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How the Super 25 fared in Week 2Michael O’Brienon September 4, 2021 at 4:16 am

1. Warren (1-1)

Lost 10-2 vs. No. 11 Maine South

2. Brother Rice (1-0)

DNP

3. Loyola (1-0)

Saturday vs. Rochester

4. Lincoln-Way East (1-1)

Lost 20-17 at No. 9 Naperville Central

5. Marist (2-0)

Won 45-7 vs. No. 21 Richards

6. Joliet Catholic (1-0)

Saturday at St. Louis (Mo.) Cardinal Ritter

7. Mount Carmel (2-0)

Won 42-0 vs. Phillips

8. St. Rita (1-1)

Won 27-14 at Louisville (Ky.) Trinity

9. Naperville Central (2-0)

Won 20-17 vs. No. 4 Lincoln-Way East

10. Wheaton North (2-0)

Won 30-7 vs. Providence

11. Maine South (2-0)

Won 10-2 at No. 1 Warren

12. Cary-Grove (2-0)

Won 60-20 at Crystal Lake South

13. Glenbard West (1-0)

Saturday vs. Downers Grove South

14. Neuqua Valley (2-0)

Won 26-7 at No. 18 Wheaton Warrenville South

15. Batavia (2-0)

Won 21-13 at Oswego

16. Hersey (2-0)

Won 31-24 vs. Palatine

17. Fenwick (2-0)

Won 42-7 vs. Notre Dame

18. Wheaton Warrenville South (1-1)

Lost 26-7 vs. No. 14 Neuqua Valley

19. St. Charles North (2-0)

Won 24-0 at Lake Zurich

20. Bolingbrook (2-0)

Won 33-0 vs. Simeon

21. Richards (1-1)

Lost 45-7 at No. 5 Marist

22. Evanston (1-1)

Lost 32-13 vs. Libertyville

23. Oswego East (2-0)

Won 28-14 vs. Lincoln-Way West

24. New Trier (2-0)

Won 32-14 vs. Stevenson

25. Homewood-Flossmoor (1-0)

Saturday at Cahokia

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How the Super 25 fared in Week 2Michael O’Brienon September 4, 2021 at 4:16 am Read More »

4-year-old boy critically wounded in Woodlawn shooting — the second 4-year-old shot in Chicago this weekDavid Struetton September 4, 2021 at 3:10 am

A 4-year-old boy was shot twice in his head and critically wounded Friday evening in Woodlawn on the South Side, police said.

The child was inside a home around 9 p.m. in the 6500 block of South Ellis Avenue when bullets came through the front window, Chicago police said.

Paramedics took the child to Comer Children’s Hospital, police said. A 34-year-old woman was also taken to a hospital for lacerations related to the shooting, according to the Chicago Fire Department.

At the scene of the shooting, shell casings littered the front yard of a three-story apartment building that had a shattered front window.

Police said no one was in custody.

The child was the second 4-year-old to be wounded in gun violence in Chicago this week.

On Tuesday, a 4-year-old girl was shot and wounded while she combed a doll’s hair on the stoop of her home in Englewood. Police said she was caught in the crossfire of gunmen in two cars.

In June, a 4-year-old boy was wounded in an accidental shooting on the same block where Friday’s shooting occurred. Police said the child was hit in the hand and a 17-year-old boy was shot in the foot June 21. A 15-year-old boy seen leaving the home was arrested and charged with unauthorized use of a weapon.

In August, a 4-year-old girl became the youngest person to die from gun violence in Chicago this year. Makalah McKay was accidentally shot by another child who found a gun Aug. 5 in the 6400 block of South Carpenter Street in Englewood.

Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.

Chicago police outside Comer Children’s Hospital, where a 4-year-old boy was taken in critical condition Friday night after being shot in Woodlawn.Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

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4-year-old boy critically wounded in Woodlawn shooting — the second 4-year-old shot in Chicago this weekDavid Struetton September 4, 2021 at 3:10 am Read More »

Gun buyer in Naperville murder tried to shortchange victims before opening fire, prosecutors sayDavid Struetton September 4, 2021 at 3:41 am

An illegal gun sale turned deadly last weekend in a Naperville parking lot after the buyer allegedly tried to shortchange the victims and then opened fire.

