In southern California, where Lucas Giolito is from, it’s not like this.

It’s not freezing cold in May as it was Tuesday, or even low 40s chilly like Wednesday. And the SoCal rivalry between, say, the Dodgers and Angels is nothing like Cubs and White Sox.

Not among the fans, who, as Harry Caray might have said, got “good and loud” at Wrigley Field during the White Sox’ 4-3 victory over the Cubs Wednesday at Wrigley Field. They stood on their feet when reliever Matt Foster pitched out of a jam. Earlier, Tim Anderson’s waving towel from the Sox dugout kept them revved up.

“Honestly, there’s more between the Dodgers and [San Francisco] Giants, for sure,” Giolito said. “The Angels are down in Anaheim, it’s like a whole different place.”

For Chicago fans, the Cubs-Sox rivalry is an entirely different thing. Fights at Guaranteed Rate Field or Wrigley Field are not unusual in the stands, especially when the weather heats up. It’s not pretty, but for guys like Giolito, who wasn’t a fan of a particular team growing up, it’s more amusing than something to be understood. But it created an energy the Sox, who have started slowly this season, didn’t reject.

“This one, the emotions can get a little bit heightened at times,” Giolito said. “I’d say that’s kind of what the rivalry can do. But the focus is always the same, no matter who you’re playing.”

Giolito looked focused while allowing three runs but striking out a season-high 10 batters over 5 2/3 innings against the Cubs at Wrigley Field Wednesday.

Going for a two-game sweep after their 3-1 win the night before, the Sox gave Giolito a 1-0 lead on Jose Abreu’s homer in the left field basket in the first inning against Kyle Hendriks. It was Abreu’s eighth Wrigley homer in 78 at-bats.

Giolito struck out three of the first four batters he faced, then walked Frank Schwindel before allowing a home run to Nico Hoerner in the second. Two batters later, Patrick Wisdom homered to give the Cubs a 3-1 lead.

Another basket homer by Sox second baseman Leury Garcia in the third made it 3-2. Luis Robert, batting fourth for the first time in his career and continuing his hot hand against Cubs pitching with a 2-for-3 night plus a walk, doubled, went to third on Yasmani Grandal’s single and scored on Gavin Sheets’ soft single through the left side of the infield. It marked the fourth time Sheets has singled through a vacated position in a shift this season, and it tied the score at 3.

Another shift-defying hit, a bloop single with two out by AJ Pollock that landed in short right field beyond the sprawling reach of Cubs second baseman Nick Madrigal in the sixth, gave the Sox a 4-3 lead.

Giolito retired 11 of the last 13 batters he faced, getting lifted with two out in the sixth after walking Ian Happ on his 101st pitch. With Reynaldo Lopez pitching, Willson Contreras’ drive to deep center field sent Robert crashing his left shoulder into the brick wall after a running catch. Robert was slow to get up but stayed in the game.

With runners on second and third and one out, Foster, in relief of Aaron Bummer, got Seiya Suzuki on a foul pop to Sheets and struck out Ian Happ looking at strike three.

Liam Hendriks pitched a perfect ninth, collecting his second save of the two-game series sweep and ending it by striking out Hoerner.

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The White Sox secured a two-game sweep with a 4-3 win over the Cubs on Wednesday at Wrigley Field.

The game started as a slug-off, with the first five runs of the contest scored via the home run. White Sox three-hole hitter Jose Abreu got things going with a solo shot off Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks in the first inning.

The Cubs rallied in the second, with a two-run home run from Nico Hoerner and a one-run bomb from Patrick Wisdom off White Sox right-hander Lucas Giolito.

The White Sox matched their crosstown rivals’ home run count the next frame, as Leury Garcia dropped a leadoff homer into the basket, cutting the Cubs’ lead to one run. The four home runs were also the first four hits in the game.

The Cubs didn’t score again, but the White Sox started manufacturing runs with singles and doubles. Gavin Sheets drove in the tying run in the fourth inning, on a grounder through the left side of the field. A.J. Pollock delivered the go-ahead run with a bloop RBI single into shallow right field.

The White Sox and Cubs entered the series with nine wins apiece. The South Siders left it two games under .500 (11-13), and the North Siders slid to a 9-15 record.

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Cubs manager David Ross had high praise for left fielder Ian Happ’s start to this season.

“The MVP of our group probably would be Ian Happ for me,” he said before the Cubs faced the White Sox on Wednesday.

Happ’s strong start is reflective of adjustments he’s made over the past year.

“From both sides of the plate, obviously right handed, much improved,” Ross said. “The home run off Max Fried, going the other way, multiple hits to the other side early in the season from the right side. And obviously, his continued patience at the plate from the left side and driving runs in, taking his walks. He’s been a real staple to the middle of our lineup and a really big piece for us.”

Happ entered play Wednesday leading qualified Cubs hitters in batting average (.304) and on-base percentage (.424). Seiya Suzuki still held the best slugging percentage (.500).

