The Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra will make its first-ever concert appearance in Chicago later this summer, it was announced Wednesday by the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture.

The 68-member symphony, under the direction of principal conductor Maximiano Vald?s and associate director Rafael Enrique Irizarry, will present a concert titled “Nostalgia for My Island” on Aug. 6 at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.

The concert, featuring works by Puerto Rican composers, also marks the orchestra’s first performance on the U.S. mainland since a Kennedy Center presentation in 2004, and its first performance outside of Puerto Rico since a concert in Spain in 2005. The symphony performs a full slate of programs year-round in Puerto Rico, and has twice been nominated for a Latin Grammy Award.

“As the only national museum dedicated to sharing the arts and culture of the Puerto Rican people, we are proud to host the [musicians] for their first performance stateside in 20 years,” said Billy Ocasio, CEO of the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture, via Wednesday’s announcement. The museum is the local presenting arts organization for the concert. “It’s been said that the orchestra is humanity’s greatest artistic achievement, and we celebrate that achievement with this historic performance.”

Established in 1956, the orchestra, which is sponsored by the government of Puerto Rico, has performed in concert with an array of world-class soloists including Ana Mar?a Mart?nez, Pl?cido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, Kiri Te kanawa and Alicia Larocha.

The Chicago program will include works by composers Ernesto Cordero, Roberto Sierra, Hector Campos Parsi, Angelica Negron and Juan Morel Campos, among others.

“I wanted to do something that brings our culture out to other communities. … People generally think of Puerto Rican music as salsa, but we have a whole other world [of music] out there,” Ocasio told the Sun-Times in a separate interview, about the genesis of the concert.

The museum, located at 3015 W. Division St., was founded in 2000 and is currently the only national museum of Puerto Rican arts and culture outside of Puerto Rico. Admission is free.

Tickets for the 7 p.m. Chicago concert are $25-$100. Visit cso.org.

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There are wins during a 162 game season and then there are wins that pack a little more punch.

Take the White Sox’ 7-6 victory in 12 innings over the Blue Jays at Guaranteed Rate Field. Dylan Cease’s masterful six innings of one-hit ball with 11 strikeouts went down the tubes when the bullpen couldn’t hold a 2-0 lead.

The Sox tied it with two runs in the ninth, and with one in each of the 10th, 11th and 12th innings to win it, the clincher coming on Josh Harrison’s RBI single scoring hobbling free runner Jose Abreu from second.

“That might be the most fun one we’ve had this year,” Cease said. “To be down late, then come back and hang in there, and ultimately win it late, those are the types of ball games that will get you into the playoffs at the end of the year.”

The Sox (33-33) are a .500 team for the first time since May 29 and go for a series sweep Wednesday afternoon against the Jays (38-30), who swept the Sox in Toronto three weeks ago. The Sox have won six of their last eight games.

Harrison, a 10-year veteran and two-time All-Star who underachieved on an underperforming team for much of the first two months of the season, has had two big games in a row now. He also homered in the Sox’ 8-7 win Monday and made big plays in the field.

“That’s what teams do,” Harrison said. “You pull from everybody 1 through 9. Those are fun games to be a part of, especially when you win.”

Harrison is batting .325 (14-for-43) in his his last 13 games and has a six-game winning streak that raised his average to .216. There have been calls for having him DFA’d, which he was asked about after the game.

“I’ll be honest, I don’t care what anybody says,” Harrison said. “I don’t play for the motivation of people that don’t like me or that do like me, no disrespect. Everything I do on the field is how I’m wired. I play for me, I play for my teammates, I play for my family. If somebody is not for me, it doesn’t bother me.”

There was nothing not to like about Cease’s pitching. He struck out the first five batters he faced, took a no-hitter into the sixth, recorded his 12th double-digit strikeout game tying him with Carlos Rod?n and Alex Fernandez for sixth place in White Sox history and tied his career-high with 11 strikeouts. Cease (2.68 ERA) made a dangerous Jays lineup swing and miss 20 times.

“It’s a good feeling,” Cease said. “It feels like if I get [my slider] in the zone, I’m pretty much unhittable. So, that’s kinda what I was rolling with today.”

Luis Robert matched a career high with four RBI, including two on a tying single in the ninth, an inning that started after two outs. Danny Mendick’s RBI single tied it in the 10th, and Robert’s sacrifice fly scoring Tim Anderson tied it in the 11th.

Vince Velasquez pitched two innings of relief for the win.

“A very special win,” manager Tony La Russa said.

