WHITE SOX HEADLINES OF MAY

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1 WHITE SOX HEADLINES OF MAY 29, 2017 Abreu eager to serve as mentor to Robert Scott Merkin, MLB.com In My Words: Swarzak gives props to wife Anthony Swarzak, Special to MLB.com Sox excited about Sale's return to Chicago Scott Merkin, MLB.com Gonzalez gives mates 'perfect' thoughts Scott Merkin, MLB.com Sox bats back Gonzalez's perfecto bid Scott Merkin and Fabian Ardaya, MLB.com White Sox call on Holmberg vs. Boston, Price Quinn Roberts, MLB.com White Sox Settle on Starting Pitcher for Series-Opening Game with Red Sox on Monday Vinnie Duber, CSN Chicago Two Days Out, White Sox Already Excited About Facing Former Teammate Chris Sale Vinnie Duber, CSN Chicago Jose Abreu Relishing Opportunity to Help Mentor Luis Robert, White Sox Newest Cuban Addition Vinnie Duber, CSN Chicago Miguel Gonzalez Throws Six Perfect Innings as White Sox Take Series Against Tigers Vinnie Duber, CSN Chicago Chris Sale's return to South Side rekindles debate: Was trading him right move? Paul Sullivan, CSN Chicago Some White Sox players are looking forward to Chris Sale's return Paul Skrbina, CSN Chicago White Sox bats back Miguel Gonzalez in 7-3 win over Tigers Paul Skrbina, CSN Chicago Jose Quintana, Jose Abreu eager to face Chris Sale Brian Sandalow, Chicago Sun-Times Luis Robert signing adds to spotlight on Jose Abreu Brian Sandalow, Chicago Sun-Times Miguel Gonzalez, White Sox power past Tigers Brian Sandalow, Chicago Sun-Times Gonzalez flirts with perfection in White Sox's 7-3 win over Tigers Scot Gregor, Daily Herald Gonzalez pitches White Sox over Tigers 7-3 John Jackson, Associated Press Sox's Abreu happy to extend helping hand to fellow Cuban Robert Scot Gregor, Daily Herald Gonzalez perfect through 6 innings as Sox top Tigers Scot Gregor, Daily Herald White Sox starter Miguel Gonzalez loses perfect game bid in seventh inning vs. Tigers Evan Webeck, Sports Illustrated Gonzalez Flirts With History to Lead White Sox Over Tigers Bruce Levine, CBS Chicago Abreu to be Godfather for Cuban Prospects Moncada, Robert Bruce Levine, CBS Chicago Abreu eager to serve as mentor to Robert White Sox slugger plans to help Cuban countryman acclimate to US By Scott Merkin / MLB.com May 28, 2017 CHICAGO -- Jose Abreu has served as a mentor to Yoan Moncada, his Cuban countryman and the No. 1 prospect in all of baseball, since the day Moncada was acquired from Boston. Abreu is following that same process with Luis Robert, the 19-year-old standout from Cuba who officially joined the White Sox Saturday via a Minor League contract with a $26 million signing bonus. "I'm excited to have that opportunity," said Abreu, through interpreter Billy Russo, of mentoring younger players. "I like to advise the guys and tell them what to do for their best like I am doing right now with Moncada. I'm just waiting for that opportunity to happen with him [Robert]. "I was very excited to have him here. He's a very good player. I just told him that he has to keep working hard and keep doing the things to get here as soon as he can. He's a nice guy." Abreu took pictures with Robert on Saturday and talked with him before and after his news conference. He advised Robert to be around good people and people who care about him in terms of the off-the-field transition. Playing in the Minors first, something Abreu didn't do, will help the younger Robert's on-field transition. "It's not an easy thing to come here straight to play in the Majors because this is a very high level and a tough one to play," Abreu said. "He's had a long time without playing baseball.

