Chicago Sports

SAN FRANCISCO — The White Sox completed a three-game sweep of the Giants and a 4-2 road trip Sunday.

It being the Fourth of July Monday, there’s no better time for a team that considers itself postseason material to get hot.

The Sox are 38-39 and in need of a hot streak. And they are finally showing signs of maybe, just maybe, having the wherewithal to go on one.

But nothing is promised.”You’ve seen us get back to or close to .500 and we’ll go four back under,” said Lance Lynn, whose six scoreless innings against the Giants Friday set the tone for the sweep. “We have to fight to get back to .500 and when we get there don’t let up. It can’t be ‘push to get there’ and when we get there, ‘OK.’ Can’t take a deep breath and see what’s going on. There’s no more deep breaths. We have to keep going and keep pushing till the end of the year.”

There would be no better time than now to keep pushing on, with the Twins in town for three games. The Twins lead the Sox, the team that was supposed to be leading the Twins by now, by 4 1/2 games. Between now and the All-Star break in two weeks, the Sox have 15 games in 14 days against AL Central teams.

It’s an important stretch.

“Big time,” said outfielder Engel said, who will bolster the White Sox’ outfield depth when he comes off the injured list any day now.

“Division games are big. When this team is playing good baseball it doesn’t matter who we’re playing, we have a good chance to win. We just have to keep playing good ball.”

Lucas Giolito picked up where Lynn and Dylan Cease (five innings, one run) left off in this series, pitching six innings of one run ball in the Sox’ 13-4 victory Sunday. Giolito struck out seven in the first three innings, then pitched to contact in the last three. He gave up three hits and walked three in his second straight good start after four or five bad ones, an encouraging sign for the Sox.

With Kendall Graveman, Joe Kelly and Tanner Banks, the only lefty in the bullpen all unavailable after pitching in consecutive days, Giolito’s six innings and the Sox’ six runs on a Giants bullpen day were exactly what manager Tony La Russa needed. He gets closer Liam Hendriks back off the injured list Monday, just in time for the Twins.

A win Monday puts the Sox at .500 for the first time. The Sox haven’t been a .500 team since June 21. Then they lost four in a row.

“Can’t get over it till you get there,” La Russa said. “We get Liam back tomorrow, the club is more complete than it’s been. Get some wins. This one today and two weeks in the Central. That will be fun, headto head. The Twins have won a couple games late, they’re for real and Cleveland is for real. It’s exactly what you need, man. You need to play against tough competition, that’s how you get better.”

The Twins lead the season series, 3-0, after sweeping a three-game set at Target Field in April.

“Sweep this series today and go into that one on a streak,” AJ Pollock said. “It’s not bad to have urgency. We’re playing pretty average.

“We’ve had some moments, we have a good team. You just have to piece everything together. It’s a whole group effort. You have a game where you flash and then you lose the next one. It’s not like basketball where one guy gets hot and carries a team. You need to have a lot of things happen.”

Luis Robert singled in two runs in the third to get the Sox offense going, Gavin Sheets drove in three runs with his third double in two days in the fifth. In a five-run fifth, Seby Zavala doubled in two runs and Andrew Vaughn singled home a pair. The Sox had 17 hits, three by Zavala and Leury Garcia.

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The Chicago Bulls have agreed to a one-year contract with veteran point guard Goran Dragic, sources confirmed to ESPN on Sunday.

The Brooklyn Nets won the Dragic sweepstakes last season, beating out the Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, LA Clippers and Milwaukee Bucks to sign the guard after his contract was bought out.

He ended up playing just 16 regular-season games for Brooklyn and struggled some after sitting out most of the season with the Toronto Raptors. However, Dragic found his form in the playoffs, averaging 10.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists while shooting 56% from the field in just under 20 minutes per game.

The Athletic first reported news of Dragic’s agreement with the Bulls.

Dragic, 36, has a reputation for stepping up his game in the playoffs. He averaged 19 points per game for the Miami Heat during their run to the NBA Finals in 2020 before a plantar fasciitis injury sidelined him against the Lakers.

Entering his 15th NBA season, Dragic has career averages of 13.7 points and 4.8 assists while shooting 46% from the field and 36% from 3. He won the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award in 2013-14 and made his lone All-NBA team that same season.

ESPN’s Jamal Collier contributed to this report.

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Chicago Cubs prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong makes what could be the catch of the year

Pete Crow-Armstrong has been making a lot of noise this season in the Chicago Cubs’ minor league system. Crow-Armstrong is with the Cubs’ high-A affiliate in South Bend and hauled in a must-watch catch on Saturday night.