Abreu, hobbling through the game with apparent leg soreness, will either be the DH Wednesday or not play at all. It seemed fitting that he scored the winning run from second.

“To see a leader like [Abreu] who has been out there grinding like that, it allows us all to take a step back and say ‘no excuses,’ Harrison said. “To see him out there grinding through 12 innings speaks volumes for this clubhouse.”

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We’ve yet to see the White Sox bullpen rolled out as it was meant to be when Kendall Graveman and Joe Kelly were signed as free agents before the season. An expensive back-end setup with Liam Hendriks as closer, Graveman and Kelly from the right side and Aaron Bummer from the left looked strong on paper. But due to injuries to all but Graveman, on paper is the only place that bullpen has been seen.

Hendriks has a right forearm flexor strain and Bummer has a lat strain. Kelly is back from his second stint on the IL but not yet able to throw on consecutive days so he was unavailable to help preserve Dylan Cease’s six-inning gem in a 7-6 win for the Sox in 12 innings against the Blue Jays Tuesday Guaranteed Rate Field.

The Sox (33-33) won it on Josh Harrison’s RBI single with two outs scoring Jose Abreu from second. The Sox are at .500 for the first time since May 29 and have defeated the Blue Jays (38-30) two straight for their sixth win in eight games.

“Just trying not to do too much,” Harrison said. “We just have to show up every day, win every series.”

Vince Velasquez pitched two innings of relief for the win.

Cease left with a 2-0 lead after allowing one hit and striking out 11. The Jays scored one in the seventh against Jimmy Lambert and three in the eighth against rookie Davis Martin and Jose Ruiz. The Sox tied it in the ninth on Luis Robert’s two-run single against Jordan Romano, the Jays took back the lead on Vladimir Guerrero’s RBI double in the 10th against Graveman and the Sox sent the game to the 11th on Danny Mendick’s RBI single. Robert’s sacrifice fly scoring Tim Anderson tied it in the 11th, Robert’s fourth RBI of night.

Using a squadron of relievers with minor league starter profiles is a precarious way to hold down one of the better lineups in baseball. But so it goes for manager Tony La Russa until Hendriks and Bummer heal and Kelly still not quite up to speed.

Martin, in an unfamiliar high leverage relief spot, walked the leadoff man in the eighth, had no play on Lourdes Gurriel’s 45-foot roller near the third base line and watched pinch hitter Cavan Biggio’s tying RBI looping single fall out of shortstop Tim Anderson’s reach in a three-run inning.

It was a tough way to see Cease’s gem go down the tubes. The Sox got two runs against righty Kevin Gausman on consecutive doubles by AJ Pollock and Adam Engel in the second and another on Robert’s RBI double in the fifth. Anderson got picked off first by catcher Alejandro Kirk one batter before Robert’s double, probably costing the Sox a run.

Every day when La Russa huddles with pitching coaches Ethan Katz and Curt Hasler to map out a pitching plan, they piece together who’s available and go from there. It’s especially tricky without Hendriks, whose absence pushes everyone up on the role-chain. It means middle relievers are asked to work higher leverage innings.

Guys like Reynaldo Lopez — who pitched two scoreless innings in the Sox’ 8-7 win over the Jays Monday — Martin and Lambert had been effective of late.

“We have a little chemistry going,” La Russa said. “There are certain guys that are not available, which means certain other guys can step up in those roles. If they step up, keep it going, if not, it makes it tougher. Guys have stepped forward.”

The Sox want to make sure the tendon connecting Bummer’s shoulder and lat is “completely intact and calm before we start ramping him up” with a throwing program, general manager Rick Hahn said. “It’s going to be a bit of a slower process probably with him.”

“We’ve had a lot of guys over there with a higher workload than they’ve had in previous years,” Hendriks said. “Some guys making their debuts, guys who have never pitched in back to back games. Doing that from the get-go it’s going to wear on you a little bit.”

With his pitch count at 101 through six, Cease would not have had enough pitches left to complete a no-hitter. He lowered his ERA to 2.68.

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PITTSBURGH – Under different circumstances, the Cubs’ current two-city road trip to Pittsburgh and St. Louis could have been an opportunity to climb the National League Central standings.

So far, it’s done nothing but create space between the Cubs and the teams directly above them.

After a 7-1 loss to the Pirates on Tuesday, the Cubs slid to a 25-43 record, 3 1/2 games back of the No. 3 Pirates. If it wasn’t already clear that the Cubs would be sellers at the deadline, a pair of losses to the Pirates certainly didn’t make the Cubs look like contenders for the division crown, or even second place.

Until the Cubs’ rotation gets healthy, the team is in for more games like the first two of this four-game series at Pittsburgh.

