loose ball.Klay Thompson broke out of a finals slump and finished with 25 points and five 3s.AdvertisementGame 4 is Friday in Boston.The previous 39 times teams split the first two games of the finals, the winner of Game 3 went on to win the series 82% of the time.Feeding off the energy of the first TD Garden crowd to see an NBA Finals game since their last trip in 2010, the Celtics started fast and led by as many as 18 points in the first half.

Sports

Chicago Sky’s 4th-quarter rally comes up short in an 84-82 loss to the Washington Mystics

WASHINGTON — Ariel Atkins scored 19 points, Natasha Cloud made two free throws with six seconds left and the Washington Mystics held off the Chicago Sky 84-82 on Wednesday night to avenge a loss Sunday.The Mystics closed the first half on an 11-3 run to take a 45-40 lead and extended it to 57-42 after scoring 12 of the first 14 points of the third quarter. But the Mystics were held to 15 points in the fourth as the Sky battled back.AdvertisementThe Sky’s Candace Parker had a shot blocked but got her own rebound and converted a three-point play with 27.9 seconds left to tie it at 82. Cloud dribbled down the clock, drove to the basket and was fouled before making two free throws.After a timeout, the Sky got it inside to Parker, but her left-handed layup didn’t hit the rim as time expired.AdvertisementAlysha Clark added a season-high 18 points, Shakira Austin scored 14 and Cloud finished with 11 for the Mystics (8-5). Atkins also had seven rebounds and five assists.Tianna Hawkins started the second half in place of the Mystics’ Elena Delle Donne, who played just seven minutes before leaving with lower back tightness.Parker had 16 points and nine rebounds for the Sky (7-4), who beat the Mystics 91-82 on Sunday at Wintrust Arena. Kahleah Copper and Rebekah Gardner each added 12 points, and Allie Quigley and Azurá Stevens had 11 points apiece.

Sports

Chicago Cubs’ series finale against the Baltimore Orioles is postponed because of rain

BALTIMORE — Rainy weather washed out the Chicago Cubs’ series finale against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday night at Camden Yards.The postponed game was rescheduled for 2:05 p.m. CT on Aug. 18. That had been a day off for the Cubs after a three-game road series against the Washington Nationals. The change means the Cubs will play 20 games in 19 days between Aug. 13-31.AdvertisementRight-hander Marcus Stroman, slated to start Wednesday, instead threw in the bullpen as rain fell.The rainout means the Cubs have three days off in a four-day span. Given that they played 11 games in nine days before the road trip, including two extra-inning games, the pitching staff — particularly the bullpen — can benefit from a lessened workload this week.AdvertisementWhen the Cubs open a three-game series against the Yankees on Friday in New York, the roster could look a little different.Right fielder Seiya Suzuki is “in play” to rejoin the team this weekend, manager David Ross said Wednesday. Suzuki has missed 12 games while on the injured list because of a strained left ring finger. He took batting practice Wednesday.“We’ll see how the finger feels when he hits and stuff, so I’ll hold judgment on that,” Ross said before Suzuki’s BP. “But I think it’s about status quo as (Tuesday). I don’t think it’s any better. I don’t think it’s any worse. But we’ll see how he comes away from batting practice today and judge after that because he’s got an off day (Thursday).”Left-hander Wade Miley (left shoulder strain) is also “definitely an option” to come off the IL and start a game against the Yankees, Ross said. Miley felt fine after throwing Wednesday and was optimistic he would be back for the upcoming series. He is eligible to be activated Friday.

Sports

‘You form a lot of bonds’: Chicago White Sox OF AJ Pollock enjoys reunion with his former LA Dodgers teammates

