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MLB’s broadcasts aren’t just play by play and commentary of the action on the field.We get little stories of the broadcast teams’ personal lives. We get umpires that actually make the home crowd happy … and a happy crowd that does funny things.AdvertisementSo every week this season, we’re rounding up some of our favorite hilarious, botched, and/or outlandish calls and moments over baseball’s broadcasts.Advertisement

PHOENIX — When Willson Contreras came to the plate in the ninth inning Saturday, he was sporting his first three-strikeout game of the season.But that didn’t carry into his plate appearance that sparked the Chicago Cubs’ 4-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Contreras’ eight-pitch lead-off walk against closer Mark Melancon led to a three-run ninth inning and, despite the earlier strikeouts, continued a sizzling start to the season with free agency months away.AdvertisementManager David Ross attributes Contreras’ success and maturation to being comfortable with himself and understanding what he can control.“This is as good as I think I may have ever seen Willson. … Super happy with where he’s at right now physically, mentally,” Ross said. “I think he knows he’s going to be a really good major-league player for a really long time. He’s going to make a lot of money, and he’s just focused on helping support his teammates and having a really good season and having fun playing baseball. And I’ve seen that pretty much every day.”AdvertisementContreras leads all big-league catchers in numerous offensive categories, including batting average (.286), wOBA (.397) and wRC+ (155). He believes he’s making the right mental adjustment in the batter’s box, looking to create contact with every plate appearance.[ [Don’t miss] Willson Contreras’ bigger Chicago Cubs leadership role is fueled by years of listening — and putting in work ]This approach has resulted in striking out less — his 19.7 K% is currently almost 9% lower than last year — and walking more. Contreras has reached base in 18 of his last 19 games and he has only struck out more than once three times in 27 games. And when he’s making contact, Contreras is hitting the ball hard. His 49.3 HardHit% leads the majors while his 116.2 mph exit velocity is a career high and seventh-best in the league.Willson Contreras reacts after scoring the go-ahead run during the ninth inning against the Diamondbacks on May 14, 2022. (Chris Coduto/AP)But perhaps most importantly: Contreras is hitting the ball to the opposite field at a career-high clip.“I realized what brought me to the big leagues was to make contact to the opposite way,” Contreras said Saturday. “I did it in Double A, did it Triple A, that’s what made me a better hitter.“My mindset right now is to try to make contact and whatever happens after that, I can’t control that. It’s keeping it simple at home plate.”In the past, going the opposite way has typically been a good indicator of when Contreras is locked in. Except now, he’s doing it at a career-high level over an extended stretch. Only two big leaguers are hitting the ball to the opposite field at a greater clip than his 37.3%, according to FanGraphs.Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.Part of that approach stems from Contreras valuing being a good all-around hitter and wanting quality contact. How teams pitch to him can determine his approach, but hitting coach Greg Brown credited Contreras for doing his homework on pitchers and applying it in-game.[ [Don’t miss] Column: Anthony Rizzo has no regrets over his ‘bad breakup’ with the Chicago Cubs — ‘I wish them well’ ]“Willson is one of the most talented hitters I’ve ever been around, and it’s because of that ability to drive the ball the other way, it’s the ability to take his hips the other way,” Brown said. “He’s got enough bat speed and he understands space where he doesn’t need to try to pull a ball. He can create to the big part of the field and I think that’s what you’re seeing.Advertisement“Even when his numbers weren’t there necessarily at the beginning, he was steadfast on staying in the process of knowing that better days were coming.”Willson Contreras flips his bat after earning a walk as Diamondbacks catcher Daulton Varsho pauses at home plate during the first inning on May 13, 2022. (Ross D. Franklin/AP)The addition of the designated hitter to the National League and the Cubs having a backup catcher of Yan Gomes’ stature has allowed Ross to keep Contreras’ bat in the lineup while reducing the wear and tear from everyday catching. That means Contreras gets more days like Saturday when he starts as the DH and can focus solely on his hitting.Contreras, who turned 30 on Friday, seemingly hasn’t let his contract situation and impending free agency affect his performance. He still has an arbitration hearing next month to determine his 2022 salary. Since he reported to spring training, Contreras made clear his focus was on the season and not worrying about his future or inking a big contract extension. He is clearly at peace with whatever his future holds, whether that’s getting traded this summer or experiencing free agency for the first time in his career.It helps that Contreras knew how he wanted to take on the season. He watched firsthand last year as longtime teammates Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant and Javier Báez dealt with the same situation. Contreras recalled hearing contract stuff discussed within the clubhouse nearly every day and realized he did not want to replicate that this year.“I don’t want my team to lose focus on winning the game or playing the game hard — I don’t want different people to be bothered by my personal stuff,” Contreras said. “That’s something personal. I don’t think anybody needs to need to hear what I think, needs to know what my thoughts are. But I’m glad that I watched them go through it and I learned from it.”