Robert Chatman-Jones of Bellwood and another person showed up to purchase a firearm around 2 p.m. Aug. 29 in a parking lot on Amersale Drive, near Route 59 and North Aurora Road, according to the DuPage County state’s attorney’s office.

Chatman-Jones, 20, stepped out of a car and handed money for the gun to Coreon Davis, seated in another vehicle, prosecutors said. Davis counted the money and said he was “short” the amount they agreed on, prosecutors said.

The pair began to “struggle” and Chatman-Jones opened fire, striking Davis and the other occupant, prosecutors said. Everyone had left the parking lot by the time officers arrived. Two shell casings and $100 were found on the ground.

Davis and the other occupant were later found at McCoy Drive and Vaughn Road in Aurora, prosecutors said. Davis, 18, was hospitalized with gunshot wounds to his head and hand and was later pronounced dead. The other occupant, a 17-year-old man, was treated and released, police said.

Chatman-Jones and the other person in his vehicle, 19-year-old Desire Gray of Aurora, were arrested the next day at an apartment complex in Aurora, prosecutors said.

A judge ordered Chatman-Jones held on $4 million bail, while Gray was ordered held on $1.5 million. They each face a charge of first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and attempted robbery.

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Gun buyer in Naperville murder tried to shortchange victims before opening fire, prosecutors sayDavid Struetton September 4, 2021 at 3:41 am Read More »

White Sox second baseman Cesar Hernandez looking to expand his comfort zoneDaryl Van Schouwenon September 4, 2021 at 2:04 am

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — While Cesar Hernandez has struggled to find a comfortable hitting stroke since joining the White Sox, it has been helpful, he said that his new teammates made him feel comfortable since the day he arrived before the trade deadline.

“There are a good group of guys here,” Hernandez said through translator Billy Russo. “The Latinos have welcomed me in a good way, and the other guys have, too. I feel comfortable here. It has been easier than I was expecting.

“It’s good to be on a contender and to be part of that. This is a very good team and the goal is to be in a position to win it all. That gives you extra motivation.”

The switch-hitting second baseman, acquired from the Indians for left-handed pitching prospect Konnor Pilkington on July 29, is finding comfort knowing he can win a game with his glove while he waits for his bat to come around.

“As a professional baseball player I take pride in every aspect of the game because I know I can impact the game in any aspect,” Hernandez said. “I try to make up for the difference. If your hitting is down you can pick up the team or save a game with your defense.”

Hernandez entered Friday’s rain-delayed game against the Royals batting .211/.295/.289 with three homers in 30 games for the Sox. He batted .231/.307/.431 with 18 homers in 96 games with the Indians.

A Gold Glove winner with the Indians in 2020, Hernandez knows he’s not perfect defensively, either. He made three errors in one game against the Yankees on Aug. 15. But he has made plenty of good plays, which makes it easier to allow himself to flush that one bad day.

“I’m not used to that happening but it happens,” he said. “People who don’t make errors are in the stands. It’s easy for them.”

Hernandez and hitting coach Frank Menechino have been working on “adjustments,” Hernandez said, “so I can be the hitter I can be.”

Menechino recently said Hernandez was putting pressure on himself.

“He’s trying to hit his way out of this and we have to get him back to being patient, staying behind the ball, think base hits, take your walks and move forward,” Menechino said.

The magic number

The White Sox (78-56 going into their rain-delayed game against the Royals Friday) were off to their best 134-game start since 2006. Their magic number to clinch the AL Central title was 21.

This and that

Right-hander Ryan Burr was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte to take Lucas Giolito’s spot on the active roster. Burr was 2-1 with a 2.84 ERA over two stints with the Sox in 2021.

*Craig Kimbrel, unavailable Wednesday because of an undisclosed physical issue unrelated to his arm, per manager Tony La Russa, figured to be the ninth inning choice Friday. La Russa said “this is probably not a good day to push [closer Liam Hendriks],” he got five outs to earn his 31st save Wednesday.

*The Blue Jays claimed Jake Lamb on waivers. Lamb was designated for assignment by the Sox Wednesday.