Happ’s splits have traditionally favored his left-handed swing, but he’s begun this season batting .364 from the right side (22 at-bats) and .277 from the left (47 at-bats).

Happ has also made a number of notable plays in the outfield including a couple diving catches.

“The defense has improved so much, and the way he’s playing outfield for us,” Ross said, “the way he’s moving, the way he’s running the bases.”

A couple weeks into the season, Suzuki led the team in most offensive categories. But as Suzuki’s production has slowed recently – he’d recorded three hits in his last 28 at-bats entering Wednesday – Happ’s has held steady.

Suzuki, of course, is a month into his debut Major League Baseball season, whereas Happ is long past that initial transition period.

“Now you’re seeing the league adjust,” Ross said of Suzuki. “And he’s also in that same boat of adjusting back to pitchers and seeing a lot of these guys for the first and second time again.”

Contreras returns to lineup

Cubs catcher Willson Contreras was back at the lineup and behind the plate Wednesday, after taking three games off from catching. He served as the designated hitter on Saturday in Milwaukee.

Ross announced Tuesday that Contreras was available off the bench but had been dealing with a minor undisclosed ailment.

Miley on rehab assignment

Cubs left-hander Wade Miley left Chicago for a rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa. The veteran is scheduled to pitch on Thursday.

Miley, who the Cubs signed this past winter, began the season on the 10-day injured list with left elbow inflammation. When he returns, Miley will add another veteran presence to the Cubs’ rotation.

Rotation shuffle

The Cubs have adjusted their rotation plans after having reliever Scott Effross start in Drew Smyly’s place Tuesday when they placed Smyly on the bereavement list. The Cubs’ probable starter Friday, in the series opener against the Dodgers, is to be determined. But Smyly could start then if he returns by Friday.

Lefty Justin Steele is scheduled to start Saturday and right-hander Marcus Stroman is set to take the mound Sunday.

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The daily injury update for the White Sox was a mixed bag Wednesday. Andrew Vaughn is “most probably” headed to the injury list after missing his fifth game in a row with a sore right hand, manager Tony La Russa said.

“The bruise is deep and it’s in an area where it’s a tough spot to handle it,” La Russa said. “It just alters everything you do so we’re definitely re-thinking and I guess there’s still an option where he can get healthy and he can swing really and get back in shape.”

That would be the IL. Vaughn was hit by a pitch Friday against the Angels and x-rays were negative. But there was still “tons of inflammation” five days later, he said.

“It’s kind of progressed, but it’s still aching when I swing, real bad,” Vaughn said. “Like it’s kind of blocking me from swinging because of the pain. I feel it all the time.”

On the plus side, third baseman Yoan Moncada and right-handed reliever Joe Kelly will likely wrap up their rehabilitation assignments with Triple-A Charlotte this weekend and could be reinstated when the Sox open a home stand against the Cleveland Guardians Monday.

Vaughn would miss at least another seven days, and will probably go on the 10-day IL before the Sox open a three-game series in Boston Friday. The most an IL stint can be backdated is three days.

Vaughn, 24, was leading the Sox with four homers when he went down and was one of their top hitters with a .283/.367/.566 hitting line and .933 OPS.

Moncada, Kelly close; Cueto, too?

Kelly (right biceps nerve), signed to a two-year, $17 million contract, was expected to make his second appearance for Charlotte Wednesday. Moncada (right oblique strain) was 4-for-11 with a home run in three games through Tuesday. Neither player has appeared with the Sox this season.

Right-hander Johnny Cueto made what was likely his last start for Charlotte and could also join the team next week.

Third baseman Jake Burger, who has played a lot of third base in Moncada’s absence, came to the park feeling sore after crashing into the side wall tracking a foul ball that was well out of his reach Tuesday night. Burger stayed in the game and was not in Wednesday’s lineup.

*Eloy Jimenez (hamstring) played catch and fielded soft fungoes from coach Daryl Boston. Jimenez is expected to be out another five to seven weeks.

Pitching hurts

Managers constantly juggle bullpen usage not only according to matchups and game situations but how their relievers feel on a given day. Working more than two days in a row is usually off limits.

At times pitchers are available only a pinch even if they were off the previous day, which explains why La Russa handed righty Matt Foster the eighth inning of a 3-1 game against the Cubs Tuesday. It was the highest leveraged appearance for Foster, who has allowed one earned run in seven appearances over 11 innings.

Kendall Graveman was not available, La Russa said.

“It’s common sense,” La Russa said. “It’s early. We have been pushing him, and it’s a long season. And we’ve got a deep bullpen.”

Closer Liam Hendriks said pitchers are always sore to some degree or another.

“We usually have this conversation in the bullpen, especially with the young guys,” Hendriks said, “when is the last time you’ve pitched without pain? Last year, I was talking to Craig [Kimbrel] last year and his was 2014, mine was right around 2014 as well. Can’t remember the last time we’ve thrown without something going on.”