The 2021-22 Chicago Blackhawks season probably has faded from fans’ memories already — because who really wants to remember anything that transpired on — or off — the ice during that turbulent time?The team would rather have fans look forward as they begin to reinvent the franchise, including introducing potential season ticket holders to their hockey operations’ new executive team Monday during an event at the United Center Concert Club.AdvertisementThat braintrust includes general manager Kyle Davidson and associate GMs Norm Maciver and Jeff Greenberg.And likely in attendance will be Brian Campbell, who still doesn’t have an official title but has been a fixture at Davidson’s side since October.Advertisement“I’ve always wanted to bring people in around me that bring different perspectives,” Davidson said in April, adding that Campbell and Maciver were former players, while Greenberg was a Cubs executive. “Looking forward, I’d like to take that outside hockey, definitely outside the Blackhawks, and really build that breadth of expertise.”Davidson also is keeping his eye on how some of the younger Hawks perform during the AHL Calder Cup playoffs. The Rockford IceHogs advanced to face the Chicago Wolves in a best-of-five divisional semifinal series that started Thursday.“It’s an exciting time and it’s a great opportunity for us to really enhance our evaluation and understanding of where they’re at,” Davidson said.Here are the key dates and topics to track for the Blackhawks offseason.May 29-June 4: NHL scouting combine at the KeyBank Center and LECOM Harborcenter in Buffalo, N.Y.June 30: Last possible date of the Stanley Cup Final.July 1: First buyout period begins.July 2: First deadline for teams electing salary arbitration to notify.July 7-8: NHL draft at the Montreal Canadiens’ Bell Centre.July 11: Deadline for qualifying offers.July 12: Restricted free agents may contact teams; first buyout period ends; last day for teams to offer their unrestricted free agents eight-year deals.July 13: Restricted and unrestricted free-agent signing period begins; players may accept qualifying offers.July 17: Deadline for players electing salary arbitration to notify.July 18: Second deadline for teams electing salary arbitration to notify.July 22: Qualifying offers expire automatically.July 27-Aug. 11: Salary arbitration hearings period.The Hawks lost their first-round pick to the Columbus Blue Jackets when lottery-ball luck bounced the New Jersey Devils’ way — the team slotted just above them before the drawing.Under the terms of the Seth Jones trade, the Hawks needed to win one of the top two spots to keep the pick, but those picks went to the Montreal Canadiens and Devils, respectively.But the grass might be greener in 2023.The consensus among experts is that next year’s draft class is stronger and deeper.AdvertisementThe Hawks could have as many as four picks in the first two rounds if they land the Tampa Bay Lightning’s top-10 protected first-round pick (which is likely unless some disaster befalls the Bolts next season), courtesy of the Brandon Hagel trade.The Hawks also own the Lightning’s second-round pick, part of the acquisition of Tyler Johnson that allowed the Lightning to use Brent Seabrook’s contract for salary-cap relief.ExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 21Blackhawks chairman Rocky Wirtz and CEO Danny Wirtz introduce Kyle Davidson as their new general manager with Jaime Faulkner, president of business operations, on March 1, 2022, at the United Center. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)With the Blue Jackets getting the Hawks’ 2022 first-round pick, the Hawks keep their 2023 first-rounder, and with a full-blown rebuild in effect they could be in the lottery again.Draft experts are as wild about Regina Pats center Connor Bedard as they were about Connor McDavid. Another top center prospect, Adam Fantilli, plays with the USHL Chicago Steel and physically fits the mold of players the Hawks want in the future.Sweden’s Leo Carlsson is a center-wing who has size at 6-foot-3 and can skate. And keep an eye on 5-10 left-handed Winnipeg Ice forward Zach Benson, whom TSN analyst and former Calgary Flames general manager Craig Button called “Patrick Kane-esque.”“I always said this about Patrick Kane: He’s got the guts of a cat burglar,” Button said. “Zach Benson has those qualities.”AdvertisementBut those prospects are for down the road — the Hawks must start with the draft capital they have in 2022.Québec Remparts center Nathan Gaucher (6-3, 207 pounds) is a physical two-way forward with scoring ability who could fall to the Hawks at No. 39.Noah Östlund torched the U.S. for two goals May 1 to help Sweden win gold at the IIHF under-18 World Championship.Draft-watchers have noted London Knights defenseman Isaiah George (6-0, 195) is a smooth and efficient skater who makes good decisions in the defensive zone and is versatile enough to play special teams.The Hawks might want to shy away from smallish skill players, but even