2 "Baseball in Cuba is good, but it's not as good as baseball here in the U.S. and you have to adjust. That process for him is going to be perfect in the Minors." Abreu is proud to be part of the White Sox connection with Cuba now being enhanced by Robert. "Not just for this organization that I'm a part of, but also for my heritage because I know that this is a very good organization and they are trying to take care of the Cuban players," Abreu said. "I also feel a huge respect for Minnie Minoso because he was the first one who opened this door here with the White Sox." In My Words: Swarzak gives props to wife By Anthony Swarzak / Special to MLB.com May 28, 2017 A player's wife is the unsung hero in any baseball family. That's definitely the case with my wife, Elizabeth. We've moved quite a bit the last few years. I even spent three months playing in South Korea in That meant Elizabeth had to take a 15-hour flight from Atlanta to Seoul by herself with our daughter, Evelyn, who was 6 months old at the time. Our little girl did fine, but it wasn't easy. There's a lot of moving parts to a baseball family that people don't understand. You never know what the day is going to hold. You can get traded at any second. As soon as you get the call that your time is up in a certain place, it's usually up to the wife to get everything together. The player is out the door quickly so he can join his new team. The wife then has to stay behind to pack up the apartment, and figure out the next move. So much has fallen on Elizabeth. She is my unsung hero every day. We talked for a couple days before deciding to go to Korea. It wasn't a decision I took lightly. I made the Indians out of Spring Training in 2015, but they designated me for Triple-A six weeks into the season. Then I got an offer to make some good money in Korea. We felt like it was the best thing to do for our family at the time. Playing in Korea was interesting. The fans were passionate, and my teammates were really nice guys. The caliber of play was better than I expected, to be honest. I wasn't aware that it's really an offensive league. Guess I should have done a bit more homework on that one. It was a good experience, but I'm glad it's over. The goal always was to get back to the big leagues. Last year, I pitched for the Yankees. I thought I was headed in the right direction, but the results didn't match all of my hard work. During the offseason, after having some conversations with the White Sox, we felt Chicago was the best place for me. I signed as a non-roster Major League invite to Spring Training. That meant I had to have a good camp to make the team. I didn't feel pressure as much as I realized I didn't have any wiggle room. There's always pressure in this game. Somebody evaluates you every day, essentially saying, "The next guy coming up is going to have your job." That's how the game is structured. It brings out the best in a lot of people. So, I was just focused on getting guys out during the spring. All I wanted was a fair opportunity to make the club, and I'm grateful the Sox gave it to me. Getting off to a good start is reassuring. It shows that I am doing the right things. But it's still early. I need to keep working on it. I'll be 32 in September, but I feel like I still have something left in the tank. My mindset is to show the world what I can do with a baseball. It is time to leave it all out there. You never know in this game, but we're hoping all of our bouncing around will stop this year. We want to stay here with the White Sox. Sox excited about Sale's return to Chicago Williams: 'If I see him in the hallway, I'm going to give him a hug' By Scott Merkin / MLB.com May 28, 2017 CHICAGO -- Ken Williams gave Chris Sale a chance to get to the Majors about two months after Sale became the team's top pick in the 2010 MLB Draft and believed in him as a starter before the '12 season.