Crow-Armstrong covered an incredible amount of ground to make this play. It should be no surprise that he’s ranked as the 3rd overall prospect in the Cubs’ system. In his young minor league career, Pete Crow-Armstrong has maintained a .332 batting average and makes his fair share of dazzling defensive plays like this one.

Crow-Armstrong is also coming off his first 4-hit game for South Bend. The achievements are starting to pile up for PCA and fans couldn’t be more pleased.

PCA isn’t expected to appear in the majors until 2024. In the meantime, plays like this will continue to have fans excited for the future.

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SAN FRANCISCO — Shortstop Colson Montgomery, the White Sox’ first-round pick (22nd overall) in the 2021 draft, has reached base safely in 40 straight games, including all nine since being promoted from Low-A Kannapolis to Advanced-A Winston-Salem on June 24.

The 6-4 Montgomery, 20, extended the remarkable streak with a double in his first at-bat for the Dash Sunday. He was hitting .330/.430/.498 with six homers, 13 doubles, 31 RBI, 38 runs scored and 31 walks in 52 games going into the game.

“He looks like a guy who’s been at this for a while,” Sox assistant general manager and director of player development Chris Getz said. “The things that stands out is the consistency.

“On both sides of the ball he’s very under control. Selective at the plate. And hitting the ball with authority. More than anything it’s how under control he operates when he’s at the dish.”

When Montgomery was out two weeks with a bruised thumb, he declined an opportunity to shake off rust and go to Arizona for live at-bats before returning to Kannapolis.

“He was adamant about not going and not caring if he went 0-for-30,” Getz said.

“Lo and behond he gets back in the lineup and he’s more productive than before.”

Engel about ready

Adam Engel ran full tilt on the bases, perhaps the last box he needed to check before being activated from the injured list with a strained right hamstring.

“I’m really, really close,” Engel said. “Feels a lot better, lot stronger, getting really confident in it.”

Yasmani Grandal also ran, but not as much or as hard as Engel. Grandal running “is a good sign,” La Russa said, “but I don’t think we’re close yet [to a minor league rehab assignment].”

Everybody loves Johnny

As timing would have it, right-hander Johnny Cueto’s turn falls Monday when the Sox open a big series against the Twins, preventing him from pitching in San Francisco, where he pitched the last six seasons.

“It would have been fun,” said Cueto signed a six-year, $130 million contract before the 2016 season.

“Fans and teammates treated me well there.”

As they did Friday when the Sox opened the series. Cueto received a warm welcome on the stadium big screen, and acknowledged the crowd with waves.

Cueto won 18 games, pitched five complete games, posted a 2.76 ERA and made his second All-Star appearance in 2016. He had arm trouble the next two years, including Tommy John Surgery in 2018. His 2021 season – 21 starts and a 4.08 ERA while dealing with lat, flexor and elbow strains — was his best since 2017. The Giants showed no interest in brining him back, and interest in the free agent market was limited last winter before he signed a minor league deal with the Sox.

At age 36, Cueto has been a find with a 3.33 ERA in eight starts and one five-inning relief appearance. He ranks sixth on the Sox in Baseball Reference wins above replacement.

“There were a few teams that were interested in me, but they weren’t offering a good deal,” Cueto said. “And they were offering me just a spot for the bullpen.

“I’ve been a starter for my whole career. I have my routine as a starter. I know what I have to do to prepare for the games. Once you know you aren’t able to make it as a starter, then you go to the bullpen. That’s not my case.”

This and that

The Sox have hit three home runs in the last 11 games.

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The Chicago Bulls have added another guard, agreeing to a deal with guard Goran Dragic on Sunday

After rumors that the Chicago Bulls may be finished adding players via free agency, they made a surprise signing on Sunday afternoon. The Bulls are adding 14-year veteran point guard Goran Dragic to their back court.

The Bulls are signing Dragic to a very team-friendly 1 -year deal as Shams Charania reported the details via Twitter:

Goran Dragic has played for several teams throughout his career and should add another steady veteran presence to the Bulls. His playoff experience should also be of value to the Bulls. Dragic was a key piece to the Miami Heat team that reached the NBA Finals in 2020. He will also be reuniting with former Heat teammate Derrick Jones Jr. Dragic also most recently made an All-Star team in 2018 and should still have a lot to give the Bulls.

This signing may also raise concerns surrounding the health of Lonzo Ball heading into this season. This may also indicate a potential trade on the horizon. With the current roster, the Bulls have great depth at the point guard position. The Bulls will be adding Dragic to a list of point guards that already includes Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso, Ayo Dosumnu, and Coby White.

