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What should have been a joyous celebration after Gleyber Torres’ walk-off hit quickly became an ugly scene at Yankee Stadium, leading Cleveland Guardians outfielder Myles Straw to say the Yankee faithful are “classless” and the “worst fan base on the planet.”Fans in the right field seats responded to the game-winning hit by flinging garbage onto the field in the general vicinity of Cleveland’s outfielders.Advertisement“Obviously, there’s no place for throwing stuff on the field,” Yankee manager Aaron Boone said. “We certainly don’t want to put anyone in danger. We love the intensity, but you can’t be throwing stuff onto the field.”Guardians right fielder Oscar Mercado is restrained after Yankee fans toss trash on the field after the Bombers’ walk-off win. (Frank Franklin II/AP)The incident was brewing from the previous batter. Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s deep fly ball to left field made Steven Kwan crash forcefully into the wall, which left him directly underneath the vitriolic fans, who presumably screamed typical New York pleasantries at him.AdvertisementWhatever was said, it caused Straw to leap onto the wall and confront the fans face-to-face. It was an admirable display of defending a teammate, but the incredibly visible move seemed to only rile up the crowd more.Moments before the final scene in the outfield in the bottom of the ninth, Myles Straw went right back at fans at Yankee Stadium. pic.twitter.com/wegiKxjtIF— Bally Sports Cleveland (@BallySportsCLE) April 23, 2022

“Kwan is the nicest guy on the planet,” Straw told reporters in the Cleveland clubhouse. “That’s my teammate, that’s my brother, and some of the stuff that was said to him, for me, wasn’t going to fly. My emotions got to me a bit. But a guy went headfirst into a hard wall. If I were to do it again, I’d probably say the same thing.”The Yankees themselves were quick to denounce their fans’ actions on Saturday.“That can’t happen,” said Kiner-Falefa. “I love the atmosphere, I love the fans, I love everything about them. But we win with class. That’s something that this organization is about. We’ll fix it next time, I hope.”“We have amazing fans, but we want to respect the opponent,” Torres added. “That can’t happen again.”Once the winning run crossed the plate for the Yankees, all bets were off, and the more unruly fans let loose. The Yankees then had to go from mobbing Torres to pleading with their fans to stop hurtling garbage on the field.“Beer cans,” right fielder Oscar Mercado said when asked what was thrown in his direction. “They came close. One came right at my face and I caught it. They still had beer inside. You can celebrate and chirp all you want during the game but don’t try to get people hurt. That’s not how things work. We’re human beings as well. I personally am not going to sit there and allow them to throw stuff at me.”Mercado had to be stopped by his teammates from approaching the Yankee fans, and eventually Yankee superstars Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton (who were not made available for comment) went out there and gestured at everyone to cut it out.AdvertisementAll part of the job description when you play for the Yankees.

The Chicago Bulls need to push the pace.The Bulls succeed when their pace is frenetic, bordering on frantic. They’re rarely the biggest or strongest team on the court — especially in their playoff series against the Milwaukee Bucks. But when the Bulls speed up to harass opponents on defense and push the open court on offense, they can take advantage of their small-ball mindset to disrupt a game.AdvertisementThe opposite happened in their jarring, 111-81 loss Friday in Game 3 against the Bucks.“We have to run better,” Bulls coach Billy Donovan said. “Our pace is way too slow. We’ve got to space the floor. We’ve got to run and we’ve got to get out. At times we moved way, way too slow.”AdvertisementExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 24Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine (8) heads to the locker after a 111-81 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks at United Center on April 22, 2022, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)After Bobby Portis slotted in for Bucks forward Khris Middleton because of an MCL sprain, the Bulls should have entered Game 3 with the upper hand in speed. The Bucks started three players 6-foot-10 or taller, creating a towering presence that shut down the paint. With a smaller lineup of quick guards and adaptable forwards like Patrick Williams and DeMar DeRozan, the Bulls could have pushed the pace.But they didn’t. The Bulls scored only five points in transition in Game 3, continuing a trend from Game 2 (six fast break points) and Game 1 (five points). Bulls guards hesitated when they caught the ball with numbers or space to attack, slowly bringing the ball up against a fully set Bucks half-court defense.Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.“They’re a terrific defensive team and they’re good in every area they protect,” Donovan said. “They get back in transition and they rebound. But when you have opportunities to get out in transition in open court situations where the floor — even if it’s not uneven, it’s cross matched or different matchups are happening, the side of the floor is overloaded — you’ve got to be able to attack. I didn’t think we played with enough pace.”Transition ball comes less easily when the opposing team is making shots. The Bucks shot 51.5% from the field and 42% from 3-point range in the first three quarters before putting in bench players to ride out the final 12 minutes.[ [Don’t miss] Column: Chicago Bulls fans were ready to rock the United Center — but Grayson Allen plays the villain to perfection ]The lack of fast break offense for the Bulls was further stymied by the Bucks’ improved ball protection, which resulted in only nine turnovers after coughing up a combined 36 in Games 1 and 2.“I can do a better job rebounding and pushing, getting the ball in my hands and playing a little bit faster,” guard Zach LaVine said. “But if we don’t get any stops it’ll be hard to get out in transition.”Creating pace will need to be catalyzed by guards from the moment the Bulls rebound the ball. But LaVine said the team’s sluggishness also stemmed from an air of defeat after the Bucks took an early 19-point lead.The Bulls looked exhausted by the end of the first quarter and defeated by the end of the half. But to grind out a series against the Bucks, the Bulls can’t allow a double-digit lead to crush their pace of play.Advertisement“When we take the ball out of bounds, we can’t hang our head,” LaVine said. “We’ve got to go onto the next play. Get it out fast, move on, push it up the court a little bit.”

Tigers star Miguel Cabrera delivered the 3,000th hit of his decorated career Saturday, becoming the 33rd major-leaguer to reach the mark and the first player from Venezuela to accomplish the feat.Still an imposing presence at 39, Cabrera made history by grounding an opposite-field single to right in the first inning of Detroit’s game against Colorado.AdvertisementCabrera immediately raised his right arm as he headed toward first base. The crowd at Comerica Park gave him a rousing ovation and fireworks were shot out of the scoreboard.The milestone hit came off Antonio Senzatela, a fellow Venezuelan, in the first game of a day-night doubleheader.AdvertisementA two-time AL MVP, a Triple Crown winner and an 11-time All-Star with four batting titles, Miggy’s place among the Major League Baseball greats already was assured long before this afternoon in Detroit.As a 20-year-old rookie, Cabrera helped the Florida Marlins win the 2003 World Series championship. All these years later, stamping his name onto the 3,000-hit list had a nice ring, too.And it’ll certainly look good on a plaque in Cooperstown someday.Cabrera became just the seventh player with 500 home runs and 3,000 hits. He joined an exclusive club with Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Eddie Murray, Rafael Palmeiro, Albert Pujols and Alex Rodriguez.Last August in Toronto, Cabrera connected for his 500th homer. He’s now at 502 in his 20th season.Cabrera is the seventh Latino player to make the 3,000 chart — the hit tied him on the overall list with the late Roberto Clemente.Pujols was the previous player to reach 3,000 hits, doing it in 2018. He was at 3,308 going into Saturday and, at 42 with St. Louis, has said this is his final season.The next hitter to reach 3,000? Hard to say.AdvertisementRobinson Canó trailed Cabrera on the active list with 2,630 going into Saturday and is 39 years old. Yadier Molina, also 39, followed at 2,116.Among younger players, Jose Altuve (32) has 1,783 and Freddie Freeman (32) had 1,722. Mike Trout (30) was at 1,428.Cabrera got three hits Wednesday to get to 2,999, then struck out in his final at-bat of the night. He went 0 for 3 Thursday and was intentionally walked his final time up against the Yankees, drawing loud boos and chants from Detroit fans.The milestone remained on deck when Friday night’s game against Colorado was rained out.Cabrera was the third player to get his 3,000th hit while with Detroit, joining Ty Cobb and Al Kaline.While age has diminished his power to clear any fence and smash opposite-field shots to right-center, Cabrera has enjoyed a monster career at the plate.AdvertisementCabrera became the first major leaguer in 45 years to win the Triple Crown by leading the league in batting average, home runs and RBIs in 2012. That year, he won his first of two straight MVP awards and helped Detroit reach the World Series, during a stretch that included four straight division championships.