“I’m tired of talking about the back-end guys saving [the bullpen],” Cubs manager David Ross said. “We’ve got to do a better job from the get-go and get ourselves in some ballgames.”

While the Cubs wait for Marcus Stroman (right shoulder inflammation), Drew Smyly (right oblique strain) and Wade Miley (left shoulder strain) to return from the IL – which isn’t imminent — several of their starters have been working through mechanical issues in recent weeks.

Any pitcher, no matter how experienced, can hit a mechanical rut. Former Cubs closer Craig Kimbrel’s 2020 season is a perfect example. The Cubs pulled him from the closing role that year and through behind-the-scenes work turned his season around. He went from posting a 23.63 ERA in his first four outings to not allowing a run in the month of September.

The Cubs are doing something similar with top prospect Caleb Kilian by optioning him to Triple-A.

“Working on things at this level and putting the pressure on yourself is not always the easiest spot to do it,” Ross said after the move Tuesday.

The Cubs, however, don’t have the flexibility to let every young pitcher who is battling mechanical issues address those in the minor leagues, or even in a less prominent role.

Look at rookie Matt Swarmer, who gave up five runs in four innings on Tuesday.

The first two outings of Swarmer’s major-league career this year were quality starts. He held both the Brewers and Cardinals to one run through six innings. But his last three starts have been high-scoring.

First, the Yankees seemed to be anticipating each pitch as it came in, and Swarmer gave up six home runs. Then, Swarmer lost his command against the Padres, walking five walks. And his start against the Padres on Tuesday featured more hard contact and a pair of walks.

“This time I was trying to attack more in the zone because I wanted to go deep in the game,” Swarmer said. “I wanted to go six or seven [innings] but that one [long third] inning kind of hurt.”

The Cubs have already heavily leaned on their pitching depth in Triple-A, including Swarmer and Kilian’s call-ups. And while the club is excited about the performances of prospects like D.J. Herz, who was named the 2021 Cubs Minor League Pitcher of the Year and has posted a 2.17 ERA in South Bend this season, Herz is still in Single-A.

By necessity, the Cubs’ starters will get more leeway. What other option do they have?

The way Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyersees it, in the long run, positives can still come out of rough outings.

“You want to make sure when you have talented young guys, you give them the runway to play and realize that with that comes some struggles,” Hoyer said last week. “… You have to give them that time in order to allow them to fulfill their potential. At some point, you’re going to have to provide those plate appearances or those innings to learn how to play at this level.”

In the short-run, the Cubs need an abrupt turnaround to salvage this four-game series.

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2022 marks 102 seasons for the Chicago Bears, with legendary owner George S Halas moving the Decatur Staleys to Chicago in 1921 and renaming the franchise the year later. However, this centenary hasn’t brought much in the way of celebration. A 6-11 season fizzled out on January 9th with a loss to the Vikings; head coach Matt Nagy and GM Ryan Pace were fired the day after.

This offseason has seen new GM Ryan Poles do some tidying up with contracts ¬– backup quarterbacks Nick Foles and Andy Dalton are gone, Khalil Mack was traded to the sunnier pastures of the L.A. Chargers and star wideout Allen Robinson left in free agency to join the Super Bowl LVI champion L.A. Rams.

However, this leaves new HC Matt Eberflus with, it’s fair to say, a fairly underwhelming roster. The price-setters concur, with the latest NFL betting odds from Coral suggesting that the Bears won’t get out of the NFC North, let alone reach Super Bowl LVII. However, the McCaskey family are patient owners – Nagy got four seasons despite never making the play-offs – and Eberflus will be given time to piece together plays for second year QB Justin Fields. Some o-line protection might help Fields also, but it’s safe to say 2022 will be a rebuilding season at Soldier Field.

 While this season might not forecast glory days, the Bears have had plenty of them in the past. Let’s take a look at three for struggling fans to hold dear this year.

 Super Bowl XX

 Many will tell you that the 1985 Bears were the best team ever assembled. Led by a brash Jim McMahon, the greatest Bear of all in Walter Payton, and a defense that only allowed an average 12.4 points over the season, only a Week 13 loss in Miami stopped them equaling the 1972 Dolphins as the only team ever to have a perfect season. The Bears didn’t allow a single point in the divisional round, beating the Giants 21-0. Same again for the Conference title where the Rams were routed 24-0. The offence came out to play in the grand finale, where the New England Patriots were humbled by Mike Ditka’s men 45-10. The story of that season is recounted by countless Chicagoans to their kids – and to anyone who isn’t from Chicago – but the definitive account is narrated by Vince Vaughn in the wonderful ESPN ’30 for 30: The ’85 Bears’.

