MINNEAPOLIS — Two down. Maybe two more to go.

After taking the first two games of a make-or-break kind of series against the Twins by a total of 14 runs, the White Sox, finally at the .500 mark after a 6-2 victory against the AL Central Division leaders Friday night, can fancy the idea of finishing off the first half with a really big sweep.

It will take wins Saturday and Sunday with Lance Lynn and Dylan Cease pitching, but you know it’s what everyone is thinking after Adam Engel and Tim Anderson homered and four relievers followed Michael Kopech with scoreless relief Friday as the Sox stretched their winning streak to four and reached .500 for the first time since May 29.

The Sox have won six of eight and trail the Twins by three games. They suffered a big blow losing Luis Robert in the second inning because of of lightheadedness after Robert drew a walk and scored in a two-run first.

But Engel, Robert’s replacement in center, lined a three-run homer in the seventh against right-hander Griffin Jax to turn a one-run lead into four. The Sox also got a tiebreaking homer from Anderson and a quick strike of two runs in the first.

This time they scored again first against left-hander Devin Smeltzer, who was pulled after three innings. Smeltzer gave up two runs on five hits and two walks — the Sox left three runners in scoring position against him — and Twins manager Rocco Baldelli was probably noting the Sox’ .288/.345/.459 hitting line against lefties when he pulled him.

Anderson’s homer against righty Emilio Vargas broke a 2-all tie in the fourth, and Anderson’s leaping catch on the first base side of second helped Kopech finish with a perfect fifth, his only 1-2-3 inning.

The good news from Kopech was that his fastball velocity sat in the 94-96 mph range, up a couple of ticks from his recent starts. He entered with a worrisome 6.15 ERA over his previous five starts, and he labored through five innings with four walks and five hits allowed while striking out two and getting just three swings and misses on 90 pitches (54 for strikes). But Kopech, who has been pitching with some right knee soreness, will take four scoreless innings into a needed All-Star break.

“He’s probably being careful about planting and pushing off,” La Russa said. “And that’s something to pay attention to because if that alters your delivery that’s where you could have [issues. The pitching coaches] had some real good sessions with him. I think we’re on top of it. But you can pitch with that if you can move the ball around and command it.”

Andrew Vaughn, who homered Thursday night, moved the ball around and found a hole between shortstop and third base for a two-run single in the first. It was just the kind of needed hit assistant hitting coach Howie Clark was talking about before the game. The Sox have searched for consistent run production all season.

“If you put too much into why this is happening or that is happening, sometimes you’re one ball going in the hole for a hit from something opening up,” Clark said.

“When guys think they’re going bad they’re never that far away. And when they’re going good they’re not that far from going the other direction, too. When the guys are swinging, it’s contagious. We’ve seen it go the other direction.”

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MINNEAPOLIS — Center fielder Luis Robert left the White Sox’ game against the Twins Friday with lightheadedness, the team said, leaving the team without its hottest hitter in its biggest series of the season.

Robert, who is day-to-day, was replaced by Adam Engel to start the bottom of the second inning at Target Field.

Robert was charged with an error in the first inning when Carlos Correa’s line drive skipped past him and went to the wall. Robert drifted back to catch Jose Miranda’s inning-ending fly out, reaching up to make the catch on a ball that appeared to sail on him.

Robert entered the game on a streak of three consecutive three-hit games, raising his batting line to .301/.332/.461. He hit a grand slam and drove in five runs in the Sox’ 12-2 win in the first game of the series Thursday, and walked and scored in the first inning Friday on Andrew Vaughn’s single, sliding home with the second run.

The Sox said Robert is day to day.

Pollock’s arm strength coming back

Outfielder AJ Pollock won a Gold Glove trophy in 2015 when he played for the Diamondbacks and was nominated for one in 2021 as a Dodger without the luxury of having a strong arm.

At 34, however, Pollock feels like he’s retrieving some arm strength probably lost after numerous problems withhis right elbow.

“I’m doing what I can, man,” Pollock said. “It’s getting there.”

A year after being drafted in the first round in 2009 by the Diamondbacks, Pollock fractured his right elbow diving for a ball. He fractured it again in 2016 sliding into home, and in 2019 had surgery to remove metal hardware that was inserted in the growth plate in 2016. There were infections in the plate area as well.

“The elbow wasn’t right for years,” Pollock said.