“He is one of the great right-handed hitters ever,” Yankees manager and former Marlins teammate Aaron Boone said this week.“And 3,000 hits, 500 homers, that’s obviously rarefied air. He’s done it, you know, in bigger ballparks his entire career, between Florida and here also. You know, he’s an all-timer. He’s in that, probably inner circle, of even the Hall of Fame. It’s been a special career,” Boone said.Cabrera boosted his total most often against James Shields, getting 27 hits against the former Tampa Bay, Chicago White Sox, Kansas City and San Diego pitcher.Detroit acquired Cabrera in a trade with the Marlins in 2007, with Dontrelle Willis also going to the Tigers in a deal for Andrew Miller and Cameron Maybin. Cabrera had 842 hits at the time.The swap came a year after the Tigers lost the World Series to St. Louis, in the hope that Cabrera would help them win the championship for the first time since 1984.AdvertisementThe Tigers, though, never won it all with their superstar. Detroit was swept by San Francisco in the 2012 World Series and spent a decade in a rebuilding mode that bottomed out with 310 losses between 2017-19.After Cabrera was an All-Star for the 11th time in 2016, his production declined and Detroit’s rate of success did as well.The Tigers made bold moves in the offseason in a quest to be relevant with Cabrera serving as a draw to bring fans to the ballpark and to hit about one ball per game into the outfield grass with savvy swings after crushing baseballs with incredible force earlier in his career.A top prospect in the minors, Cabrera made his big league debut in June 2003. He announced his presence to the whole baseball world that October.Brushed back by a couple of heaters from Yankee ace Roger Clemens, Cabrera came back to launch a home run off the Rocket in helping the Marlins win the World Series.Cabrera is almost twice as old now and is still a kid at heart, recently taking the grounds crew’s three-wheel bicycle for a ride during batting practice.AdvertisementAnd, one of the game’s all-time greats can still get a base hit against some of the world’s best pitchers.

Chicago Bulls fans were ready to rock Friday night before Game 3 at the United Center.But they also were ready to boo and got it out of their system in the second half of the Bulls’ embarrassing 111-81 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.AdvertisementA night that began with so much anticipation turned ugly early by the first quarter as the Bulls surrendered meekly to give the Bucks a 2-1 edge in the series.Bucks guard Grayson Allen was dancing on one foot during a third-quarter timeout as someone in sunglasses and an Ayo Dosunmu jerysey appeared on the video board lip-syncing “Ice Ice Baby.” The man Chicagoans love to hate came off the bench to pour in a team-high 22 points, hitting five 3-pointers to “ice ice” the Bulls.AdvertisementGreeted with a loud chorus of boos every time he touched the ball after entering the game midway through the first quarter, Allen made Bulls fans sing the blues by the end of the night.“I just blew it off at this point,” Allen said afterward in an interview outside the Bucks locker room.You’re immune by now?“I don’t if I’m immune, but definitely used to it,” he said with a grin.ExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 24Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine (8) heads to the locker after a 111-81 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks at United Center on April 22, 2022, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)It didn’t seem to matter that stopping Giannis Antetokounmpo was a far more important matter for the Bulls than Allen. The “Greek Freak” is likable, after all, and Allen was the one who made the flagrant foul on Alex Caruso that fractured Caruso’s right wrist and jeopardized the Bulls’ season.Allen silenced the crowd with three 3 pointers in less than four minutes as the Bucks opened a 16-point first-quarter lead at 33-17. LaVine didn’t sore until 2:05 remained in the quarter, and Allen ripped the ball out of Tristan Thompson’s hands on the baseline with three seconds left to deny them a scoring opportunity.Donovan said before the series the Caruso-Allen incident was in the past and no one gave it a second thought.“After it happened, I don’t really ever think it was ever an issue that was brought back up with our team,” he said. “These guys are pros. It’s over and done with. It’s been addressed. … Maybe there was a little bit more storyline around the fact once we got ready to play them again after Alex had gotten hurt, maybe a little bit.”AdvertisementAllen said he didn’t hear from Bulls fans before the Caruso incident.