The Chicago Soul Jazz Collective refreshes the sounds of the city’s postbop eraMark Guarinoon June 27, 2022 at 11:00 am

Since 2018, the Chicago Soul Jazz Collective has made waves in town by resurrecting the stylish grooves of the postbop era, which began in the late 1950s—nationally, the sound was shaped by the likes of the Jazz Crusaders, Cannonball Adderley, and Jimmy Smith, and in Chicago the Rush Street club scene was at its height. On previous records the sextet has invited collaborators such as New Orleans trumpet master Nicholas Payton and vocalist Raul Midón, but those were baby steps compared to what the group has done for its recent third album, On the Way to Be Free (JMarq)—mighty Chicago jazz vocalist Dee Alexander is the collective’s full-time front woman. Tenor saxophonist John Fournier has written original songs that set Alexander in postbop’s prime era without feeling like historic exercises. “The Man Is Coming Back,” a seductive mood piece, imagines an insurrection (“Get your pitchfork / Out of the barn / Light the torches / Sound the alarm”) that snaps to life at the song’s hard-funk break. These songs have space and light to them, and the title cut showcases the group’s earthy dynamic. “Mama Are We There Yet?” features a gang vocal driving atop a snappy syncopated groove and the elastic soloing of guitarist Larry Brown Jr. The range of these songs—the nighttime neosoul of “Crazy Wrong,” the Latin-tinged groove of “Carry Me,” layered with breezy soloing by Brown and trumpeter Marques Carroll—showcases Alexander’s versatility and strengths. Judging by its title, the instrumental “Behind the Crusaders” is presumably a tribute to the Jazz Crusaders, a multifaceted group that in the 1960s and 1970s erased all sorts of genre boundaries. Sure enough, the song follows in those footsteps—its melodic power and stylish group dynamics are what make the Chicago Soul Jazz Collective a prime portal for listeners who don’t limit their music by category but are driven simply by the groove. Following this appearance at the FitzGerald’s American Music Festival, the group will perform at the Jazz Showcase on August 24.

Chicago Soul Jazz Collective with Dee Alexander Part of day two of the American Music Festival, which runs Fri 7/1 through Mon 7/4. The Rebirth Brass Band headlines the outdoor main stage; Nelson Street Revival closes out the nightclub stage inside FitzGerald’s; the Chicago Soul Jazz Collective with Dee Alexander headlines the Sidebar stage. The day’s other performers are Marshall Crenshaw, Michael McDermott, Daddy Long Legs, Lilly Hiatt, Chicago Farmer & the Fieldnotes, Eilen Jewell, Tre Burt, Fox Crossing Stringband, Sarah Borges, Jonah Tolchin, the Claudettes, Los Gallos, the Joel Paterson Band, Terry White & the Loaded Dice, and Donna Herula. Sat 7/2, 9:30 PM (music begins at 1 PM), Sidebar stage, FitzGerald’s, 6615 Roosevelt, Berwyn, $50 per day, all ages

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The Chicago Soul Jazz Collective refreshes the sounds of the city’s postbop eraMark Guarinoon June 27, 2022 at 11:00 am Read More »

5-month-old girl among 5 killed by gunfire in Chicago over weekend, 28 other people wounded

A five-month-old girl was among at least five people killed and 28 others wounded in shootings across Chicago over the weekend.