“But it’s weird, sometimes I think I have a squirt gun arm but I feel like I’m getting it back. Now it feels like I having something behind it for the first time in years.”

Pollock nailed the Twins’ Gio Urshela with a throw from left field on the fly Thursday, denying the tying run and completing a double play in a 12-2 win.

Eloy unlikely for Twins series

Eloy Jimenez hit in the cage but isn’t running yet, and isn’t expected to play until after the All-Star break.

Jimenez walked off the field after making a running catch in Cleveland Wednesday. It’s the same right leg soreness that paused his rehab assignment at Charlotte but he said he felt better the day after this time.

“I’m going to heal faster because I feel way better in my second day,” he said. “I’m already swinging.”

This and that

Yasmani Grandal caught Friday and homered for Triple-A Charlotte for the second time as he rehabs after going on the injured list with back spasms. Grandal was 8-for-17 nine walks in six injury rehab games between Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte going in.

*Shortly after announcing that Jake Burger (hand) would begin a minor league rehab assignment at Charlotte Friday, the Sox said the rehab was on hold due to illness.

*Saturday’ game has an unusual 2 p.m. start, following the Twins’ honoring of 2022 Hall of Fame electee Jim Kaat. Kaat won 283 games in his career, including 45 with the Sox from 1973-75.

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MINNEAPOLIS — White Sox outfielder AJ Pollock won a Gold Glove trophy in 2015 when he played for the Diamondbacks and was nominated for one in 2021 as a Dodger without the luxury of having a strong arm.

At 34, however, Pollock feels like he’s retrieving some arm strength that was probably lost after numerous problems withhis right elbow.

“I’m doing what I can, man,” Pollock said. “It’s getting there.”

A year after being drafted in the first round in 2009 by the Diamondbacks, Pollock fractured his right elbow diving for a ball. He fractured it again in 2016 sliding into home, and in 2019 had surgery to remove metal hardware that was inserted in the growth plate in 2016. There were infections in the plate area as well.

“The elbow wasn’t right for years,” Pollock said.

“But it’s weird, sometimes I think I have a squirt gun arm but I feel like I’m getting it back.”

A night after making a running catch in right field and banging into the side wall in Cleveland, Pollock nailed the Twins’ Gio Urshela with a throw from left field on the fly, denying the tying run and completing a double play. Never mind that Twins manager Rocco Baldelli should have challenged the close call. Manager Tony La Russa opened his postgame interview lauding Pollock for making the defensive play of the game for the second night in a row.

“I’ve always been accurate to second and third but never felt like I had the strength to home,” Pollock said.

“Now it feels like I having something behind it for the first time in years.”

Eloy unlikely for Twins series

Eloy Jimenez hit in the cage but isn’t running yet, and isn’t expected to play until after the All-Star break. The only scenario La Russa sees him playing is pinch hitting “with two outs and the bases loaded.”

Jimenez walked off the field after making a running catch in Cleveland Wednesday. It’s the same soreness that paused his rehab assignment at Charlotte but he said he felt better the day after this time.

“I’m going to heal faster because I feel way better in my second day,” he said. “I’m already swinging.”

Zavala’s ABs ‘as good as anybody’s’

While Yasmani Grandal rehabs after going on the injured list with back spasms — he was 8-for-17 with a home run and nine walks in six injury rehab games between Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte — Seby Zavala has shined catching in tandem with Reese McGuire, batting .303/.349/.474 with an .803 OPS and handling the defensive side and pitch calling without issue as well.

“He’s receiving well and throwing well, they’re not running too much on him,” La Russa said. “But offensively he’s had as good at-bats as anybody.”

Burger update

Shortly after announcing that Jake Burger (hand) would begin a minor league rehab assignment at Charlotte Friday, the Sox said the rehab was on hold due to illness.

Jim Kaat day

Saturday’ game has an unusual 2 p.m. start, following the Twins’ honoring of 2022 Hall of Fame electee Jim Kaat, whose uniform No. 36 will be retired. A two-time 20-game winner for the Sox, Kaat won 283 games in his career, including 45 with the Sox from 1973-75.

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Pitchfork Music Festival got off to a sloshy slow start Friday as the rain poured down on Union Park with ponchos and the shelter of trees in high demand by the growing flock of attendees.