“Pretty much just this year,” he said. “I still get it from a random group at an arena.”And the former Duke star added it was “fun” playing in the hostile environment, insisting the treatment by Bulls fans didn’t motivate him.“I don’t think so, because it’s almost weird when it doesn’t happen,” he said. “I’ve played so many games in my career where the boos have been there, where it’s kind of a return to normal almost.”The Bulls took a page from the White Sox’s playbook Friday, albeit with far less success.Just as the Sox asked fans to wear black for their playoff opener on the South Side in October, the Bulls announced a “See Red” campaign to turn the United Center into a sea of red for Game 3.AdvertisementThe lighting and graphics on the video boards at the West Side stadium also featured a red theme, making for an eerie look during introductions that resembled a nightclub at closing time.Red lighting fills the stadium for Game 3 of the first-round playoff series between the Bulls and Bucks on Friday at the United Center. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)This obviously was going to be a pivotal game in the series after the Bulls stole Game 2 on Wednesday night at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, swiping home-court advantage from the Bucks in the best-of-seven series.The Bulls were aided in their Game 2 win by a large contingent of fans who traveled up Interstate 94 for the game. When the Bulls went on a run at the start of the fourth quarter to open up a big lead, it almost sounded as if they were playing in the United Center.The Bulls also were one of the better home teams in the NBA for most of the season, though they entered the playoffs having lost four straight at the United Center, finishing with a 27-14 home record after losing to the Miami Heat, Bucks, Boston Celtics and Charlotte Hornets over the final week.They lost both home games to the Bucks in the regular season, including a 21-point drubbing on April 5.But the playoffs are a different animal. The Bulls were 0-3 at the United Center in their last playoff appearance in 2017 and have lost six straight since their last win on May 8, 2015, a Game 3 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference semifinals.AdvertisementSo does home-court advantage mean as much as it did during the regular season?Apparently not, at least when it comes to the United Center.The crowd was rocking at the outset Friday after an opening 3-pointer by Nikola Vučević. But the fans were seemingly more ready than the Bulls, who started out 3-for-14 from the field and fell into a double-digit hole 7½ minutes into the game.It was almost a carbon-copy replay of the Game 1 start, when poor shooting put the Bulls behind the eight ball and forced them to claw their way back. This time the hole was too deep, and fans began heading for the exits by the end of the third quarter.The Bulls trailed by 24 points late in the first half and went into the locker room down 60-41, shooting 39.5% from the field and being outscored 22-10 in the paint.Allen had 14 points in 15 minutes, with four 3-pointers and a steal. He also blocked a Patrick Williams layup attempt with two minutes left in the second quarter, putting an exclamation mark on his first-half performance.AdvertisementWhen Williams turned the ball early in the third quarter and Antetokounmpo slammed home a resounding dunk on the other end, making it a 26-point game, Bulls fans began to boo. They kept it up the rest of the night as the Bucks kept piling on.“I think we knew we could shoot better and score better than the first two games,” Allen said. “But other parts of the games, that’s just how it is. Sometimes you just have to win ugly games. We can’t just expect to make shots.”Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.Allen played the part of the villain to perfection, and his near-perfect game was one that will be remembered in Milwaukee for a while.Bulls fans have long memories, and Allen is likely to remain remains Public Enemy No. 1 at the United Center until further notice, just as agitators John Starks and Bill Laimbeer were in playoffs past.Allen said the Bucks know they didn’t silence Bulls fans for good.“They’ll be back Sunday, probably just as loud as it was today,” he said. “Chicago will be back. They’ll make adjustments. They’re be ready. We can’t get into that trap of being happy, thinking things will be easy because we won a game.”AdvertisementEvery playoff series needs heroes and villains, and this one was not going to be any different.The playoffs were back on the West Side, and everyone had a part to play in the minidrama between the Bulls and Bucks.Unfortunately for Bulls fans, the villain had his moment in the sun.