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White Sox second baseman Cesar Hernandez looking to expand his comfort zoneDaryl Van Schouwenon September 4, 2021 at 2:04 am Read More »

4-year-old boy critically wounded in Woodlawn shootingDavid Struetton September 4, 2021 at 2:43 am

A 4-year-old boy was in critical condition following a shooting Friday evening in Woodlawn on the South Side.

Paramedics responded for the child around 9 p.m. in the 6500 block of South Ellis Avenue, according to Chicago Fire Department District Chief Juan Hernandez.

The child was transported to Comer Children’s Hospital, he said. A 34-year-old woman was also taken to a hospital for lacerations related to the shooting.

At the scene of the shooting, shell casings littered the front yard of a three-story apartment building that had a shattered front window.

In June, a 4-year-old boy was wounded in an accidental shooting on the same block where Friday’s shooting occurred. Police said the child was hit in the hand and a 17-year-old boy was shot in the foot June 21. A 15-year-old boy scene leaving the home was arrested and charged with unauthorized use of a weapon.

Two 4-year-olds have been wounded in gun violence in Chicago this week.

On Tuesday, a 4-year-old girl was shot and wounded while she combed a dolls hair on the stoop of her home in Englewood. Police said she was caught in the crossfire of gunmen in two cars.

In August, a 4-year-old girl became the youngest person to die from gun violence in Chicago this year. Makalah McKay was accidentally shot by another child who found a gun Aug. 5 in the 6400 block of South Carpenter Street in Englewood.

Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.

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4-year-old boy critically wounded in Woodlawn shootingDavid Struetton September 4, 2021 at 2:43 am Read More »

Chicago Bulls Rumors: Lamarcus Aldridge would be wise to signRyan Heckmanon September 3, 2021 at 5:00 pm

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Chicago Bulls Rumors: Lamarcus Aldridge would be wise to signRyan Heckmanon September 3, 2021 at 5:00 pm Read More »

Biden walks storm-ravaged Louisiana: ‘I know you’re hurting’Associated Presson September 3, 2021 at 10:59 pm

LAPLACE, La. — Giant trees knocked sideways. Homes boarded up with plywood. Off-kilter street signs.

Less than a week after Hurricane Ida battered the Gulf Coast, President Joe Biden walked the streets of a hardhit Louisiana neighborhood on Friday and told local residents, “I know you’re hurting, I know you’re hurting.”

Biden pledged robust federal assistance to get people back on their feet and said the government already had distributed $100 million directly to individuals in the state in $500 checks to give them a first slice of critical help. Many people, he said, don’t know what help is available because they can’t get cellphone service.

Residents welcomed Biden’s presence, one of them drawing a sign with his last name and a heart for the dot on the “i.” They laughed and posed for selfies.

More formally, Biden met with state and local officials in LaPlace, a community between the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain that suffered major wind and water damage and was left with sheared-off roofs and flooded homes.

“I promise we’re going to have your back,” Biden said.

He also planned a flyover tour of pummeled areas including Lafitte, Grand Isle, Port Fourchon and Lafourche Parish, where Parish President Archie Chaisson said 25% of the homes in his community of 100,000 were gone or had catastrophic damage.

The devastation was clear even as Air Force One approached New Orleans, with uprooted trees and blue tarps covering shredded houses coming into view. The road to LaPlace exhibited power-line wood poles jutting from the ground at odd angles.

Trips to natural disaster scenes have long been a feature of U.S. presidencies, moments to demonstrate compassion and show the public leadership during a crisis. They are also opportunities to hit pause, however temporarily, from the political sniping that often dominates Washington.

In shirtsleeves and boots, Biden was welcomed at the airport by Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat. Several Republicans, including Sen. Bill Cassidy and Rep. Steve Scalise, the House Republican whip, were also on hand.

Edwards said Biden has “been a tremendous partner,” adding that he intended to keep asking for help until the president says no.

In the aftermath of Ida, Biden is focusing anew on the threat posed by climate change and the prospect that disaster zone visits may become a more regular feature of the presidency. The storm has killed at 13 people in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, and at least 48 in the Northeastern U.S.

The president has pointed to that destruction to call for greater public resolve to confront climate change. His $1 trillion infrastructure legislation intends to ensure that vital networks connecting cities and states and the country as a whole can withstand the flooding, whirlwinds and damage caused by increasingly dangerous weather.