at 5-foot-11 and 172 pounds, forward David Goyette’s combination of puck handling and vision could be hard to pass up in the second round. The fact he wears No. 88 and plays for Davidson’s hometown Sudbury Wolves is just a bonus.AdvertisementNorth Barrington native Lane Hutson is undersized (5-8, 148), but the defenseman led the U.S. national development under-18 team with 53 assists, something to consider given the Hawks finished in the bottom three in points by defensemen two seasons in a row.At least this year Davidson and his new front office will benefit from having a scouting combine after the previous two were canceled because of the pandemic.Teams also had fewer junior and tournament games to evaluate players, but Nolan Allan impressed then-Hawks GM Stan Bowman at the IIHF under-18 world championship in Texas — including when he plowed Russia’s Nikita Chibrikov into the bench early in the gold medal game.“He’s got the size, the skating and the physicality,” Bowman said after drafting Allen 32nd overall last year. “He was a big workhorse for the Canadian team that won the gold medal.”Fast-forward to this month, when Allan and second-round pick Colton Dach earned assignments to the Rockford IceHogs for the AHL playoffs.Even if Allan doesn’t play, it’s another phase of his development.Advertisement“That doesn’t matter for me,” Allan said this month. “There’s other guys, they played here the whole year so they deserve to play.“It’s just soaking everything in and using this as experience.”Chicago Blackhawks coach Derek King looks at players after a Minnesota Wild goal in the second period at the United Center, Feb. 2, 2022. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)Davidson set early July as a target for a candidate list and the middle of the month to settle on his choice.“We want to be pretty nimble with it,” Davidson said. “So much going on at the same time right now.”Davidson laid out some of the characteristics he’s looking for in a coach during a May 3 briefing with reporters.“We want the coaches that are able to communicate, able to drive a message and create a positive culture and get players to want to come to the rink and compete every single night,” he said. “And that’s based on track record and that’s also based on how they deliver a message, so we’ll learn that based on what they’ve done in the past but also through the interview process.”AdvertisementOne might think, given Derek King’s 27-33-10 finish as interim coach and Davidson’s firing of assistant coaches Marc Crawford and Rob Cookson, that King might be at a disadvantage to get the permanent gig, but Davidson dismissed that notion.“It doesn’t impact Derek at all,” he said. “He’s going to be a candidate in the coaching search.“With respect to Marc and Rob, we want to have a bit of a clean slate as we go into the next … coaching regime.”Outside of King, it’s an interesting landscape.Could the Hawks take a hard look at Barry Trotz, recently fired by the New York Islanders, or longtime understudy Lane Lambert? Rick Tocchet could be another to watch if the Philadelphia Flyers don’t get to him first. John Tortorella comes with a wealth of experience (and baggage) and was Jones’ coach in Columbus.In his first season as an NHL assistant coach, 40-year-old Spencer Carbery guided the Toronto Maple Leafs’ power play to a No. 1 regular-season finish (27.3%). As bench boss of the Hershey Bears, he was named AHL’s Most Outstanding Coach in 2020-21 after finishing with the league’s best record.AdvertisementRocky Thompson, a former Wolves head coach, had to step away from his position as San Jose Sharks associate coach in September because he couldn’t take the COVID-19 vaccine for an undisclosed medical reason. Is that issue resolved?Derek Lalonde helped collect back-to-back Stanley Cups as assistant coach for the Tampa Bay Lightning.Marco Sturm, 43, aided the Los Angeles Kings’ turnaround as an assistant. His deep ties to German hockey could help him make an instant connection with Lukas Reichel.Defensemen Seth and Caleb Jones and forward Sam Lafferty are playing for the U.S. team in the IIHF Men’s World Championship, which started Friday and runs through May 29. Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat declined to participate.Caleb Jones hopes to make a case to be re-signed by the Hawks.“Obviously playing with Seth is a bonus, but what they’re trying to do here, they’re trying to rebuild a little bit and maybe look for a little bit younger guys coming up that can contribute for the future, and I think I fit that mold,” he said in late April.AdvertisementLafferty felt “a lot of satisfaction” after being rewarded with a two-year extension ($1.15 million cap hit) on April 29.“It’s nice to have that (security), but at the end of the day, you’ve got to improve and get better,” Lafferty said. “When you stop doing that, you’re in trouble. The process doesn’t change.”Chicago Blackhawks center Dylan Strome (17) celebrates his hat trick in the third period against the Anaheim Ducks at the United Center, March 8, 2022. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)Davidson hasn’t outright said the Hawks are out of the unrestricted free-agent market, but it’s a safe bet given the plans for an overhaul.“I would say it’s unlikely we’re going to sign some long-term deals. Very unlikely,” he said. “But that’s not to say we won’t fill some spots in the UFA market if the right opportunity presents itself.”Just don’t expect anything splashy.Davidson has made it clear he probably is going to be stingy with cap space — which he might need down the line when the team becomes competitive again.Advertisement“We’ve been in a situation for so long that we’ve had none,” he said. “It would be nice to have some and really be able to dictate how we use our budget and use our salary-cap dollars from a strategic standpoint rather than just being reactive to it.”Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.With the Hawks trying to preserve cap space, will it affect their willingness to spend on Dylan Strome and Dominik Kubalík, two restricted free agents with arbitration rights?“It definitely goes into the conversation,” Davidson said. “Any time a player is due for a raise or a new contract, you have to be looking not just for the next season but for the seasons moving forward.“That definitely goes into the decision-making process when it comes to any RFA or UFA or player you’re going to bring in or contract you’re going to sign.”Free agents: Defensemen Erik Gufstafsson, Calvin de Haan (unrestricted), Caleb Jones (restricted, arbitration eligible), Wyatt Kalynuk (restricted, arbitration eligible, currently in AHL); forwards Kirby Dach (restricted), Philipp Kurashev (restricted), Dylan Strome (restricted, arbitration eligible), Dominik Kubalík (restricted, arbitration eligible); goalies Kevin Lankinen (unrestricted), Collin Delia (unrestricted).AdvertisementUnder contract: forwards Patrick Kane, Alex DeBrincat, Jonathan Toews, Tyler Johnson, Sam Lafferty, Taylor Raddysh, Henrik Borgström, Reese Johnson, MacKenzie Entwistle, Boris Katchouk, Jujhar Khaira (long-term injured reserve), Lukas Reichel (currently in AHL), Brett Connolly (currently in AHL); defensemen Seth Jones, Jake McCabe, Riley Stillman, Alex Vlasic; and goalie Arvid Söderblom (currently in AHL).Eligible for extension: Kane, Toews, DeBrincat, Borgstrom, Khaira, Connolly.

Rich Strike was not one of the top five stories in the run-up to the Kentucky Derby; he was probably not one of the top 50.No one even knew he would be in the race until the morning before, and a quick glance at his record would have told us he probably did not belong.AdvertisementAll of that changed in a matter of seconds as we watched him burst from off-screen and out of our realm of awareness to pass dueling favorites Epicenter and Zandon in the stretch run. Not only did Rich Strike become the second longest shot ever to win the Derby, he introduced us to a second-generation trainer named Eric Reed, who had nearly lost his stable to a fire six years earlier.Then, just as quickly as he became the star of the Triple Crown stage, he exited it, removed from Preakness consideration by Reed and owner Rick Dawson, who said they would rather let Rich Strike rest up for the Belmont Stakes. The Derby winner’s withdrawal immediately reframed the Preakness, which will be defined by his absence.AdvertisementBut the race will go on, so as we prepare for post time on Saturday evening, here are five stories to watch:Sonny Leon celebrates after riding Rich Strike past the finish line to win the 148th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 7 in Louisville, Ky. (Charlie Neibergall/AP)Rich Strike probably would not have gone off as the Preakness favorite, and the history of long shot Derby winners tells us he probably would not have won at Pimlico Race Course. But that’s not the point.His shocking upset invigorated racing fans, who had watched a medication violation overturn the previous year’s Derby result and spur an ongoing legal saga around the sport’s top star, suspended trainer Bob Baffert. Rich Strike, a champion spawned from the unlikeliest circumstances, seemed to encapsulate out purest notions of what the sport can be. Could he and the newly prominent connections around him do it again? This was going to be our driving question going into the Preakness.Instead, we’re left with a big party, a field of good 3-year-olds — a couple of them potentially great — and no narrative to connect the Triple Crown races. The last time the Preakness went off without the Derby champion in 2019, ratings on NBC dropped 29%. We’re so used to the traditional Derby-to-Preakness formula, we don’t quite know how to tell the story without it.None of this is Reed’s or Dawson’s fault; they seem intent on doing what’s best for their horse rather than sticking blindly to the familiar path. But the Preakness will miss Rich Strike, no matter how good he is or is not.He looked the part in winning the Louisiana Derby and the