The Chicago Bulls returned to the United Center for their first playoff game in five years with home-court advantage and the momentum of a road win at their back.But they limped out of Game 3 with a 111-81 beatdown as the Milwaukee Bucks bounced back like a reigning NBA champion to take a 2-1 lead in the first-round series.AdvertisementBulls fans poured into the United Center with frenetic excitement, drowning out the team’s introduction videos. But that enthusiasm dulled in the first quarter of the blowout. By the time Patrick Williams threw away a turnover in the third quarter, scattered boos began to swell from the crowd.The 30-point drubbing was the second-worst playoff loss in franchise history behind a 115-78 defeat to the Miami Heat in the 2013 Eastern Conference semifinals.Advertisement“Without question (the Bucks) were the aggressor,” coach Billy Donovan said. “I thought we lost our way when we had a hard time scoring and making shots. When that started happening, we had way too many breakdowns on defense. … Any team that wins championships, they know how to respond.”The Bucks ripped off a 13-0 run in the second quarter to cement a 19-point halftime lead, then went on a 13-0 run in the third quarter to stretch the lead to 29 points.DeMar DeRozan fell flat on the heels of a postseason-career-high 41-point performance in Game 2, scoring 11 points and turning the ball over three times as the Bucks smothered him outside the paint. Zach LaVine struggled similarly with the Bucks ball pressure, finishing with 15 points and two turnovers. Patrick Williams went 0-for-9 after a solid Game 2.“We’ve got to go out there and compete better,” DeRozan said. “We can’t let our missed shots dictate us offensively.”Nikola Vučević led the Bulls in scoring with 19 points for the second time in the series, but he cooled off from 3-point range after opening with a pair in the first quarter.Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 18 points, seven rebounds and nine assists in 29 minutes before sitting out most of the fourth quarter. But Grayson Allen stole the show for the Bucks.Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.The Bulls crowd greeted Allen with a chorus of boos when he entered the game, still upset after the guard fractured Alex Caruso’s right wrist with a hard foul in January. But Allen quickly sucked the air out of those jeers, going 5-for-7 from 3-point range and scoring 22 points to lead the Bucks bench to a combined 47 points.“He knocked down big shots,” LaVine said. “They did a good job of putting us in rotations, and he was the guy that we were leaving. We’re going to have to look into that if he’s going to shoot the ball that way.”AdvertisementMeanwhile, the Bulls bench barely contributed. Coby White was the only reserve to score in the first half, and the bench contributed 26 only points on the night despite playing nearly all of the fourth quarter.Bobby Portis stepped in to the starting lineup to replace guard Khris Middleton, who sprained the MCL in his left knee in Game 2 and is out for the series. It paid off for the Bucks and Portis, who finished with 18 points and 16 rebounds.The larger lineup allowed the Bucks to seal off the paint, forcing the Bulls into midrange jumpers and 3-pointers. The Bulls didn’t take a free throw until the 3-minute, 8-second mark of the second quarter and went to the foul line only 10 times.Despite the blowout scoreline, DeRozan said the Bulls are committed to shaking the loss off ahead of Game 4 at noon Sunday at the United Center.“Whether we lost by 30 or we lost by one point, we’ve got to come back, compete and protect our home court and tie this thing up,” DeRozan said. “Regardless, a loss is a loss. I would have felt the same way.”

MINNEAPOLIS — Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson received a one-game suspension and an undisclosed fine for “his inappropriate actions toward fans” during Game 1 of Wednesday’s doubleheader against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field, Major League Baseball announced Friday.Anderson is appealing and was in the lineup for Friday’s series opener against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field.AdvertisementCameras caught Anderson making a middle-finger gesture after something was said from the crowd before the bottom of the eighth inning. Anderson declined to discuss the topic before Thursday’s game in Cleveland.He addressed a tough day in the field Wednesday, which included three errors in the 11-1 Game 1 loss, saying: “It’s something that you can learn and grow from, and it’s a sign that you’ve got to keep working.”AdvertisementAnderson missed the first two games of the season after his appeal of a three-game suspension handed down in the final week of 2021 was reduced by one game.