It will be interesting to see how the Bulls navigate the rest of this offseason. It is likely that the Bulls are now finished adding players via free agency.

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“Hope” isn’t a plan.

The Bulls latest free-agent agreement was more evidence of that.

It was confirmed that the team reached a one-year deal with veteran point guard Goran Dragic on Sunday, giving them another option in the backcourt, as well as a streaky three-point shooter, but it may have spoken to a larger concern for the franchise.

Specifically, the real health of Lonzo Ball and his left knee.

Bulls general manager Marc Eversley was asked about Ball several weeks ago, and gave a vague answer that then bordered on cryptic.

“Currently working out in [Los Angeles], still doing his [knee] rehab,” Eversley said when he was asked about Ball and the lingering bone bruise that cost him the second half of the season. “We have sent our performance staff to see him every week and track his progress. All reports are good. He’s making progress.”

Eversley was then asked if he was making enough progress to be ready for the start of training camp and replied, “I certainly hope so.”

When pressed on the idea of Ball being able to play if the season were to start today, the GM said he would have to revert those types of answers to the medical staff.

Not exactly a ringing endorsement.

Then again, the Dragic signing could have importance in other ways.

Even if Ball is good to go, the Bulls lacked an experienced point guard behind Ball, as Ayo Dosunmu was cast into that role. The then-rookie was very solid at times, but also seemed to hit a wall the last month of the season or the fact that opposing teams had enough film on him and figured out his tendencies.

Then there’s the idea of was the 36 year old brought in to make Coby White more expendable?

The Sun-Times reported last week that the Bulls had been actively looking to move White since days before the draft, but also weren’t looking to just give the one-time No. 7 overall pick away.

White, who never did really grasp onto the idea of playing the point, was a nice insurance policy in case Ball was again slowed by the knee, but also an expensive one.

The Bulls have to make a decision on White by the fall to either extend him or let him test the market as a restricted free agent, and with Dragic’s deal only $2.9 million that gives the franchise a bit more freedom to make a decision on White.

Finally, Dragic gives the Bulls more playoff experience.

The veteran has played in 60 postseason games and started in 37 of them.

He has a knack for making big shots in key moments on that stage, with his best playoff run coming in the 2019-20 postseason run with Miami, when he averaged 19.1 points and 4.4 assists in 17 games.

The Bulls did reach the first round of the playoffs this season, but were ousted by Milwaukee, looking the part of an inexperienced team. Dragic should help in that area.

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The Chicago Bulls have agreed to a one-year contract with veteran point guard Goran Dragic, sources confirmed to ESPN on Sunday.

The Brooklyn Nets won the Dragic sweepstakes last season, beating out the Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, LA Clippers and Milwaukee Bucks to sign the guard after his contract was bought out.

He ended up playing just 16 regular-season games for Brooklyn and struggled some after sitting out most of the season with the Toronto Raptors. However, Dragic found his form in the playoffs, averaging 10.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists while shooting 56% from the field in just under 20 minutes per game.

The Athletic first reported news of Dragic’s agreement with the Bulls.

Dragic, 36, has a reputation for stepping up his game in the playoffs. He averaged 19 points per game for the Miami Heat during their run to the NBA Finals in 2020 before a plantar fasciitis injury sidelined him against the Lakers.

Entering his 15th NBA season, Dragic has career averages of 13.7 points and 4.8 assists while shooting 46% from the field and 36% from 3. He won the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award in 2013-14 and made his lone All-NBA team that same season.

ESPN’s Jamal Collier contributed to this report.

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LONDON — Peter Brook, a British theater and film director known for an influential and distinguished career which saw him garner worldwide acclaim, has died. He was 97.

The two-time Tony Award winner, who had settled in France decades ago, directed the film adaptations of his best stage works as well as the 1963 movie “Lord of the Flies.”

Brook’s publisher Nick Hern Books said in a statement Sunday that he “leaves behind an incredible artistic legacy.” French media reports said that Brook died in Paris on Saturday.

Born in London in 1925, Brook would go on to study at Oxford University and direct his first London show “Doctor Faustus” while he was still a teenager.

After serving as director of productions at the Royal Opera House, he gained further fame through his work with the Royal Shakespeare Company, including “Titus Andronicus” starring Laurence Olivier.

He was a Tony Award winner for best direction in 1966 for his interpretation of Peter Weiss’ “Marat/Sade,” and in 1970 for the production of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

Brook was also the recipient of an Olivier Award, an Emmy and an International Emmy during his seven-decade career.