The infant was shot just after 6 p.m. Friday in the 7700 block of South Shore Drive, Chicago police said. Cecilia Thomas was inside a car when another car approached and someone inside that second car opened fire, striking her in the head, police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office said. The girl’s father pulled over near 71st Street and Crandon Avenue after she began crying, according to a nearby business owner. The infant was taken to Comer Children’s Hospital, where she later died from her injuries, officials said. A man who was in a separate car was shot around the eye, police said. He went to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was reported in good condition. At least a dozen of the girl’s family members gathered outside Comer following the shooting. “All we heard was baby got shot in the car,” said one relative, who declined to give their name. “She got shot in the head,” a woman screamed at an officer near the emergency room entrance of the hospital. “I hope y’all catch whoever did this,” a woman screamed through tears at her phone. “Took that damn baby’s life.”One person was killed and another wounded after gunmen opened fire on a CTA bus Sunday afternoon in West Garfield Park. About 1:20 p.m., two armed males entered the bus in the 300 block of South Pulaski Road, walked to the back and began shooting at two people on board, police said. A male, whose age was unknown, was shot in the head and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said. A man, 24, suffered a graze wound to the head and refused medical attention, police said.A man was found shot to death Friday night in Longwood Manor — the second person found fatally shot in an hour. Amad Martin, 23, was found with gunshot wounds to his back and left shoulder in the 9600 block of South Princeton Avenue about 11:35 p.m., police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office said. He was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he later died from his injuries, police said. Less than an hour earlier, a man was found fatally shot less than three miles away in Pullman. Edward L. Gholston, 45, was found by officers with multiple gunshot wounds in the 10700 block of South Champlain Avenue about 11 p.m., police and the medical examiner’s office said. He was also taken to Christ, where he later died, police said.A man was shot to death early Sunday while leaving his car in the city’s Little Italy neighborhood on the Near West Side. The man, 32, was leaving his car in the 1300 block of West Roosevelt Road about 4:30 a.m. when he was shot twice in the chest, police said. He was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he later died, police said.A 16-year-old girl was wounded by gunfire Saturday afternoon in Grand Crossing on the South Side. The teen was on a sidewalk in the 1500 block of East 75th Street about 4:30 p.m. when someone inside a car fired shots, striking her in the arm, police said. She was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where she was reportedly in good condition, officials said.About an hour earlier, three people were wounded in a shooting at a courtyard in Parkway Gardens on the South Side. Three men, between 18 and 20, were at the courtyard in the 6400 block of South King Drive about 3:20 p.m. when at least one person opened fire, Chicago police said. An 18-year-old man was shot in the leg and a 20-year-old man in the left arm, police said. Both were taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition, officials said. A third man, 19, was grazed in the right leg and refused medical attention, police said.About 1:30 a.m. Monday, three people were standing outside in the 3100 block of North Clark Street when they were struck by gunfire, police said. A 46-year-old woman was shot in the abdomen and taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where she was in critical condition, officials said. A man, 30, was shot in the knee and was taken to the same hospital in good condition. Another man, 37, was shot in the leg and was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he was in good condition.

At least 19 others were wounded by gunfire in Chicago from Friday, 5 p.m. to Monday, 5 a.m.

At least 47 people were shot in Chicago last weekend, 13 of them in just five hours late Sunday and early Monday.

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5-month-old girl among 5 killed by gunfire in Chicago over weekend, 28 other people wounded Read More »

Chicago Foreclosure Activity: Back To Normal

Chicago Foreclosure Activity: Back To Normal

Even without the foreclosure moratorium it doesn’t
look like we need to worry

I’d say it’s been around 10 months since Chicago’s foreclosure activity started to make a comeback but so far it’s no worse than it was just before the pandemic hit. I’m looking at the ATTOM May Foreclosure Market Report released a couple of weeks ago.

At the national level foreclosure activity was only up 1% from the previous month and Illinois and Chicago continue to rank among the top states and metro areas, respectively, for foreclosures. But Rich Sharga, executive vice president of market intelligence at ATTOM, speculates that inflation may trigger higher foreclosure rates as people’s budgets get stretched too thin.

Looking at their Chicago data in the graph below we have yet to exceed the foreclosure activity level of January 2020.

After a dramatic plunge following the pandemic foreclosure moratorium Chicago foreclosure activity has just now begun to resurge now that the moratorium has ended.

If you want to get a sneak peak at where foreclosures might be headed look no further than delinquencies as reported by Black Knight. Their April mortgage data actually shows a continued decline in delinquencies – very slightly down from March’s record low to a mere 2.8%. So no signs of a threat there.