AJ Pollock spent three seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers before being traded to the Chicago White Sox in April.With the Dodgers in town this week for a three-game series at Guaranteed Rate Field, the outfielder is getting the chance to see some familiar faces.Advertisement“It’s fun,” Pollock told the Tribune before Tuesday’s game. “You spend so much time with a group and you form a lot of bonds. It’s good to see them. Hopefully we can kick their butts. But it’s nice to say hi and catch up a little bit.”Pollock played a pivotal role in the series opener later that evening when he broke a scoreless tie with a two-run pinch double to right in the sixth inning. He also scored during the four-run inning as the Sox won 4-0.AdvertisementAJ Pollock smiles at second base after driving in two runs on a pinch double in the sixth inning against the Dodgers on Tuesday at Guaranteed Rate Field. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)“It was good,” Pollock told reporters after the game. “I had a lot of intrasquad battles the last couple of years. It’s always fun battling those guys. And it’s good to get a win against anyone. That’s a good ballclub. I know that’s a tough team and (it’s) a little extra special.”Pollock was in the starting lineup Wednesday, batting eighth against Dodgers starter Tony Gonsolin. Sox manager Tony La Russa said it’s tough to tell who has an edge when a player faces his former team.“I saw AJ, he won a championship over there (in 2020), they gave him a big welcome,” La Russa said Wednesday. “They know him and he knows them. You can know (Gonsolin), but it’s hard to hit him. And you may think you know where to pitch AJ, but he’s a pretty good hitter.“If you miss, he’s going to hit you.”Pollock’s teammate Reese McGuire experienced a reunion last week when the Sox played in Toronto. The catcher spent parts of four seasons with the Blue Jays before being traded to the Sox for catcher Zack Collins on April 3.McGuire went 3-for-12 with one RBI in the three games at Rogers Centre.“It was fun going back into that city, playing in that stadium,” McGuire told the Tribune on Wednesday. “A lot of good memories. (I made) my big-league debut there, so it was cool to get a little bit of a different perspective this time around and soak it all in and see some of my better friends in baseball across the diamond. Still some of them I talk to.Advertisement“All in all, it was a fun trip. Obviously would have liked to come away with some wins there (the Sox lost all three games), but it was cool.”The Sox acquired McGuire two days after picking up Pollock in a trade that sent reliever Craig Kimbrel to the Dodgers.“The longer you stay in this game, it’s like you (can) take offense to everything and can easily do that, but it’s a business,” Pollock said after Tuesday’s game. “They had some moves they wanted to make. They’re going to look out for their ballclub, and I was excited to be on a team that’s contending. It’s just baseball.”White Sox outfielder AJ Pollock (18) heads toward the plate on a double from teammate Jake Burger in the sixth inning against the Dodgers on Tuesday at Guaranteed Rate Field. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)AJ Pollock, left, is congratulated by teammate Yoan Moncada after scoring in the sixth inning against the Dodgers on Tuesday at Guaranteed Rate Field. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)Pollock slashed .282/.337/.519 with 52 homers and 150 RBIs in 258 regular-season games with the Dodgers.“It was a tough day,” Dodgers manager David Roberts told reporters Tuesday when asked of the trade. “AJ helped us win a championship, so he’s very well-liked in the clubhouse, in the organization, and to trade him was tough for everyone.“But to be able to acquire a guy that could step in and close for you was huge. And Craig has been great with us.”AdvertisementKimbrel, who went on paternity leave Tuesday, has 11 saves and a 4.00 ERA in 18 appearances for the Dodgers. Pollock entered Wednesday with a .220/.246/.354 slash line with three home runs and 13 RBIs in 37 games.Pollock had his second game-winning hit of the season Tuesday; the first was a go-ahead homer in the ninth against the New York Yankees in Game 1 of a May 22 doubleheader at Yankee Stadium.The right-handed-hitting Pollock didn’t start Tuesday but came to bat for the left-handed-hitting Gavin Sheets with runners on first and third and two outs in the sixth when left-hander David Price entered for the Dodgers.“It happened pretty quick,” Pollock said. “DP was warming up (in the bullpen) very quick. They were trying to ambush us there with Gavin’s spot coming up. I was hitting a lot down there (in the cage), so I was ready to go.”Pollock hit Price’s first pitch for the go-ahead double.White Sox players Danny Mendick (20) and AJ Pollock celebrate after a victory against the Dodgers on Tuesday at Guaranteed Rate Field. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)“I’m ready to go if it’s where I want to hunt it,” Pollock said. “If it’s there, I’m ready to go. If not, hopefully I’m taking it. But I was ready to go. Some days it works, some days you get quick outs. It worked out very well for us.”AdvertisementTuesday served as an example of what Pollock is focused on.“Just keep working, doing what I’m doing,” he said. “You want to help the ballclub win. Whatever I can do I’m going to do.”ExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 18White Sox starting pitcher Michael Kopech walks to the dugout with catcher Reese McGuire after shutting down the Dodgers in the first inning on June 7, 2022, at Guaranteed Rate Field. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)