Risen Star Stakes. He looked the part in the morning at Churchill Downs, where several rival trainers, including Chad Brown, labeled him the horse to beat. He looked it at the top of the stretch in the Derby.For months, he did nothing wrong, nothing to tell Steve Asmussen he was anything less than a worthy Derby favorite. He was faster at an early age than Asmussen’s previous Horse of the Year winners, Curlin and Gun Runner. The winningest trainer in North American history was certain he had his first Derby victory until the last few seconds of the race, when Rich Strike flashed into his world.Epicenter came out of the Derby well, and he’ll have an immediate chance to reassert his superiority, much as Curlin did in winning the 2007 Preakness on his way to the Hall of Fame. He will probably be favored at Pimlico, and he won’t have to worry about Rich Strike catching him this time, though he will have fourth-place Derby finisher Simplification to contend with. But as Marty McGee of the Daily Racing Form pointed out, only three of the last 43 Derby runners-up to enter the Preakness have won it. That history won’t matter if Epicenter is clearly the top talent in the field, but it’s something to keep in mind.AdvertisementLuis Saez rides Secret Oath to victory in the 148th running of the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 6 in Louisville, Ky. (Jeff Roberson/AP)It was a shame the stands sat empty in 2020, when the indomitable filly Swiss Skydiver would not let Derby champion Authentic pass her in the Preakness. What a thrilling duel it was, despite the strange October run date and the peak-pandemic setting.We don’t often see female horses win the Preakness; six have done it and only two of those, Swiss Skydiver and Rachel Alexandra, since 1924. But it’s always intriguing when a filly jumps from the Kentucky Oaks, the top female-only race on Derby weekend, to the Preakness. Lukas, a six-time Preakness winner, will take his shot with Secret Oath, this year’s Oaks champion.It’s fair to wonder if Secret Oath has the speed to be a genuine threat. When she ran against males in the Arkansas Derby, she went off as the favorite but finished third behind Cyberknife and Barber Road, neither of whom went on to make a huge impression in the Kentucky Derby. Her results, even her Oaks win, do not suggest a monster talent on par with Rachel Alexandra. On the other hand, her resume (including speed figures) was more impressive than Rich Strike’s heading into Derby week, so ignore her at your peril.Brown, a four-time Eclipse Award winner as the nation’s top trainer, and Klarman, an analytically-inclined owner who grew up a few blocks from Pimlico, read the landscape perfectly in 2017. They did not point Cloud Computing to the Derby, opting to keep him fresh for the Preakness instead. He took advantage of several tired Derby horses to deliver the only major victory of his career.Brown and Klarman might have higher long-term hopes for Early Voting coming off his impressive second-place finish in the Wood Memorial. But they did not feel he was sufficiently battle-tested to thrive in the 20-horse Derby field, and they’re hoping, just as they did with Cloud Computing, that a six-week rest will translate to Preakness glory.Early Voting’s rider, Jose Ortiz, tried to control the Wood Memorial from the lead, only to be passed late by Mo Donegal. If he attempts the same strategy in the Preakness, he will likely have to contend with a stalking Epicenter. Will the extra four weeks of rest help Early Voting hold on in such a scenario? Brown and Klarman are betting on it.AdvertisementWe’re not used to a healthy Derby winner skipping the Preakness, but as several smart racing people said after the news about Rich Strike broke, this was inevitable. We simply do not live in a world in which trainers are comfortable bringing their star 3-year-olds back on two weeks’ rest. We’re not going back to the 1970s, when top 3-year-olds routinely came into the Triple Crown series with foundations of 10 or more races and it was no big deal to run three times in five weeks. Caution is now the rule, and plenty of people in the sport think the Triple Crown calendar is a relic from the past.Others say tradition matters and the Triple Crown should be hard. But if we see more and more Derby-winning trainers consider bypassing the Preakness, the whole series will suffer. This is not a new conversation; past leaders of the Maryland Jockey Club have tried to stir it up. But with each Triple Crown track operating independently, there’s no unified authority to step in and demand reform.Those who argue for a new calendar say the Preakness could be run on Memorial Day weekend or the first weekend in June, with the Belmont Stakes going to July 4 weekend. We’ll hear that concept tossed around over the next week. But will any of the people who actually make decisions be involved in the conversation?147th Preakness StakesPimlico Race CourseSaturdayAdvertisementTV: Chs. 11, 4 (coverage begins at 2 p.m.)

The Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees were tied in the bottom of the ninth Saturday at Guaranteed Rate Field.Tim Anderson represented the potential winning run for the Sox at second base.AdvertisementSome hitters might try to do too much to produce for a team in those circumstances. But Luis Robert exhibited patience, waiting for the right pitch to attack against Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman.Robert took three balls and a strike. Then he got his pitch, ripping a single to right. Anderson scored ahead of Aaron Judge’s throw, giving the Sox a thrilling 3-2 victory in front of 32,830.Advertisement“I was trying to be early with his fastball,” Robert said through an interpreter, of his approach in the situation. “I was trying to make contact.”It was the second game-ending hit of Robert’s career. The first came during his rookie season, when he a home run on Aug. 30, 2020 against the Kansas City Royals.“This felt better,” Robert said. “I was more excited, fans here versus the Yankees. After two losses, this one was very good.”The Sox dropped the first two games of the series, allowing a combined 25 runs.Dallas Keuchel gave the Sox a pitching boost Saturday, scattering four hits in five shoutout innings. He struck out three and walked three in the 86-pitch outing.“We’ve made our fair share of mistakes the first couple of nights (of the series) and they’ve capitalized a lot on those,” Keuchel said. “I felt like if I could make some pitches and execute early, I had a good chance. It’s fun to pitch against a team like that with the way they are swinging the bats and the depth of their lineup, they can interchange a few guys every night it seems like.“They just keep rolling. But we are a good team too.”Keuchel followed up a strong outing against the Boston Red Sox with one against the Yankees. He went a season-high six innings May 8 at Fenway Park, allowing two runs on six hits in a 3-2 win.AdvertisementWednesday’s postponed game against the Cleveland Guardians pushed his start back a day. He was ready for the team with the best record in baseball.“He’s spent his whole career pitching against good teams, rights and lefts,” Sox manager Tony La Russa said. “He beat a good team in Boston. They’re good. When he executes his pitches, he’s got a lot of weapons.”Keuchel got a double-play grounder to wrap up the first. It was the first time in the series the Sox didn’t allow a run in the first.The Sox did the damage in the first Saturday. Anderson singled, one of his three hits, and scored on a single from Robert for the first run. Robert extended his hitting streak to 12.Yoán Moncada homered leading off the third.Keuchel exited with the 2-0 lead after getting Anthony Rizzo to ground out to second baseman Josh Harrison with the bases loaded to end the fifth.Advertisement“I’m feeling more like myself,” Keuchel said. “I told you (reporters) I was close. I would have liked to have gone a little bit longer tonight. I thought that was my job. I’m a little disappointed in five.“My job is to go out there and throw as many as I can. I thought (86) pitches I had enough to at least go six. With how many games we’re playing (17 games in 17 days), I thought I had at least 100 pitches tonight. That didn’t happen. I’m not very happy with that but that’s the competitor in me and we’re going to have to figure out something (Sunday) because we have a lot more guys down now too.”Reliever Kendall Graveman allowed one hit in two scoreless innings.The Yankees scored once in the eighth against Joe Kelly, and the Sox brought in closer Liam Hendriks with two on and one out. He struck out Josh Donaldson and Gleyber Torres, keeping it at 2-1.The Yankees tied the game on a Kyle Higashioka sacrifice fly in the ninth, but Isiah Kiner-Falefa was out trying to advance to third on the play. Moncada cut off AJ Pollock’s throw and got the ball to Anderson, who was covering third and tagged Kiner-Falefa for the second out of the inning.“Excellent relay and cutoff,” La Russa said. “That was huge.”AdvertisementAnderson singled with one out in the ninth and Moncada walked, bringing up Robert.“That’s high baseball IQ because you’re not going to walk (Chapman) off with a home run, his stuff is too good,” La Russa said. “You’ve got to find a way to get somebody on base. Tim’s base hit was huge, the walk from Moncada, they did a good job taking what he gave, and he ain’t going to give you a lot that you can do big damage.”Robert found a hole through the right side of the infield and Anderson did the rest, giving the Sox their first walkoff win of the season.“The first two games they were just better than us,” Robert said. “But today we came prepared and were able to execute and then we got on top.”