At Friday’s briefing with local officials, Biden insisted the infrastructure bill and an even more expansive measure later on would more effectively prepare the country.

“It seems to me we can save a whole lot of money, a whole lot of pain for our constituents, if we build back, rebuild it back in a better way,” Biden said. “I realize I’m selling as I’m talking.”

Sen. Cassidy tweeted later that in his conversation with Biden, “we spoke about the need for resiliency. We agreed putting power lines beneath the ground would have avoided all of this. The infrastructure bill has billions for grid resiliency.”

Past presidents have been defined in part by how they handled such crises.

Seemingly casually, Donald Trump lobbed paper towels to people in Puerto Rico after a hurricane, generating scorn from critics but little damage to his political standing. Barack Obama hugged New Jersey Republican Gov. Chris Christie in 2012 after Superstorm Sandy, a brief respite from partisan tensions that had threatened the economy. George W. Bush fell out of public favor after a poor and unprepared response to Hurricane Katrina, which swamped New Orleans in 2005.

Scientists say climate change increases the frequency of extreme weather events — such as large tropical storms, and the droughts and heatwaves that create conditions for vast wildfires. U.S. weather officials recently reported that July 2021 was the hottest month recorded in 142 years of record-keeping.

Biden’s nearly eight-month-old presidency has been shaped in part by perpetual crises. The president went to Texas in February after a cold winter storm caused the state’s power grid to fail, and he has closely monitored the wildfires in Western states.

Besides natural disasters, the president has had to contend with a multitude of other challenges. He is searching for ways to rescue the 100-200 Americans stuck in Afghanistan after the longest war in U.S. history ended a matter of days ago. He is also confronting the delta variant of the coronavirus that has plunged the country into an autumn of uncertainty only months after he declared independence from the disease at a July 4 celebration on the White House lawn.

Ida was the fifth-most powerful storm to strike the U.S. when it hit Louisiana on Sunday with maximum winds of 150 mph, likely causing tens of billions of dollars in flood, wind and other damage, including to the electrical grid. The storm’s remnants dropped devastating rainfall across parts of Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey on Wednesday, causing significant disruption to major cities.

___

Associated Press writers Melinda Deslatte in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Christina Larson and Darlene Superville in Washington contributed to this report.

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Biden walks storm-ravaged Louisiana: ‘I know you’re hurting’Associated Presson September 3, 2021 at 10:59 pm Read More »

High school football scores: Week 2Michael O’Brienon September 3, 2021 at 11:05 pm

Please send scores and corrections to [email protected]

Thursday, September 2

NONCONFERENCE

Hoopeston 26, Seneca 21

Pritzker 28, UIC Prep 8

Kelly vs. Kennedy at Rockne, canc.