The nation’s mortgage delinquency rate continues to improve and seems to have recovered from the pandemic, hitting new lows since the data has been tracked.

Chicago Shadow Inventory

For the 11th month in a row we’ve seen the number of Chicago homes at some stage of foreclosure rise. But, as you can see in the graph below, this “shadow inventory” remain at incredible historically low levels and is rising ever so slowly.

The number of homes in foreclosure in Chicago declined with the moratorium during the pandemic and doesn’t seem to be rising much since.

#Foreclosures #ChicagoForeclosures #Coronavirus

Gary Lucido is the President of Lucid Realty, the Chicago area’s full service real estate brokerage that offers home buyer rebates and discount commissions. If you want to keep up to date on the Chicago real estate market or get an insider’s view of the seamy underbelly of the real estate industry you can Subscribe to Getting Real by Email using the form below. Please be sure to verify your email address when you receive the verification notice.

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Chicago Foreclosure Activity: Back To Normal

from Getting Real by Gary Lucido
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The new gun bill is a good start, but that’s all it is

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Serena Ryder live in Ottawa, Ontario on June 25, 2022

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The Chicago Soul Jazz Collective refreshes the sounds of the city’s postbop era

Since 2018, the Chicago Soul Jazz Collective has made waves in town by resurrecting the stylish grooves of the postbop era, which began in the late 1950s—nationally, the sound was shaped by the likes of the Jazz Crusaders, Cannonball Adderley, and Jimmy Smith, and in Chicago the Rush Street club scene was at its height. On previous records the sextet has invited collaborators such as New Orleans trumpet master Nicholas Payton and vocalist Raul Midón, but those were baby steps compared to what the group has done for its recent third album, On the Way to Be Free (JMarq)—mighty Chicago jazz vocalist Dee Alexander is the collective’s full-time front woman. Tenor saxophonist John Fournier has written original songs that set Alexander in postbop’s prime era without feeling like historic exercises. “The Man Is Coming Back,” a seductive mood piece, imagines an insurrection (“Get your pitchfork / Out of the barn / Light the torches / Sound the alarm”) that snaps to life at the song’s hard-funk break. These songs have space and light to them, and the title cut showcases the group’s earthy dynamic. “Mama Are We There Yet?” features a gang vocal driving atop a snappy syncopated groove and the elastic soloing of guitarist Larry Brown Jr. The range of these songs—the nighttime neosoul of “Crazy Wrong,” the Latin-tinged groove of “Carry Me,” layered with breezy soloing by Brown and trumpeter Marques Carroll—showcases Alexander’s versatility and strengths. Judging by its title, the instrumental “Behind the Crusaders” is presumably a tribute to the Jazz Crusaders, a multifaceted group that in the 1960s and 1970s erased all sorts of genre boundaries. Sure enough, the song follows in those footsteps—its melodic power and stylish group dynamics are what make the Chicago Soul Jazz Collective a prime portal for listeners who don’t limit their music by category but are driven simply by the groove. Following this appearance at the FitzGerald’s American Music Festival, the group will perform at the Jazz Showcase on August 24.

Chicago Soul Jazz Collective with Dee Alexander Part of day two of the American Music Festival, which runs Fri 7/1 through Mon 7/4. The Rebirth Brass Band headlines the outdoor main stage; Nelson Street Revival closes out the nightclub stage inside FitzGerald’s; the Chicago Soul Jazz Collective with Dee Alexander headlines the Sidebar stage. The day’s other performers are Marshall Crenshaw, Michael McDermott, Daddy Long Legs, Lilly Hiatt, Chicago Farmer & the Fieldnotes, Eilen Jewell, Tre Burt, Fox Crossing Stringband, Sarah Borges, Jonah Tolchin, the Claudettes, Los Gallos, the Joel Paterson Band, Terry White & the Loaded Dice, and Donna Herula. Sat 7/2, 9:30 PM (music begins at 1 PM), Sidebar stage, FitzGerald’s, 6615 Roosevelt, Berwyn, $50 per day, all ages

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The Chicago Soul Jazz Collective refreshes the sounds of the city’s postbop era Read More »

Chicago Bulls GM Marc Eversley hints at a free agent priorityRyan Heckmanon June 27, 2022 at 11:00 am

Just four days from now, the Chicago Bulls and rest of the NBA will enter the much anticipated free agency period of the offseason.