Luciano Acosta scored in the 85th minute to give FC Cincinnati a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Fire on Saturday at Soldier Field.It was the Fire’s fourth straight loss and ran their winless streak to seven.AdvertisementAcosta’s game-winning goal for Cincinnati (6-5-1) came two minutes after Jhon Durán scored the equalizer for the Fire (2-5-4). Cincinnati took a 1-0 lead on an own goal off Rafael Czichos in the 33rd minute.The Fire outshot Cincinnati 13-7 with a 4-3 edge in shots on goal.AdvertisementRoman Celentano saved three of the four shots he faced for Cincinnati. Gabriel Slonina saved two of the four shots he faced for the Fire.

MINNEAPOLIS — Courtney Vandersloot scored five of her 16 points in the final 38 seconds, and the Chicago Sky held off the Minnesota Lynx 82-78 on Saturday night.Vandersloot hit a 3-pointer to give the Sky (2-1) an 80-76 lead with 38 seconds left and added two free throws 15 seconds later. She also had 11 assists.AdvertisementEmma Meesseman finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and seven steals for the Sky. Azura Stevens added 14 points, and Candace Parker had 11 points.Reserve Nikolina Milic topped the Lynx (0-4) with 18 points. Sylvia Fowles had 16 points and 11 rebounds, and Moriah Jefferson finished with 16 points and five assists.

PHOENIX — Chicago Cubs prospect Ed Howard is facing a lengthy absence.The shortstop sustained a significant hip injury Tuesday at High-A South Bend. The Cubs are still gathering information on the injury and determining the next steps. Howard hit the ground awkwardly after trying to avoid being tagged on an errant throw to first base.AdvertisementIt’s a blow for Howard, 20, who has been limited to only 103 professional games since the Cubs drafted him with the No. 16 pick in the 2020 draft out of Mount Carmel. Baseball America rates Howard their No. 18 prospect while MLB.com put him No. 14 in their preseason rankings.President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer commended Howard’s good attitude about the situation despite being bummed by the injury. He expects Howard to come back strong.Advertisement“It’s never good timing for injury like that,” Hoyer said Saturday. “But it’s a shame. He worked so incredibly hard this winter. I think he got stronger than anyone at our camp this winter. You look at the exit velocities, he brought his strikeout rate down. He’s been playing his typical good defense.“It’s a shame that his season is going to be cut short.”ExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 8Mount Carmel’s Ed Howard connects against St. Rita in the St. Rita Sectional semifinal on May 30, 2019, at Ozinga Field in Crestwood. (Gary Middendorf / Daily Southtown)Cubs prospect Ed Howard runs drills during minor-league spring training on Feb. 28, 2022, in Mesa, Ariz. (Matt York / AP)The pandemic cost Howard his debut year when the 2020 minor-league season was canceled. He struggled at Low-A Myrtle Beach, producing a .225/.277/.315 slash line and 16 extra-base hits, 5.5 BB% and 30.1 K% in 80 games (326 plate appearances). He also lost six weeks to a hamstring injury.Howard responded well to a disappointing season. He spent the winter at the Cubs’ complex in Arizona to get hands-on instruction with minor-league staff, participating in a camp featuring more than two dozen of the organization’s top prospects.The Cubs were encouraged by Howard’s 2022 start after challenging him at South Bend. He was generating more contact (20.4 K%) and getting on base at a better clip (.323 on-base percentage and 9.7 BB%) through 23 games. Now he faces a lengthy recovery.