Chicago Cubs first baseman Frank Schwindel can’t help but reminisce sometimes when watching catcher Willson Contreras deftly unleash throws to nab would-be base stealers.Schwindel was once known for his arm behind the plate, then a minor-leaguer in the Kansas City Royals organization. The Cubs don’t want to dwell on a scenario that would require them to use an emergency catcher. But should that occur, Schwindel would be the unexpected yet obvious choice.AdvertisementSchwindel started 67 games at catcher over three minor-league seasons in the Royals’ farm system, most recently in 2015. He even caught Cubs teammate Alec Mills in 2014 when they played for Low A Lexington. Schwindel featured a great arm behind the plate, posting an elite 39% caught-stealing rate in 2013 rookie ball and 40% in 2014.“I used to get excited when I see somebody take off and throw it down, it was a lot of fun,” Schwindel told the Tribune. “But I didn’t like doing much anything else. I picked everything I could, blocking stuff, especially in A-ball when the pitcher doesn’t know where it’s going, how am I supposed to know where it’s going?”AdvertisementThe Cubs’ emphasis in finding a quality backup catcher after last season unknowingly created more lineup flexibility.When the Cubs signed veteran Yan Gomes before the lockout, the designated hitter had not officially been added to the National League. Although it was an expected change in the collective bargaining agreement, now that the DH is in place, manager David Ross has made sure to give Contreras enough rest early in the season to pay off in the summer.At times, though, the catchers’ offensive profiles make it worth playing them together. Friday night’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates marks the third time in the last week Ross put Contreras and Gomes in the same lineup thanks to the DH spot. The offensive boost outweighs any potential risk the Cubs face in potentially being down to catcher if an in-game injury occurs.Cubs first baseman Frank Schwindel catches a throw to end the top of the seventh inning against the Brewers on April 7, 2022, on opening day at Wrigley Field. The Cubs won 5-4. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)If the Cubs need Schwindel to catch in an emergency, he would be happy to fill in. Schwindel even has a catcher’s mitt at his apartment that he’s doing work on, “but hopefully I won’t need that.” His experience at catcher has paid off at first base. He believes he possesses good hands because he used to pick so many balls in the dirt behind the plate, forcing him to keep his body and hands well-positioned.“If I’m catching 100-mph heaters, standing in front of a ground ball is not as bad,” Schwindel said.Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.Schwindel’s bat-to-ball skills and hot hitting earned him playing time last season. While his offensive production understandably garners more attention, he takes the defensive side of his game seriously too. After getting called up after the trade deadline, Schwindel often could be seen working with bench coach Andy Green before games at first base.“He’s hungry to be known as one of the elite defensive first basemen, and he didn’t show up with that reputation, so he’s growing,” Green said this week. “He’s put a lot of work into what he does, before the pitch reading pitches, reading swings, and he’s doing a really nice job.”Schwindel turned his fourth 3-6-3 double play of the season to end the first inning Friday against the Pittsburgh Pirates, the most among big-league first basemen. The Miami Marlins’ Jesus Aguilar has recorded two, the only other first baseman to have tallied more than one such double play. Schwindel has made those plays look easy with proper positioning, footwork and making sure he has a clear angle to throw to avoid hitting the base runner heading to second.Advertisement“Those are some of the toughest double plays to turn,” Green said.Schwindel’s improved prepitch routine and readiness as the ball is entering the zone has stood out to Ross through the first 13 games.For a rotation that features pitchers such as Kyle Hendricks and Marcus Stroman — who rely on ground balls for success — solid infield defense is a must. While the middle infield in particular gets a lot of defensive attention, especially with the Cubs’ frequent shifting, a steady and improved Schwindel would go a long way toward helping their defense.“I always thought he had nice hands and glove, it’s just about getting his feet to react when the ball was hit,” Ross said. “I thought he’s done a much better job of doing that from now and then at the back end of last season than when he first got here.”

MINNEAPOLIS — AJ Pollock faced Lucas Giolito at the Chicago White Sox complex in Arizona earlier this week while both were recovering from injuries.The result of an at-bat depends on which player you ask.Advertisement“The wind was going 40 mph to left field, so it was kind of cutting balls,” Pollock said before Friday’s game against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. “(One at-bat) would have been a popup to mid-outfield. The other one to center either an out or maybe a home run.The outfielder added with a smile: “He’s going to call it an out, I’ll call it a homer and we’ll both feel good about it. Stats don’t matter. There were no stats there.”AdvertisementPollock returned from the injured list Friday and was in the starting lineup in center fielder for the series opener against the Twins. He had been out since April 9 when he suffered a strained right hamstring after a single in the third inning of the second game of the season in Detroit.DETROIT, MI – April 8: AJ Pollock #18 of the Chicago White Sox watches his RBI-single during the second inning of Opening Day against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on April 8, 2022, in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) ** OUTS – ELSENT, FPG, CM – OUTS * NM, PH, VA if sourced by CT, LA or MoD ** (Duane Burleson / Getty Images)“I think I’m in a good spot, don’t want to jinx anything,” Pollock said. “They did a great job with me. We’ll go out and play some baseball.”The Sox received more positive news, deciding to not place Luis Robert on the IL after a scare Thursday. Robert left the game against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field in the eighth inning with a groin strain after running to first on a groundout.