On June 30, it’s presumed that the free agency period will begin at 6PM ET, although no official time has been set just yet — which seems a bit different than recent years. Still, you can expect deals to begin getting announced either the night of June 30 or morning of July 1.

Now, for the Bulls, they are a team with plenty of work to do during this time frame. Obviously, priority number one is to ensure Zach LaVine stays. From the sounds of it, general manager Marc Eversley is ready to do whatever it takes to keep him in Chicago.

Other than re-signing LaVine to what is likely to be a max contract, Eversley has another priority in mind. Following the 2022 NBA Draft, Eversley told a group of reporters that he would really like to get someone to compliment starting center Nikola Vucevic.

Signing a quality veteran to back up Nikola Vucevic is a strong priority for the Chicago Bulls in free agency.

“(That is) certainly something that we’ve discussed as a staff, getting somebody to complement what Vooch (Nikola Vu?evi?) does, particularly rim protection,” Eversley said. “Just kind of patrolling that paint and making sure that we have somebody there who can lock it down. It’s something that we intend on addressing. Whether that’s via free agency or trade it’s something that we’re pretty focused on.”

The intriguing part of Eversley’s comments is where he mentions the possibility of a trade. Most would have assumed that, if the Bulls were going to trade for a big man, it would be Utah Jazz All Star center Rudy Gobert, just as it’s been rumored.

But, with Eversley’s comments about Vucevic, it seems as though the team is going to keep him around — at least, that’s what one would assume. As fans know, a lot of what’s said prior to any moves actually happening could end up being smoke. What really happens, we will know in a short period of time.

If Chicago does indeed keep Vucevic, there are some quality big men available in free agency to help back him up. Some include Orlando Magic center Mo Bamba, Indiana Pacers center Jalen Smith and Charlotte Hornets center Montrezl Harrell.

Last season, both Tony Bradley and Tristan Thompson were far from the type of depth Chicago would have liked to have behind Vucevic. In fact, there were times that Javonte Green and Derrick Jones Jr. did a better job playing a small ball five than either of them — which is pretty telling.

Once a deal for LaVine is announced, watch for the Bulls to act quickly and find help to back up Vucevic.

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Chicago Bulls GM Marc Eversley hints at a free agent priorityRyan Heckmanon June 27, 2022 at 11:00 am Read More »

The new gun bill is a good start, but that’s all it is

The new gun bill is a good start, but that’s all it is

Joe Biden~“Tonight, after 28 years of inaction, bipartisan members of Congress came together to heed the call of families across the country and passed legislation to address the scourge of gun violence in our communities.”

Congratulations! It only took the senseless deaths of nineteen children and two teachers for our politicians to come to their senses. It’s much too late for them and the many other victims of gun violence, but maybe this law will keep others from being dealt the same fate. Maybe, but…..

There are a few things in the bill that I am happy about. The billions of dollars for mental health programs were needed long ago. Whenever the government decides it needs to make cuts to balance a budget, mental health facilities are always among the first to go. It’s nice to see it’s now become a priority.

While the law did address background checks, it didn’t go nearly as far as I would have liked. Well, at least they did something, right? Maybe.

But what about assault weapons? What are they doing about the AR-15’s that seem to be the weapon of choice for individuals that want to shoot up schools, churches, grocery stores, movie theaters, etc? Nothing! Nada! Zip!!

If a person wants one of these killing machines, all they need to do is pass a background check that isn’t too hard to pass, put down their money and voila….they take home an assault weapon. Does that make you feel safer? Me, neither.