3 The fiery left-hander and the equally competitive White Sox executive vice president also had a couple of heated disagreements during Sale's historically successful seven-year-tenure on the South Side. But there's certainly no lingering tough feelings on Williams' part when Sale returns to Chicago with the Red Sox on Monday, getting the start Tuesday night at Guaranteed Rate Field in a matchup with Jose Quintana. "As far as I'm concerned, if I see him in the hallway, I'm going to give him a hug," Williams told MLB.com of Sale. "I understand what's out there. But we used to joke with each other that we understand each other. Chris and I understand each other." Sale was a five-time All-Star with the White Sox. He was traded at the previous Winter Meetings in a five-player deal that sent infielder Yoan Moncada and hard-throwing right-hander Michael Kopech to Chicago as part of the return. That move signaled the opening of a White Sox rebuild. Sale will take the mound Tuesday with a Major League-leading 101 strikeouts in 73 innings up against 14 walks. He has a 5-2 record and 2.34 ERA over 10 starts, opposing his friend Quintana, who assumed the ace mantle when Sale was dealt. "Facing Saler is going to be awesome, big time. A big moment of the season," Quintana said. "It's a different feeling, but it's good to face the best left-hander in the league. I'm excited and I think he's excited, too. "He's the best. He's the best teammate of the pitchers I've had. We have a really good relationship. He's really fun to watch. He's good and he has good stuff. But we're focusing on us. I want to do my job and that's my focus." Jose Abreu, who will be facing Sale for the first time, has "so much respect" for Sale and called him one of the best teammates he had during his first three years. Pitching coach Don Cooper said it will be good to see Sale, but called him "a handful for any team he faces" and "it will be a handful for us." In 2012, Sale argued his way back into the rotation during a heated conversation with Williams after briefly being moved to the bullpen over health concerns. He had more pointed comments about Williams after the Spring Training, '16 incident with Adam LaRoche's retirement after the team access for LaRoche's son, Drake, was limited by Williams. The second argument scarred all those good years and great conversations a bit, per Williams, but didn't change the high esteem with which Williams holds Sale. "With the exception of two days, I thought we had a great relationship," Williams said. "So much so that I would ask him about some things with regards to how he felt things were going and what he thought we should be doing in the future. "One of my favorite guys," added Williams, who sent Sale a text of appreciation after Sale was traded, and Sale did the same in return. "I remain a Chris Sale fan." Gonzalez gives mates 'perfect' thoughts White Sox righty retires first 18 batters, loses bid on error-turned-hit By Scott Merkin / MLB.com May 28, 2017 CHICAGO -- A quick glance at Miguel Gonzalez's final line from a 7-3 White Sox victory over the Tigers on Sunday at Guaranteed Rate Field shows six hits allowed by the right-hander over 7 2/3 innings. Make that six hits allowed in 1 2/3 innings, as Gonzalez was letter perfect for the first six. And after Gonzalez set down 18 straight, focus couldn't help but fall upon the first potential White Sox no-hitter since Philip Humber's perfect game on April 21, "It was getting quiet," said a smiling Gonzalez after enduring a 30-minute rain delay before the fourth inning to break a five-start losing streak. "I was just trying to do my thing. Just go out there and make pitches, let them make the plays." "You feel it, and the fans feel it," said White Sox third baseman Todd Frazier, who homered in the victory. "It seems like after the sixth every out is key." That brush with perfection came to an end when Andrew Romine ripped a hard ground ball off the glove of Tim Anderson. The only question was whether the no-hitter still existed, and official scorer Bob Rosenberg quickly charged an E-6 to the White Sox shortstop. There was no time for controversy, as Alex Avila ripped the next Gonzalez pitch for a single to right. After the top of the seventh, Rosenberg changed the Anderson erorr to a single.