“He did the MRI and it’s what we hoped for,” Sox manager Tony La Russa said. “He felt a little tug and he stopped so he didn’t keep running through it. I would think (he’s) not playing these three (against the Twins) and (the team is) off Monday.“If we can play him Tuesday and not lose him for 10 days (on the IL), it’s huge.”Pollock liked having the chance to bat against Giolito, who is expected to return from a left abdominal strain Sunday, while ramping up.“Honestly, for me you get to go face one of the top pitchers in the game, I got to get three at-bats off him, that’s pretty awesome,” Pollock said. “That was better than any rehab assignment you can ever do, in my opinion.”White Sox right fielder AJ Pollock walks off the field with a trainer after suffering a strained right hamstring during a game against the Tigers on April 9, 2022, at Comerica Park in Detroit. (Duane Burleson / Getty Images)Pollock already was scheduled to go on paternity leave around the time of the injury. He got to go home for the birth of his daughter.Advertisement“That was important,” he said. “Honestly, it was a weird way to do it. I was expecting a three-day deal and I was going to miss three games anyway. Missed a couple of more because of a tweaked hammy. A wild time, very excited, very blessed to be able to go back there and do that. It was amazing. And we had a good place to do rehab for the hamstring too.“It all worked out well.”Pollock had four hits in his first seven at-bats with a double, one RBI and a run before the injury. He’ll try to pick up where he left off.“You never know until you get out there,” Pollock said. “I just feel like, keep the process and whatever that means, if it’s results, great, if not, keep doing it and usually the results follow. We’ll see.”[ Don’t miss: Chicago White Sox are swept in a doubleheader against the Cleveland Guardians, falling 11-1 and 2-1 ]Pollock is also ready for any outfield assignment.“Just a little bit different, the nuances of each one,” Pollock said. “I’m just going in there, I’m ready to play. They’re going to tell me where I fit in and I’ll get out there and do my job and help the ball club.”AdvertisementIn Friday’s corresponding roster move, the Sox placed reliever Matt Foster on the Family Medical Leave List. Foster has a 1.42 ERA and five strikeouts in five relief appearances.

BARCELONA, Spain — Camp Nou broke its own world record for a women’s soccer match Friday when more than 91,600 fans reveled in Barcelona’s 5-1 rout of Wolfsburg in the first leg of their Women’s Champions League semifinal.The 91,648 spectators counted by club officials surpassed the 91,553 who turned out to see Barcelona beat Real Madrid last month. Previously, the record for a women’s game was 90,185 for the 1999 Women’s World Cup final between the United States and China at the Rose Bowl.AdvertisementAlexia Putellas led Barcelona with a brace. The Ballon d’Or winner was one of four goal-scorers for Barcelona in the first half before she earned and converted a late penalty to give her a competition-leading 10 goals.“We are very happy not just for the result but also for the atmosphere at the stadium. It is spectacular that we have set a new record,” Barcelona midfielder Patricia Guijarro said. “What happened today and a month ago has left us speechless. As the days, or the years go by, we will understand better what has happened. Right now we have not completely grasped the magnitude of this experience.”AdvertisementThe German visitors were stunned from the start when Aitana Bonmatí latched onto a long pass and scored just two minutes after kickoff.Barcelona players celebrate after winning the Women’s Champions League semifinal, first leg, soccer match between Barcelona and Wolfsburg at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Friday, April 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort) (Joan Monfort/AP)Caroline Graham Hansen doubled the advantage in the 10th when she used a sleek change of foot to dodge the sliding tackle of the last defender before curling a left-footed shot inside the far post.Jennifer Hermoso made it 3-0 in the 33rd after finishing off a gorgeous team buildup.It was then Putellas’ turn after she was played through by Guijaro. Goalkeeper Almuth Schult deflected her shot but it bounced off the post and rolled over the line.Jill Roord pulled one back for Wolfsburg in the 73rd when Tabea Wassmuth set her up.Schult dove the wrong way when Putellas took her spot kick in the 84th after she was fouled in the box by Dominique Janssen.The second leg is in Germany on April 30.Lyon hosts Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday in the first leg of the other semifinal.AdvertisementBarcelona is seeking to repeat its treble from last season. It has already clinched the Spanish league and is in the Copa de la Reina semifinals.