Though many still pushed through the showers, enjoying the chill sounds of afternoon performer Indigo De Souza, matching the overall breezy feel of the long independently run event.

Lines for food and merch were uncharacteristically slow for a festival though the options include some great local picks including Billy Goat Tavern, Goddess & Grocer, Donerman and Beat Kitchen, among others.

If the muddy terrain from today’s downpour is any indication, boots will necessary the rest of the weekend.

Here’s a look at some of the sights and sounds of Day 1 of the weekend festival in Union Park:

More to come …

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A McHenry County judge on Friday increased bail for a man facing domestic violence charges and who also is accused of making threats against the upcoming North Coast Music Festival.

Judge David Gervais ordered 28-year-old Daniel Susma’s bail doubled — to $50,000 — during a court hearing after prosecutors filed a motion requesting the increase, according to the McHenry County state’s attorney’s office and court records.

Susma was investigated by the Algonquin Police Department and the FBI in Chicago after messages were posted on social media describing a shooting at the electronic music festival that included racial slurs and referenced violence, officials said.

The reported threat came after multiple high-profile mass shootings across the country, including in suburban Highland Park, where seven people were killed and dozens more wounded in a mass shooting on July 4 at the village’s Independence Day parade.

Organizers of the festival, scheduled for Sept. 2-4 in SeatGeek Stadium in suburban Bridgeview, tweeted a statement in response to the threats on Tuesday, saying organizers contacted law enforcement and “are handling it with the utmost seriousness.”

Algonquin Deputy Chief Ryan Markham told the Sun-Times Friday that their joint investigation with the FBI into Susma’s alleged statements led them to determine “[Susma] was not a threat to the festival … and does not have the capacity to carry through” an attack.

Algonquin police were called about 10 p.m. Tuesday to a home in the village after a female relative reported Susma had struck her, grabbed her arm and put his hand over her nose and face, preventing her from breathing, Markham said.

Susma was subsequently charged with felony counts of aggravated battery and misdemeanor counts of domestic battery and ordered held on $25,000 bail.

If Susma posts the newly increased $5,000 bond — 10% of the $50,000 bail amount — and is released, he will be required to submit to GPS monitoring and 24-hour home confinement, according to the state’s attorney’s office.

Susma remained in custody as of Friday, according to sheriff’s office records.

His next court date is set for Aug. 3.

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Liam Hendriks has his own opinion about the White Sox clubhouse

Liam Hendriks was ready to talk all things Chicago White Sox this week. And he’s not down on the team even if many fans and the media are. Hendricks has a different opinion about the state of the White Sox clubhouse than the report from USA Today’s Bob Nightengale suggested was the case.

The White Sox are struggling here at the midseason. As of Friday afternoon, the White Sox trail the Minnesota Twins by four games. The White Sox won the first of their four-game series with the Twins Thursday after Luis Robert hit a grand slam.

Hendricks was a guest on ESPN 1000’s Waddle and Silvy podcast. The White Sox are united as a group, he told the podcast.

“Yeah, I’d love to know what his source is, Hendriks said. “I want to know if it’s a former player who is currently not with us but still in the league from this year. So I’d be interested to see where that comes from.

But yeah, obviously if you talk to anyone in this clubhouse, they’re going to give you the same answer,” he said. “And it’s not exactly the same verbatim answer because we all have our own feelings on it. So it’s not a scripted thing that the front office has given us.

It’s something that we actually truly believe in this clubhouse is the fact that we’re united. We go to bat out there every single day for each other,” Hendriks said. “This is a clubhouse that has no flaws. It’s not a clubbouse where everyone is going in and kind of hating each other or anything like that. It’s your normal clubhouse. You’re going to have days where you’re testy and days where you’re great.”

Did Liam Hendriks out former White Sox player Dallas Keuchel?

It wasn’t long after Liam Hendriks made those comments that people started putting together the clues he was giving. Dallas Keuchel started the season with the White Sox before they designated him from the roster after having a horrid 7.88 ERA for the team in 2022.

That would make a lot of sense if the source came from a disgruntled former member of the White Sox. Although it would hurt Nightingale’s credibility because Keuchel, as a current Arizona Diamondback, wouldn’t be a solid source for the recent report.

Let’s just hope the White Sox can start winning and put this drama behind them. Liam Hendriks can currently help with that. His 2.43 ERA this season is beating his career average by over a run.

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