After settling in Paris in the 1970s, the director founded the International Center for Theater Research, for which he would regenerate the rundown Bouffes du Nord theater in the French capital.

Some of Brook’s works made it across the pond to Chicago, including his take on Bizet’s “Carmen” at Grant Park in 1992, Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” starring Adrien Lester at Chicago Shakespeare Theater in 2001, “Le Costume” by Can Themba at CST in 2002, and “Battlefield” by Jean-Claude Carriere at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago in 2017.

Lester tweeted Brook had been a “giant in our field.”

Worldwide recognition also saw him honored with art prizes including Japan’s Praemium Imperiale, Italy’s Prix Italia, and most recently Spain’s Princess of Asturias in 2019.

Brook was married to actress Natasha Parry from 1951 until her death following a stroke in 2015. They are survived by two children, Irina and Simon, both of whom are directors.

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Crowds flocked to the city’s lakefront Saturday night to “ooh” and “aah” as a glorious display of fireworks lit up the sky over Lake Michigan.

The annual Fourth of July fireworks at Navy Pier didn’t disappoint.

Check out photos below for a recap, whether you missed the show or just want to experience it again.

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The world-premiere musical revue at Glencoe’s Writers Theatre carries the subtitle, “A Night with Felicia P. Fields.” So let’s be clear about this: A night with Felicia P. Fields is a night worth having.

The Chicago-bred performer has been a favorite presence on the city’s stages for decades, putting her big voice and considerable comic chops to scene-stealing use at theaters ranging from the Goodman, Court, and Chicago Shakespeare to suburban musical factories like Marriott and Drury Lane. And, famously, Fields earned a Tony Award nomination in her first (and to date, only) trip to Broadway, in the original 2005 production of “The Color Purple.”

At Writers, where she previously played the titular blues singer in a 2019 staging of August Wilson’s “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” Fields is now performing as herself. (If you’re wondering who this “Pearl” character is, well, now you know what the “P.” stands for in “Felicia P. Fields.”)

Sauntering onstage in a high-collared chiffon cape, which she shrugs off to reveal an appropriately pearlescent beaded gown, Fields reminds us from the start that the blues don’t always have to be sad. Promising a good time is in store, she playfully encourages the audience to “let your hair down,” then with a shrug suggests “take your hair off,” before launching into the Willie Dixon party-starter “Wang Dang Doodle.”

The show’s set list, shaped by Fields and director Ron OJ Parson (they’re credited as co-creators), leans heavily in its first half toward the blues’ bawdier, entendre-laced side. Fields follows up “Wang Dang” with Dixon’s “Built for Comfort” (“I’m built for comfort, I ain’t built for speed / but I got everything a good man needs”) and Lil Johnson’s “My Stove’s in Good Condition.”

The latter song (whose lyrics honestly feel too innuendo-heavy to quote here) is one that Fields has mastered over a dozen years of singing it in the revue “Low Down Dirty Blues.” Fields appeared in that show’s world premiere at Skokie’s Northlight Theatre in 2010, and has since reprised her role at regional theaters around the country. Here, you can sense how she’s perfected the timing and emphasis for maximum comic impact.

Fields proves great with crowd work, too. Parson and set designer Jack Magaw have supplemented Writers’ built-in seating with cabaret tables in front of the oyster-shaped stage Fields shares with her five-piece band, and riffing during a rendition of Muddy Waters’ “Got My Mojo Working,” she leaves the stage to interrogate couples at those tables about how their mojo’s working.

Though Fields is the headliner, she gives nearly equal stage time to her music director and frequent collaborator, Chic Street Man. The lanky guitarist, who Fields described at one point on opening night as “my personal Elvis,” takes lead on around a third of the songs, including a couple of original compositions.

Apart from identifying those originals, and attributing one other song to Big Bill Broonzy as part of a jokey exchange with Fields, you won’t find any credits to these songs’ writers in the program, or hear any mention of the artists who popularized them. To be fair, the show isn’t pitched as some kind of blues primer, and many revues can go too far in the opposite direction, feeling like a staged Wikipedia entry. Perhaps the omission is surprising only because this is Writers Theatre, where the word and the text are exalted — it’s right there in the name.

On the promise of a good time, though, Fields and her terrific band — including Frank Menzies on keys, Julie Ponc? on bass, Harold Morrison on drums, and Ricardo Jimenez on trumpet — absolutely deliver. They’re highlighting the joyful mood of the blues (with a touch of gospel for inspirational good measure); why not roll with it?

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