4 "I kind of didn't pick it up until it hit the ground," said Anderson of Romine's grounder. "I would have definitely taken the error for that one. It was a tough play and I didn't make the play." If Anderson's play originally was ruled a hit and stood up as the game's only baserunner or hit off Gonzalez, he was ready to make a more strident plea for responsibility. "They expect me to make that play, and it was not an easy play," Anderson said. "But I would have been like, 'Give me the E, please.'" Anderson remembers playing behind a seven-inning no-hitter but never a full nine. Gonzalez talked about taking a nohitter into the ninth while pitching in Mexico, only to give up a hit. Matt Davidson, who also homered in the victory, had never experienced one and was thinking it would be cool to see. "Obviously you don't bring it up and let him do his thing," Davidson said. "He went into the seventh, so great job by him. It was really fun to watch." "He was focused today, everything about him, his demeanor," Frazier said. "That's the Miguel Gonzalez we know and love." Frazier played third behind two Homer Bailey no-hitters with the Reds. He remembers the nervous excitement coming with those final few outs. "I got the last out on one of them," said Frazier, who retired Gregor Blanco on a groundout to finish off Bailey's no-hitter against the Giants on July 2, "I could've sworn my arm wasn't attached to my body when I threw it, but it was like a dart and it was a good throw, actually." Sox bats back Gonzalez's perfecto bid By Scott Merkin and Fabian Ardaya / MLB.com May 28, 2017 CHICAGO -- For six innings and 18 batters, White Sox starter Miguel Gonzalez flirted with perfection against the Tigers on Sunday afternoon at Guaranteed Rate Field. That perfect game and no-hitter ended when shortstop Tim Anderson was charged with an error on Andrew Romine's hard-hit grounder leading off the seventh, which was later changed to a single. The no-hitter originally ended on Alex Avila's ensuing single to right, and Gonzalez lost the shutout on Miguel Cabrera's single to center. But Gonzalez cruised to a 7-3 victory in the White Sox third win in four games over the struggling Tigers. "He was pumping strikes. Hitting his spots. Keeping the ball down," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. "His breaking pitch had some pretty good bite, had some tilt. He was working both sides of it. When he needed to come up and in he did. Other than that, he mixed a couple of speeds with his breaking ball. Throw it for a strike and then kind of lower it a little bit more. He threw the ball very, very well." "Strike one from the get-go," said Gonzalez, who struck out six and didn't issue a walk over 107 pitches and 7 2/3 innings. "Getting ahead, especially against this team that's aggressive. It was fun to be out there again and get back on track." The right-hander entered Sunday 0-5 with a 6.99 ERA over his past five starts, but he mesmerized the Tigers. Gonzalez went 3-0 on the first batter of the game, Romine, but had only four three-ball counts before the perfect game was broken up. "He mixed pitches very well and had good movement," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said of Gonzalez. "He threw all four pitches, kept the ball down in the zone to get some ground balls. He had his location and he's a location-style pitcher and that combined with us not swinging the bats that well, and that's what happens." Phil Humber was the last White Sox hurler to throw a no-hitter, which also was a perfect game, on April 21, 2012, in Seattle. Mark Buehrle was perfect against Tampa Bay on July 23, 2009, which was the last White Sox perfect game at home. Jose Abreu came up with the only tough play to keep the perfecto in tack, making a slick grab of Avila's hard-hit grounder down the line with one out in the fourth and turning it into an easy out at first. Avila worked a full count in that at-bat, as did Victor Martinez leading off the fifth before taking a called third strike.

5 Melky Cabrera, Matt Davidson and Todd Frazier went deep off Jordan Zimmermann in support of Gonzalez. Willy Garcia also tripled home a run in the third. "[It was] terrible," Zimmerman said of his outing. "I feel like my fastball's good, my curveball's good, my changeup's good and my slider is absolutely terrible right now. Over my career, my slider has been my best pitch. It's the pitch I can throw when I'm ahead in the count for strikes and right now, this whole year, it's been backing up, it's been middle, I've been spiking it and haven't been anywhere close." Detroit continued to hit after breaking through against Gonzalez, adding two runs in the eighth and chasing the righthander with two outs. Romine tripled home a run in that frame. MOMENTS THAT MATTERED The end of perfection: Gonzalez went 3-0 on Romine