Yoán Moncada felt “on time” at the plate while rehabbing with Triple-A Charlotte as he recovered from a right oblique strain.That preparation was on display Thursday when Moncada hit his first home run of the season at an ideal time for the Chicago White Sox.AdvertisementThe Sox trailed the New York Yankees by three runs in the seventh inning at Guaranteed Rate Field but had two runners on and Moncada at the plate. The third baseman hit an 0-1 sinker from reliever Jonathan Loáisiga over the center-field wall for a tying home run in an eventual 15-7 loss.“I went over there (to Charlotte) to take a good approach, the same approach that I have been doing,” Moncada said through an interpreter before Friday’s game. “I went over there to see a good pitch to hit and put a good swing and hit the ball hard somewhere.”AdvertisementMoncada made his season debut with the Sox on Monday. He had four hits in his first 17 at-bats leading into his fifth game of the year Saturday against the Yankees.Moncada, 26, entered Saturday slashing .235/.316/.412 with the home run, three RBIs, two runs and a walk. He had one hit in each of his first four games, including going 1-for-4 in Friday’s 10-4 loss to the Yankees.“I felt really good and I’m still feeling good,” Moncada said. “The most important thing for me is continuing working hard and continuing with my approach at the plate.”White Sox third baseman Yoan Moncada swings through a three-run home run in the seventh inning against the Yankees on Thursday at Guaranteed Rate Field. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)White Sox third baseman Yoan Moncada, center, is congratulated by teammates after hitting a three-run home run in the seventh inning against the Yankees on Thursday at Guaranteed Rate Field. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)Moncada suffered the injury during the final day of spring training in Glendale, Ariz. The Sox placed him on the injured list April 5.“I thought it was going to be less time (away), but it was more than that,” Moncada told reporters Monday. “But I’m just really happy to be back with the team.”Moncada added that he was “100%. I don’t feel anything. I’m ready to go.”The time in Charlotte helped with the preparation. He slashed .318/.360/.636 with a double, two homers and five RBIs in six games with the Knights from April 30-May 7.“I’ve said it before, I’ve come to really trust and respect what happens in Charlotte with (manager) Wes (Helms) and (hitting coach) Chris (Johnson), they’ve been right on every time last year and this year,” Sox manager Tony La Russa said Saturday. “(Friday’s Yankees starter Gerrit) Cole comes out there and punches (Moncada) out, he punched out other guys who have been here. He’s throwing the ball well. (Moncada) got a base hit (against Cole in the fifth). I’m confident that he’s going to help us.”AdvertisementThe Sox regained another bat to lengthen the lineup this weekend with outfielder Andrew Vaughn returning from the injured list. Vaughn suffered a bruised right hand April 29. The Sox reinstated him from the IL on Friday and he started Saturday, batting fifth while serving as the designated hitter.“Depth,” La Russa said of having Vaughn and Moncada back. “And if you watch (left fielder) Eloy (Jiménez) moving around, he’s going to be around soon too.”Jiménez is recovering after suffering an injury on April 23 that required surgery to repair a torn hamstring tendon behind his right knee. His estimated recovery at the time of the injury was six to eight weeks.“I try to be careful what I ask because it sounds like I’m pushing, so I just say how’s he running, how are his legs,” La Russa said. “Everybody believes his progress is really impressive. But there is a certain buildup in the muscle that has to happen, and you just can’t fast-forward that.”The Sox are envisioning a roster at full strength. They took a step closer with Moncada in the mix.“We’re glad to get him back,” La Russa said after Thursday’s 15-7 loss. “He’s already taking good swings. That (home run) was clutch.”AdvertisementMoncada finished third in the American League with a .375 on-base percentage in 2021 and led the Sox with 33 doubles. After missing all of April, he’s ready to contribute.“The way I’ve been taking my approach, that’s what I’ve been trying to do and get good pitches to swing,” Moncada said Friday. “Just be ready to hit the fastballs.“My real focus right now is to make sure I’m swinging to hit the ball hard somewhere and swinging at strikes.”

Twenty people were injured in two shootings in downtown Milwaukee near an entertainment district where thousands had been watching the Bucks play the Celtics in Game 6 of the NBA’s Eastern Conference semifinals, authorities said.None of the injuries from either shooting after Friday night’s game were believed to be life-threatening.AdvertisementThe first shooting, involving three victims, occurred adjacent to the Deer District — an entertainment district with numerous bars and restaurants where large crowds often assemble to watch major sporting events.The Milwaukee Fire Department said authorities took two people to a hospital, a 30-year-old man and a 16-year-old girl, and a third person drove to a hospital. Police said a 29-year-old man was in custody.AdvertisementSeventeen more people were injured in a second shooting about two hours later, which happened a few blocks away. Ten people were taken into custody and nine guns were recovered, WTMJ-TV reported.There was no immediate indication whether the two shootings were related or involved fans who were watching the game.Witnesses told WTMJ-TV that they saw a fight outside a bar following the basketball game.Bill Reinemann, a parking attendant at lot adjacent to Deer District, said he heard gunshots but didn’t see anyone get shot or see the shooter during the earlier shooting.“It sounded like six to eight gunshots,” he said “It was close.”After the shots were fired, scores of fans began running toward the Deer District, he said.Reinemann, who has worked the lot for 18 years, remained at his post even as fearful Bucks fans ran past him.“I sat in my chair here the whole while,” he said.Advertisement“The incident took place outside of the Deer District area. We direct all questions to the Milwaukee Police Department,” Bucks spokesman Barry Baum said.Boston defeated Milwaukee in the game to force a Game 7 of the series Sunday night in Boston.