I know I should be happy that something was done about the gun problem in America, and I somewhat am. I also know and understand how difficult it was to get politicians who would have trouble making a decision on what they want for lunch, to get together and actually do something that makes our lives a little better and a little safer.

But, while our politicians in Washington are going to take a victory lap about this bill, they didn’t come close to doing enough. They still have time to get there. Hopefully, the children in our schools also have that time.

Related Post: We don’t want to take away your guns, we only want sensible gun laws

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Serena Ryder live in Ottawa, Ontario on June 25, 2022

Serena Ryder live in Ottawa, Ontario on June 25, 2022

Photos by Angela Hubbard at the Ottawa Dragon Boast Festival

Filed under:
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Cubs’ Willson Contreras clutch in victory vs. Cardinals, ‘relaxed’ as trade deadline looms

ST. LOUIS — Cubs catcher Willson Contreras had a simple goal when he stepped to the plate in the 10th inning Sunday against the Cardinals with the go-ahead run in scoring position.

”I was trying to hit a ground ball to second base,” he said.

He did more than that. His RBI single through the right side of the infield was the difference in the Cubs’ 6-5 victory at Busch Stadium.

”Willson’s been in a really good place, I think,” manager David Ross said before the game. ”[He has] just mentally been the same guy every single day. I almost think he’s more relaxed this year than I’ve seen him.”

Sunday was a perfect example, as Contreras drove in the tying and winning runs in separate at-bats.

Contreras has spoken plenty this season about compartmentalizing on the field as outside distractions, such as questions about his contract and the trade deadline, have mounted. The deadline is about five weeks away.

”That has nothing to do with the person that I want to be in the clubhouse,” he reiterated Sunday. ”I know those types of things are right there, but I’m not letting them bother me. I’m trying to be the same person every single day for my teammates and do the best job I can do to help this team to win.”

Contreras already has honed that skill on the field, compartmentalizing each at-bat. He entered the day in a 2-for-21 slump on the road trip.

“It’s just called baseball,” Contreras said. “I’m human.”

On Sunday, he struck out in his first two at-bats. First he was punched out on a fastball off the inside of the plate, then he chased two outside pitches to go down in three.

”I didn’t let that bother me for my third at-bat,” Contreras said. ”It was a big situation for us to tie the game.”

The Cubs had rallied back from a 5-0 deficit to cut the Cardinals’ lead to 5-3 with one out in the fourth inning. Contreras worked a 3-2 count as Cardinals reliever Johan Oviedo nibbled around the edges of the strike zone.

Then a fastball leaked over the middle of the plate, and Contreras hit it on the ground up the middle to knot the score at 5-5.

The Cubs’ bullpen held the Cardinals scoreless the rest of the way to give Contreras a chance to put his team ahead in extra innings.

He led off the 10th, but — thanks to the extra-innings rule — the Cubs had automatic runner Nelson Velazquez standing on second base for him.

Contreras fouled off a changeup and a curve, then got a high fastball out of the zone but on the outer half of the plate so he could drive it the other way.

”I’m lucky that I made contact with a pitch that high,” he said with a chuckle.

Contreras got on top of the pitch to send it through the gap on the right side, giving Velazquez just enough time to dive across home plate safely.

The Cubs claimed the series with their seventh comeback victory of the season.

”It feels good,” Contreras said, ”especially against a great team like the Cardinals.”

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Cubs’ Willson Contreras clutch in victory vs. Cardinals, ‘relaxed’ as trade deadline looms Read More »

White Sox, Tony La Russa try to stay afloat after another homestand gone bad

It’s hard to know for sure just how angry and outraged fans would’ve been had the White Sox blown a three-run ninth-inning lead against the Orioles on Sunday and lost — again — for a four-game sweep. But as reliever Kendall Graveman walked the high wire in the ninth, it was easy to imagine every Sox fan who has yet to call for manager Tony La Russa’s dismissal joining the chorus of those who’ve been doing just that.