to start the seventh, almost losing his perfect game before he lost it two pitchers later. Romine's hard-hit grounder was fielded by Anderson off to his side and bounced out of his glove. Official scorer Bob Rosenberg originally and fairly quickly ruled the play an error, but changed it to a single after the top of the seventh came to a close. Out goes Frazier: Although Frazier has been tracking the ball better lately, drawing 10 walks in his past seven starts, the third baseman still entered the contest with three hits in his past 26 at-bats. His two-run home run off Zimmermann in the fifth marked his sixth of the year. QUOTABLE "It's super frustrating, and I have to go over it the next bullpen and throw it and throw it and throw it until I can figure it out. I don't understand how it became like this or got this way, but I just need to figure it out." -- Zimmermann, on finding his slider "A bunch of the guys came up to me and told me, 'It was huge for you to go out there in the eighth inning and give the bullpen a rest, especially having that doubleheader and that late game before that.' I think that's huge." -- Gonzalez, on working deep into Sunday's victory SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS The 18 straight retired by Gonzalez to start the game was the longest such streak by a White Sox starter since Chris Sale on May 12, 2013, when Sale retired the first 19 against the Angels before a Mike Trout single to center. CENTRAL EXCELLENCE The White Sox improved to 6-3 vs. Detroit this season and won back-to-back series vs. the Tigers for the first time since 2014 (June 9-12 and July 29-31). They are against the AL Central. WHAT'S NEXT Tigers: The Tigers continue their three-city road trip in Kansas City on Monday, sending Daniel Norris (2-3, 4.38 ERA) to the mound at Kauffman Stadium. Norris is coming off a no-decision against Houston when he gave up two runs (one earned) in 6 1/3 innings. First pitch is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. ET. White Sox: David Holmberg (0-0, 0.87) gets the spot-start call for Monday's series opener against David Price and the Red Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field with a 1:10 p.m. CT first pitch. Holmberg has eight relief appearances this season and 12 career big league starts. Watch every out-of-market regular-season game live on MLB.TV. White Sox call on Holmberg vs. Boston, Price By Quinn Roberts / MLB.com May 29, 2017 The past few months have been a long and tedious process for Red Sox left-hander David Price as he recovered from a left elbow strain. While he did his best to cheer on teammates from the bench, nothing, in Price's mind, beats the thrill of being on the mound. Price will finally get that chance in his much-anticipated season debut on Monday for a Memorial Day series opener against the White Sox in Chicago. "There's not a better feeling," Price said. "You can't replicate it anywhere else. To be back here with my teammates, that's a good feeling."

6 In two rehab starts with Triple-A Pawtucket, Price allowed nine runs (six earned) on 12 hits over 5 2/3 innings. Red Sox manager John Farrell said Price will be on a 90-pitch limit Monday. After going 17-9 with a 3.99 ERA and leading the Majors with 230 innings pitched in 2016, Price just wants to start helping the team win any way he can. "It's always tough," he said. "Even if we're 40-0 right now, it's still tough to not be out there and to be able to contribute. The DL is not something that anybody wants to be on. But it's over now, and I'm excited for it." Left-hander David Holmberg will make his first start of the season for the White Sox. He's been successful in eight relief appearances for the club, tallying a 0.87 ERA in 10 1/3 innings. In 12 Major League starts, Holmberg is 3-6 with a 6.99 ERA. He went 3-0 with a 1.76 ERA in six appearances (one start) with Triple-A Charlotte. Red Sox ace Chris Sale will face his former club for the first time on Tuesday after being traded during the offseason. Three things to know about this game Price is 5-5 with a 3.30 ERA in 13 career starts against the White Sox. His last start against them came on June 28, 2015, as a member of the Tigers. He allowed four runs on six hits in six innings for the no-decision. Jose Abreu has hit just.125 (2-for-16) with one home run and two RBIs vs. Price, while Melky Cabrera is hitting.310 (9- for-29) with one home run and three RBIs. Hanley Ramirez has struggled against the White Sox during his career. The Red Sox designated hitter has hit.191 in 22 career games, which marks his worst average against any team. White Sox Settle on Starting Pitcher for Series-Opening Game with Red Sox on Monday By Vinnie Duber / CSN Chicago May 28, 2017 All eyes are looking ahead to Tuesday night, when the White Sox will welcome Chris Sale back to the South