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“How confident should we be about Justin Fields and the opportunity he is getting in Chicago? The Bears saddled the quarterback with a lame-duck head coach as a rookie, then took away his No. 1 wide receiver by allowing Allen Robinson to leave for the Rams this offseason.

Absent a first-round pick (that went to the Giants in the Fields draft trade last year), Chicago opted to wait until the third round in Vegas to address the offense. Perhaps Tennessee wideout Velus Jones Jr. carves out a role as a rookie, but it’s more likely Fields will be staring down a lot of blanketed receivers when he drops back to pass this fall. Give the kid a chance!”

Winning seven or eight games this season will not make Bears fans happy. Seven or eight games is probably the worst position an NFL team can be in, because they can’t make the playoffs. And they’re not bad enough to get a top draft pick to help the team get better for the next season.

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After using just one of their 11 draft picks on a wide receiver last week, the Bears added another Wednesday by claiming Chris Finke off waivers from the Chiefs.

The Chiefs waived Finke on Tuesday without him ever playing a game for them. He went undrafted out of Notre Dame in 2020 and has been with the 49ers and Chiefs, but hasn’t appeared in a game.

He was consistently productive over his final two seasons at Notre Dame, totaling 91 catches, 1,027 yards and six touchdowns in 24 games over 2018 and ’19.

The pickup gives the Bears nine receivers on their active roster, led by third-year player Darnell Mooney and free agent additions Byron Pringle and Equanimeous St. Brown. They also drafted Velus Jones out of Tennessee in the third round last week.

Finke is on the 90-man roster and would go through offseason practices with the team if it keeps him. The Bears have rookie minicamp this week and begin Organized Team Activities on May 16.

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The Chicago White Sox are off to a sluggish start in the 2022 season. Their 10-13 record has them behind the Minnesota Twins early on in the AL Central and coming off a poor month of April, Chicago needs to pick it up in May.

The biggest reason this team struggled to win ballgames in April is the offense.  The White Sox are ranked 26th in the league in runs scored with 75 compared to the league-leading Los Angeles Angels at 102. The team is only slugging .350 which currently ranks 20th in MLB.

On top of a struggling offense, injuries have been a big issue this season again.  Eloy Jimenez will be out until about late June, Luis Robert and Giolito have both missed time as well.  Fortunately, the team has some key pieces returning to the team very soon.

The biggest key, will be the return of third baseman Yoan Moncada.  The starting third basemen for the White Sox has been on IL with an oblique injury since late in spring training.

Moncada is currently in Triple A Charlotte on a rehab assignment.  He has hit a home and a couple singles in 3 games with the Knights.  There is not any official word on when Moncada is returning to the big league roster, but it seems likely it can happen later this week to early next week.

Another huge struggle for the White Sox this year has been shaky defense.  The White Sox have 21 errors in 22 games played this season.  Moncada should be a big help defensively when he returns, which will lead to less errors in the infield.  This is a no brainer, Moncada is mostly known for his defensive prowess these days.  Nonetheless, Moncada should be a big boost to the White Sox offense for various reasons.

Moncada is a switch hitter, which will really benefit the White Sox when facing right handed starting pitchers to have another lefty in the lineup.  The team has struggled immensely to produce runs against right handed pitchers, Moncada should help change that.

The White Sox offense also has trouble working walks and being patient at the plate.  This is something Moncada does very well.  In 2021, Moncada drew 84 walks, which is the most walks he’s ever had in his career.  He batted .263 last season with an OBP of .375.  Getting runners on base is something the White Sox desperately need more of this season, and Moncada is likely to do just that.

It is not known where Manager Tony La Russa plans to slot him in the lineup once he returns, but the best bet would be at the top of the lineup once he gets settled in, simply because he gets on base and it would lead to more runs being scored for the team.

In other news, reliever Joe Kelly is also down in Triple A doing a rehab assignment of his own and he should also be joining the White Sox fairy soon.  Andrew Vaughn who injured his wrist after getting hit by a pitch against the Angels, is also expected to return soon after x-rays thankfully came back negative on his wrist.

Make sure to check out our WHITE SOX forum for the latest on the team.

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A student at Oak Park and River Forest High School has been charged after police say he was found with a gun on school grounds Tuesday.

The 18-year-old was arrested outside the school at 201 N. Scoville Ave. and was charged with two counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, Oak Park police said in a statement.

Village spokesman Erik Jacobsen said police “received a report Tuesday that a person intended to bring a gun to Oak Park and River Forest High School. The individual was stopped on school grounds before entering the building at around 12:30 p.m. and a weapon was recovered.”

School principal Lynda J. Parker told parents in an email that “everyone is safe, and school operations were not interrupted.”

She urged parents to “please emphasize to your children the importance of telling a school official if they believe there is a weapon at school.”

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