 Devin Hester runs it back

 Few would have predicted that the next time the Bears saw a Super Bowl would be 2007. Between serious injuries to McMahon, Richard Dent and Otis Wilson (to name a few) and the strained relationship between coaches Ditka and Buddy Ryan snapping, the ’85 Bears never became a dynasty and two decades passed before they once again got to the game’s biggest stage. Having already set a record rookie season after being picked from University of Miami, Devin Hester traveled back to his alma mater city to face off against the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLI. The whistle blew, the Colts kicked off to the Bears and Hester took it 92 yards up the Hard Rock Stadium turf to give Chicago a touchdown from the opening kick off. It’s the only time it’s been done in Super Bowl history, and with the NFL having tightened restrictions around returns due to safety concerns, Hester’s record may never be broken. The Colts went on to prevail 29-17, but Chicago have always kept an eye on kick returning as a specialism since; Johnny Knox, Tarik Cohen and Cordarrelle Patterson have all scored from returns in years subsequent.

 The 1965 draft

 Drafting has been an issue in recent years for the Bears. Although we’ve reported that Roquan Smith continues to be quietly one of the best linebackers in the league, few will let Pace forget he traded up to take Mitchell Trubisky ahead of Patrick Mahomes. The 1965 draft saw Halas take Dick Butkus and Gale Sayers, arguably second and third in the Bears’ pantheon of greats behind Sweetness himself. If new GM Poles could do that, Chicago will be saying his name in awed tones 60 years from now, too. 

 There might be some green shoots for the Bears; Fields is now the undisputed starter, RB David Montgomery is a stud, and young receiver Darnell Mooney continues to progress. Chicago can make moves happen with $22.5m in cap space at the time of writing. It’s notable that in the 1922 season, while the Bears didn’t win the title, the Packers – playing that season as the Green Bay Blues – finished a distant eighth, winning only four of ten. Would Chicago fans take that for this season? Absolutely

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Closer Liam Hendriks said he ”recovered well” from playing catch Monday, his first time throwing since going on the injured list with a strained flexor in his forearm June 14.

”Everything is exactly where we are expecting it to be,” Hendriks said. ”Now the challenge on my behalf tends to convince them that I can come back quicker than they are trying to let me.”

General manager Rick Hahn said a three-week absence was a good approximation, but Hendriks has been stumping for July 1, which is a few days shy of that.

”The 27th is when I’m available to come off the IL,” Hendriks said. ”And so that’s the date we have in mind and hopefully . . . some more days off in there to make sure that it’s healing up right. But the biggest thing is throwing, recovering and not losing range of motion, not losing strength or not losing anything like that.”

Moncada downplays hamstring

Third baseman Yoan Moncada said he’ll start taking batting practice ”in a couple of days” and doesn’t think his minor hamstring strain will keep him sidelined past his 10-day stay on the IL.

”I don’t think it’s anything serious that’s going to take a long time,” said Moncada, who went on the IL on Monday, retroactive to Saturday. ”It isn’t a bad one.”

Moncada has dealt with hamstring issues before, and he was on the IL with a strained oblique muscle and missed games because of a sore quad this season.

He was asked whether he’ll reconsider his training methods.

”Honestly, I just work hard,” Moncada said. ”I don’t know how you can do this without working hard.”

Moncada was in a seasonlong slump but had five hits, including a home run, and five RBI the game before he got hurt.

Jimenez starts rehab again

Outfielder Eloy Jimenez returned to action at Triple-A Charlotte after his rehab assignment was paused June 10. Jimenez, who is recovering from surgery to repair a hamstring tendon behind his right knee, went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts as the designated hitter.

o Hahn said catcher Yasmani Grandal responded well to treatment on his lower back and ”is going to begin ramping up his baseball activities in the next couple of days.”

Hahn called Grandal’s progress good, but he didn’t have a timeframe for his return.

Anderson second in All-Star voting

The Sox’ Tim Anderson (528,278) is second in All-Star balloting among American League shortstops behind the Blue Jays’ Bo Bichette (585,744). The Red Sox’ Xander Bogaerts is third (525,202).

Vaughn in select company

Outfielder/designated hitter Andrew Vaughn, who had four hits Monday, is the fifth Sox player since 1999 to record three or more four-hit games in an 18-game span, joining Anderson (three in 2020), Jose Abreu (four in 2017), Melky Cabrera (three in 2017) and Chris Singleton (three in 1999).

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