Friday, September 3

FOX VALLEY

Burlington Central at Prairie Ridge, 7

Cary-Grove at Crystal Lake South, 7

Hampshire at Dundee-Crown, 7

Huntley at McHenry, 7

Jacobs at Crystal Lake Central, 7

UPSTATE EIGHT

Glenbard East at Elgin, 7:30

Larkin at Fenton, 7:30

South Elgin at East Aurora, 6

Streamwood at Bartlett, 7:30

West Chicago at Glenbard South, 7:30

NONCONFERENCE

Payton 57, Rauner 8

Addison Trail at Lyons, 7

Antioch at Morris, 7

Arcola at Reed-Custer, 7

Batavia at Oswego, 7

Benet at Moline, 7

Bismarck-Henning at Dwight, 7

Brother Rice at Perspectives, 7:30

Canton at Marengo, 7:30

Carmel at Lake Forest, 7:30

Carver at Evergreen Park, 7

Catalyst-Maria vs. Schurz at Lane, 7:15

Chicago Academy vs. Collins at Rockne, 4:15

Chicago Military at Solorio, 7:15

Christ the King at Wheaton Academy, 7:30

Clemente vs. Amundsen at Winnemac, 4:15

Coal City at Bishop McNamara, 7

Conant at Buffalo Grove, 7:30

Crane at Marine, 4:15

Crete-Monee at Plainfield North, 7

Curie at De La Salle, 6

Dunbar vs. Comer at Eckersall, 4:15

Eisenhower at Thornridge, 7

Elk Grove at Schaumburg, 7

Fremd at Prospect, 7

Gage Park vs. Bogan at Stagg, 4:15

Glenbard North at Naperville North, 7:30

Grant at Taft, 7:30

Grayslake Central at Mundelein, 7:30

Grayslake North at Deerfield, 7

Herscher at Rochelle, 7

Hinsdale South at Oak Park-River Forest, 7

Hoffman Estates at Rolling Meadows, 7

Hope Academy at TF North, 6

Hubbard at Maine West, 7

IC Catholic at Marian Central, 7:15

Johnsburg at Wilmington, 7

Johnson at Lindblom, 4:15

Juarez at St. Francis, 7:30

Julian vs. Ag. Science at Gately, 4:15

Kaneland at Geneva, 7:30

Kankakee at Washington, Ill., 7:30

Kelly vs. Clark at Rockne, 7:15

Kenwood at Hillcrest, 7

Lake Park at Lincoln-Way Central, 6

Lake View at Marmion, 7:30

Lakes at Highland Park, 7

Lane at TF South, 7

Leyden at Proviso West, 7

Libertyville at Evanston, 7:30

Lincoln-Way East at Naperville Central, 7:30

Lincoln-Way West at Oswego East, 7

Lockport at Metea Valley, 7

Maine East at Round Lake, 7

Maine South at Warren, 7:30

Marian Catholic at Leo, 7

Metamora at LaSalle-Peru, 7

Minooka at Joliet West, 6:30

Montini at Sterling, 7

Morton at York, 7

Nazareth at Lemont, 7

Neuqua Valley at Wheaton-Warrenville South, 7:30

Niles North at Niles West, 7

North Chicago at Zion-Benton, 7

Notre Dame at Fenwick, 7:30

Oak Lawn at Stagg, 7

Ottawa Marquette at Chicago Christian, 7:15

Palatine at Hersey, 7:30

Phillips at Mount Carmel, 7

Plainfield South at DeKalb, 7

Plano at Manteno, 7:30

Providence at Wheaton North, 7:30

Proviso East at Hinsdale Central, 7:30

Rich Township at Joliet Central, 7

Richards at Marist, 6

Richmond-Burton at Aurora Central, 6

Ridgewood at DePaul Prep, 7:30

Romeoville at West Aurora, 7

St. Charles North at Lake Zurich, 7:30

St. Ignatius at Bremen, 6

St. Laurence at Brooks, 7:30

St. Rita at Louisville Trinity, Ky., 6

St. Viator vs. Morgan Park at Gately, 7:15

Sandburg at Glenbrook South, 7:30

Sandwich at Geneseo, 7

Shepard at Plainfield East, 7

Simeon at Bolingbrook, 6

Steinmetz at Reavis, 6:30

Stevenson at New Trier, 7

Streator at Ottawa, 7

Sullivan at Speer, 7:15

Sycamore at Oak Forest, 7

Thornwood at Tinley Park, 7

Tilden at Bradley-Bourbonnais, 7

UP-Bronzeville at Aurora Christian, 7

Waubonsie Valley at St. Charles East, 7:30

Wauconda at Riverside-Brookfield, 7:15

Waukegan at Vernon Hills, 7:30

Westmont at Lisle, 7

Wheeling at Barrington, 7:30

Willowbrook at Downers Grove North, 7

Woodstock at Bartonville Limestone, 7

Woodstock North at Harvard, 7

Yorkville at Plainfield Central, 7

Saturday, September 4

NONCONFERENCE

Andrew at Thornton, noon

Argo at Bloom, noon

Bowen at Englewood STEM, 3:30

Bulls Prep vs. North Lawndale at Rockne, 4

Chicago Richards at Little Village, 10 a.m.