Graveman and the Sox survived 4-3, but let’s face it: As they hit the West Coast for series against the Angels and Giants, the Sox are still a mess. It might take a miracle for them to avoid digging an even deeper hole in the division before the All-Star break. The chorus? It’s just warming up.

Yet there’s a widespread belief among those close to the game that Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf won’t stand for the removal of La Russa during the season. Why is that? The men are close friends. More than that, Reinsdorf’s reputation and ego are on the line considering he wanted La Russa to come back at 76 after 10 seasons away from the dugout. And an even bigger factor, many say: Reinsdorf doesn’t believe in changing managers during the season.

But keep these names in mind: Tim Floyd, Bill Cartwright, Scott Skiles and Fred Hoiberg. Each of those Bulls coaches was treated to an in-season kicking to the curb. We’re pretty sure Reinsdorf owns that team, too.

And La Russa was fired by Reinsdorf’s Sox once before, of course. It was in 1986 — June of, to be more precise. Here’s what’s happening:

MON 27

White Sox at Angels (8:38 p.m., NBCSCH)

Lucas Giolito has allowed more than an earned run per inning over his last five starts, which he describes as “brutal” — and which Sox fans describe as “fire Tony!”

TUE 28

Astros at Mets (6:10 p.m., TBS)

Somebody forgot to tell the Astros — 4-2 against the Yankees and Mets over the last week — that this season is supposed to be all about the New York teams.

Lightning at Avalanche, Game 7, if necessary (7 p.m., Ch. 7)

The Bolts are trying to become the first team since 1942 to rally from a 3-1 series deficit to win the Stanley Cup. That’s so long ago, Tampa hadn’t even welcomed babies Louis Victor Piniella and Anthony La Russa Jr. yet.

Reds at Cubs (7:05 p.m., Marquee)

The Battle for the Basement is here, and we can tell by the looks on your faces that you’re less than riveted. Look, it’s either this or “America’s Got Talent.”

White Sox at Angels (8:38 p.m., NBCSCH)

The Angels have gone from a 27-17 start to a colossal losing streak to firing Joe Maddon to all-too-familiar “How can a team with Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout be this bad?” territory. We probably should’ve seen it coming.

USWNT vs. Colombia (9 p.m., ESPN)

One last friendly for the U.S. before qualifying for the 2023 Women’s World Cup and the 2024 Paris Olympics begins.

WED 29

Sun at Sky (11 a.m., Marquee, NBA TV)

A morning start? What is this, college? The game plan for both teams: Nobody oversleep!

Union at Fire (7 p.m.,Ch. 9)

How many times has Philly lost this season? Try once. Believe it or not, it wasn’t against the Fire.

This Ohtani kid might be pretty good someday.

Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

White Sox at Angels (8:30 p.m., NBCSCH)

Nothing to see here, folks — just the best baseball player on the planet throwing smoke from the mound and taking monster cuts at the plate. We’re talking about Ohtani, in case that needed clearing up.

THU 30

Padres at Dodgers (9:10 p.m., FS1)

Let’s see, Yu Darvish isn’t pitching. Fernando Tatis Jr. isn’t playing. What the heck are we supposed to get aggravated about?

FRI 1

White Sox at Giants (9:15 p.m., NBCSCH)

Neither of these teams is anywhere close to as good as it was in 2021, but at least the Giants have yet to spend a single day below .500 this season. What do they know about suffering?

SAT 2

Mercury at Sky (noon, ESPN)

The Mercury officially labeled their recent breakup with star Tina Charles a “contract divorce,” but it could have been worse — at least they got to keep the arena.

Red Sox at Cubs (6:15 p.m., Fox-32)

The Red Sox aren’t bad at all, but they have no shot whatsoever to catch the Yankees. As opposed to the Cubs, who have no shot whatsoever to catch anybody.