Alex Caruso didn’t need the ball in his hands to deliver the final blow to the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 2 of a first-round playoff series Wednesday night. All he needed to do was keep his arms up straight.With the Chicago Bulls clinging to a five-point lead and five seconds on the clock at Fiserv Form, the Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo snatched a rebound over Caruso’s head and attempted to bully the guard for a basket.AdvertisementAntetokounmpo, a two-time NBA MVP, held nearly every visible advantage — 7 inches taller, nearly 60 pounds heavier. Caruso didn’t care. He bellied up to the Bucks star and braced for the impending impact.When Antetokounmpo barreled into him a half-second later, Caruso crashed to the court, drawing the charge that closed the door on the Bucks’ last gasp and evened the series.AdvertisementBulls guard Alex Caruso (6) is congratulated by teammates late in the second half of Game 2 of a first-round playoff series against the Bucks on Wednesday at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)Game 3 is Friday night at the United Center.“I think it’s pretty obvious,” Caruso said after the win. “You don’t have a chance against these guys if you don’t play defense.”It made sense that the clinching play of the Bulls’ Game 2 win didn’t come on offense. And it made sense that Caruso — who had one of the most important performances of the night despite scoring only nine points — was the one to deliver.The defensive specialist has been a game changer since signing with the Bulls last summer. Caruso has become the heart of the team’s renewed defensive effort in this series, holding the third-best offense in the league to 101.5 points per game — 14 below their season average.“He’s the anchor to our defense,” DeMar DeRozan said. “I lean off him for his energy defensively. He’s a leader when it comes to that. He gets me going sometimes, even if he’s not talking to me directly, him just speaking there’s a lot I take from him.”[ [Don’t miss] Nikola Vučević taking a bigger scoring role gives the Chicago Bulls a boost in playoff series with Milwaukee Bucks ]Caruso’s importance to the Bulls defense was apparent during each of his injury absences. The guard finished the regular season at a fraction of his typical intensity while playing through back spasms, which Caruso is still monitoring.In Game 2, Caruso warned Billy Donovan that he was losing steam in the fourth quarter. He didn’t want to come out of the game, but Caruso was honest with his coach — if he didn’t take a few minutes on the bench, he wouldn’t be able to close the game.Donovan said communication will be vital to managing Caruso’s back pain through the rest of the series, but he’s not worried about the veteran hesitating to speak up when he’s in pain.AdvertisementExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 53Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan, center, is surrounded by teammates after hitting a shot over Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo late in the second half of Game 2 of a first-round playoff series on April 20, 2022, at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.“He will not shortcut or rest on the court,” Donovan said. “He’s going to give everything he has — and he knows when he needs to come out. … He’s really smart. He knows what he’s got to do physically (and) defensively for our team and he gives you everything he has, but he also understands when he’s run out of fuel.”Whether he’s on the court or the bench, Caruso’s leadership is key as one of the few players on the Bulls roster with major experience in a deep playoff run — he was with the Los Angeles Lakers when they won the NBA title in 2020. Donovan credited Caruso for helping young players learn to shake off errors and move on to the next play quickly, a mental hurdle that often tripped the Bulls during the season.[ [Don’t miss] Milwaukee Bucks’ Khris Middleton to miss the rest of their series vs. the Chicago Bulls with a sprained MCL ]As a defender, Caruso can’t linger on mistakes. That’s the thing about guarding great players such as Antetokounmpo — they’re going to score one way or another. The goal isn’t to shut those players down; it’s to force them into attempting difficult shots and making poor passes to diminish their impact just enough to gain an edge. “I try to be a leader in that aspect,” Caruso said. “That’s something that I have done … since I was a kid. The team has adopted that mindset. Sometimes you get a bad call, turnover, miscommunication and you can’t do anything to fix it. You’ve got to go to the next play.”One constant of any Bulls game is the sound of Caruso’s voice. Even when he was sidelined with injuries, Caruso spent more time on his feet than any coach except Donovan, pointing to spots on the court where he wanted teammates to run to and shouting encouragement during dead-ball huddles.[ [Don’t miss] Column: Chicago Bulls’ gritty effort in Game 2 win gives the Milwaukee Bucks something to worry about ]For his teammates — even veterans such as DeRozan — Caruso has become a galvanizing force to dig in deeper on defense.Advertisement“I try to take on that challenge,” DeRozan said. “Especially when you see him going out there competing against whoever it is, you want to match that same intensity.”