Hector Rondon pitched a flawless eighth, and Aroldis Chapman pitched a 1-2-3 ninth – striking out Jose Abreu and Avisail Garcia – in his Cubs debut. Ranaudo hit a solo home run in the fifth inning, his first career homer and hit. Bryant’s 26th homer matched his total last season when he was NL Rookie of the Year.
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Former Ray Ben Zobrist added an RBI single in the third and doubled and scored in the eighth as the Cubs earned a split of the four-game series.
Chapman entered with a runner on third and two outs in the eighth and struck out Melky Cabrera on six pitches, with four registering 100 miles per hour or higher.
However, as Heyman reports, the Yankees are expected to be long shots at acquiring Chris Sale.
He was better than that in his 10th major league start and 14th appearance.
In an interview with MLB.com Monday, Sale said he went off because the throwback promotion demonstrated the Sox are more about business than winning games. The fourth game is Thursday night.
Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman delivers in this multiple exposure photo during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox on Thursday, July 28, 2016, in Chicago.
“I thought he pitched a good game, ” Ventura said. “Players always have their teammates’ backs, and that’s no different with our clubhouse”. “Going back and forth on a lot of different thoughts and ideas”, Maddon said. “I know there has been some reticence or pushback regarding him to this point; however, understand where he’s coming from right now”.
“I think this opens him up to just pitching and not trying to throw 97 on edges all the time and really being concerned about making a mistake”, manager Joe Maddon said. INF Carlos Sanchez was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte. All a long I’ve been saying the White Sox won’t trade Sale, but at this point if the right deal is in place they nearly have to do it. He could possibly start Sunday against the Twins or Tuesday against the Tigers.
Cubs – Maddon said OF Jorge Soler (left hamstring), now on a rehab stint at Triple-A Iowa, “is on the verge of coming back”.
LHP Chris Sale returns to the mound on Thursday following an unexpected layoff.
Braves starter Matt Wisler (4-11) gave up three homers and has allowed eight homers in his past four starts.
Mets steady closer Jeurys Familia stumbled for a second straight game, allowing two runs in the ninth inning as the Colorado Rockies beat NY 2-1 Thursday for their seventh win in eight games.
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Starting pitcher John Lackey earned the victory.