Downers Grove South at Glenbard West, 1:30

Elmwood Park at Walther Christian, 1

Fenger vs. Harlan at Gately, 4

Glenbrook North at St. Patrick, 5:30

Goode vs. Young at Rockne, 1

Hansberry vs. Butler at Gately, 1

Homewood-Flossmoor at Cahokia, 3

Hyde Park vs. Vocational at Eckersall, 4

Joliet Catholic at St. Louis Cardinal Ritter, Mo., 2

Lincoln Park vs. King at Eckersall, 1

Longwood vs. Roosevelt at Winnemac, 1

Mather vs. Prosser at Rockne, 7

Momence at Salt Fork, noon

Orr vs. Corliss at Gately, 7

Peotone at Farmersburg North Central, Ind., 2

Raby at Westinghouse, noon

Rochester at Loyola, 2:30

Rowe-Clark vs. Senn at Winnemac, 10 a.m.

South Shore vs. Dyett at Stagg, 4

Taylorville at St. Edward, 1

Von Steuben vs. Phoenix at Winnemac, 4

Washington at Back of the Yards, noon

Woodlawn vs. DuSable at Stagg, 1

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High school football scores: Week 2Michael O’Brienon September 3, 2021 at 11:05 pm Read More »

Cubs edge Pirates again for (gasp!) fourth straight victoryJared Wyllyson September 3, 2021 at 11:12 pm

For the first time since rattling off five straight wins against the Padres and Cardinals from June 8-13, the Cubs have a winning streak of at least four games.

Three-hit games from Michael Hermosillo, Ian Happ and Frank Schwindel — his included a go-ahead home run in the sixth inning — helped secure a 6-5 win over the Pirates on Friday.

“Those guys are really hungry, they show up early to work every single day,” interim manager Andy Green said. “They’ve been really, really good at doing everything that’s been asked of them. It’s exciting to see guys hungry, and fighting to win games, win jobs, win spots on the team for the future.”

Hermosillo hit his first home run at Wrigley Field and was a triple shy of the cycle.

“He’s had some big hits for us since he’s been here, but he strung a number of really good at-bats together today,” Green said.

Alec Mills cruised through four innings, giving up three hits while striking out four, but things got bumpy in the fifth. Anthony Alford and Hoy Park hit back-to-back home runs before Mills got through the rest of the inning.

A pair of errors in the sixth cut the Cubs’ lead to two runs. Colin Moran reached on a fielding error by Patrick Wisdom and scored later in the inning on a bad throw by Sergio Alcantara. Mills’ day was done after giving up a game-tying home run to Alford later in the sixth.

The Cubs’ pitchers combined for 13 strikeouts and no walks, and the bullpen has a 0.42 ERA during the team’s four-game winning streak. On Friday, Trevor Megill, Codi Heuer, and Rowan Wick combined for 3 1/3 hitless and scoreless innings.

“Those guys have been great,” Green said. “Hopefully this bullpen has come together for us [and] as we move forward, we’re going to look to guys like that to continue to emerge, and they’ll have stuff to prove. They’re pitching like that right now, and it’s fun to see.”

Happ stays hot

Ian Happ singled twice and doubled, giving him multihit games in consecutive days. Happ homered and singled in the series opener Thursday night. His home run was part of the Cubs’ five-run seventh inning.

“He’s really got it going right now,” Green said. “It feels like more early count aggression, from my vantage point, like he’s getting in the box with the intent to swing, intent to do damage, intent to impact the baseball quickly.”

After hitting well under .200 in June and July, Happ started heating up in mid-August. Entering the game, he had a .352 average over his last 15 games. He has homered in four of his last eight games. Friday marked Happ’s second three-hit game since Aug. 23 against the Rockies.

“I think sometimes he’s got such a good eye and takes his walks so well, those types of hitters occasionally work themselves into seeing a ton of pitches and maybe not bringing their aggression to the dish, but he looks locked in,” Green said.

Bote progressing

Manager David Ross said Thursday that things were “status quo” for David Bote, but Bote took batting practice and ran on the field before the game Friday. He has been out since Aug. 27 with a sprained ankle.

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Cubs edge Pirates again for (gasp!) fourth straight victoryJared Wyllyson September 3, 2021 at 11:12 pm Read More »

Chicago Bulls Rumors: Lamarcus Aldridge would be wise to signRyan Heckmanon September 3, 2021 at 11:04 pm

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Chicago Bulls Rumors: Lamarcus Aldridge would be wise to signRyan Heckmanon September 3, 2021 at 11:04 pm Read More »