SUN 3

Red Sox at Cubs (1:20 p.m., Marquee)

Combined, Fenway Park and Wrigley Field are a whopping 218 years old. That’s nearly as old as long-ago Cub Rich Hill, who’s lined up to start for the visitors.

White Sox at Giants (3:05 p.m., NBCSCH)

Savor every moment of this one, Sox fans, because what’s coming next is just plain terrifying: another homestand.

USFL championship (6:30 p.m., Fox-32)

Does it get any better than the Philadelphia Stars against the Birmingham Stallions in Canton, Ohio, for all the marbles? Don’t answer that.

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White Sox, Tony La Russa try to stay afloat after another homestand gone bad Read More »

Dylan Cease fans career-high 13 as White Sox salvage series finale vs. Orioles

After falling behind 0-2, Jorge Mateo stepped out of the box in an apparent effort to disrupt the rhythm of Dylan Cease.

No chance.

Cease proceeded to strike out Mateo to start the third inning for the sixth of a career-high 13 strikeouts Sunday.

After losing four consecutive games, the only obstacle facing the White Sox was themselves as they survived a harrowing ninth inning to seize a 4-3 victory over the Orioles and avert a four-game sweep.

The Sox (34-37) averted falling to a season-high five games below .500, which would have cast more scrutiny as they embarked to the West Coast for six games against the Angels and Giants.

They departed with joy and relief thanks largely to Cease’s dominance, in which he scattered four hits over seven innings.

“That’s why we’ve got to work to keep him healthy,” manager Tony La Russa said. “He’s up there with the top echelon of starting pitchers. Just look at the work he’s doing against the teams he’s doing it to, the quality of the pitches, going through those lineups three times.

“That was an unbelievable ninth, though.”

Joe Kelly struck out Austin Hays to persevere a three-run lead, but tensions mounted after first baseman Jose Abreu dropped a throw and botched a grounder to start the ninth. Jonathan Arauz hit a bases-loaded single, and Cedric Mullins hit a sacrifice fly to move the tying run to third.

But Kendall Graveman, handling the closer’s duties in place of injured Liam Hendricks, struck out Trey Mancini and alleviated the worst fears of 29,191 fans.

“That win needed to happen,” Graveman said. “It would have been a tough way to lose it.”

Especially after Cease mixed in his 98 mph fastball to keep the Orioles’ batters from looking exclusively for his sharp slider that earned five of his first six strikeouts.

“You’ve definitely got to mix it in and make sure they know that it’s not just going to be spin,” said Cease, who threw 67 of his 101 pitches for strikes. “Lot of strikes, that’s good.”

Gavin Sheets’ two-run homer in the second provided early support as well as represented the Sox’s first homer since they hit three June 20 in a win over the Blue Jays.

All five of Sheets’ homers this season have been hit at home.

Sosa poked a double down the right-field line for his first major league hit in the third and scored on a sacrifice fly by Andrew Vaughn.

“Even though the first few days I wasn’t able to get my first one, they kept telling me ‘don’t worry, don’t worry, you’re going to get your first one sooner rather than later,’ ” Sosa said.

Cease, meanwhile, strengthened his American League All-Star credentials by lowering his ERA to 2.56 and increased his strikeout total to 121 in 15 starts, the third most by a Sox pitcher in his first 15 starts of a season.

Cease, who threw 46 sliders, earned his fourth double-digit strikeout game in 2022 – tying him with Javier Vazquez for fifth-most in franchise history.

“I want to be that guy that the team can rely on,” Cease said. “To go out and give seven like that is definitely a positive.”

And Graveman maintained his poise through the chaos in the ninth, gathering his infielders for some positive reinforcement after Abreu’s second error.

” ‘Hey, it’s fine,’ ” Graveman told them. ” ‘We still got to win a baseball game. No panic. Nobody’s fault. Hey, I’ll pick you up and do the best I can to pick you up.’ “

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Dylan Cease fans career-high 13 as White Sox salvage series finale vs. Orioles Read More »