Side, countering with another All-Star hurler in Jose Quintana. But the pitching matchup has also been set for the series-opening game against the visiting Boston Red Sox on Monday afternoon. David Holmberg will get the ball for the White Sox on Memorial Day. For Boston, it will be David Price's first start of the season. It will be Holmberg's first start since joining the White Sox. He's made eight relief appearances this season and posted a 0.87 ERA in his 10.1 innings of work. Holmberg made 12 starts over three major league seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Cincinnati Reds, turning in a 3-6 record with a 6.99 ERA in 55.1 innings as a starter in 2013, 2014 and 2015 seasons. A second-round draft pick of the White Sox in 2009, Holmberg was dealt a year after he was drafted in the trade that brought Edwin Jackson to the South Side. He signed with the White Sox in March of last year and made 32 starts between Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte, going 10-9 with a 3.72 ERA. Monday will mark Holmberg's second start of the year at any level. He made one start and five relief appearances at Charlotte earlier this season. Holmberg allowed one run in his first big league outing of the season back on May 4 against the Kansas City Royals. Since he's allowed just one hit and walked two in 9.2 shutout innings. Manager Rick Renteria said Sunday that he's hoping to get five innings out of Holmberg, which could mean a busy day for the bullpen, too. "It could be, but he s actually done well," Renteria said of Holmberg. "Since he s been with us, I think we ve had him get up three times already. We re hoping that we can take him out to a five-inning stint, depending on how many pitches he throws and things like that nature. He was starting obviously in the minor leagues, so he had been stretched out. We ll see

7 how it goes. Everybody s going to have to be available, but I m hopeful that he s going to give us a good outing." Two Days Out, White Sox Already Excited About Facing Former Teammate Chris Sale By Vinnie Duber / CSN Chicago May 28, 2017 There are still two days remaining until the White Sox take the field against their old teammate, but the questions are already coming about what it will be like to face Chris Sale on Tuesday night. The Boston Red Sox come to the South Side for a three-game series starting Monday afternoon, but the highlight of the set will be Tuesday night's matchup: Sale against his old team, which will counter with another All-Star arm in Jose Quintana. The White Sox jumpstarted their rebuilding effort this offseason when they traded Sale to Boston, getting a hefty haul back in return led by top prospect Yoan Moncada. Sale was one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball during his tenure in a White Sox uniform and has continued that trend in Boston, where he's posted a 2.34 ERA in 10 starts this season, punching out a league-leading 101 batters in a league-leading 73 innings of work. Tuesday night he'll go up against his ex-mates for the first time, something those players are pretty excited about. "I have so much respect. He was one of the best teammates that I had here in my first three years," first baseman Jose Abreu said Sunday. "That will be fun. He s a very good pitcher, and we ll see what happens that day." "Facing Saler is going to be awesome, big time," Quintana said. "A big moment of the season. He was my teammate. It's a different feeling, but it's good to face the best left-hander in the league. I'm excited and I think he's excited, too. But my focus right now is to do my job. Do my work and do my thing and put us in a good position to win. That's all I can do." There'll be much more reaction to come from both the White Sox and the Red Sox ahead of the matchup on Monday and Tuesday. But already this big-time showdown against Sale who made five consecutive All-Star appearances in his seven years on the South Side is demanding everyone's attention. Jose Abreu Relishing Opportunity to Help Mentor Luis Robert, White Sox Newest Cuban Addition By Vinnie Duber / CSN Chicago May 28, 2017 Call it the White Sox latest Cuban connection. When news came out of the team pursuing 19-year-old Cuban outfielder Luis Robert, it was pretty easy to guess that Jose Abreu, the franchise s previous big-time, free-agent signing from Cuba, would be involved. But not only was Abreu involved in the White Sox courting of Robert, sending a personalized message as part of the team s video pitch, he s been a willing participant. And now that Robert is officially signed after Saturday s much-hyped introduction, Abreu is ready to take on a mentorship role, much like he has with another one of the organization s Cuban prospects, Yoan Moncada. In the lead up to Saturday s press conference, it was Abreu touring Robert around Guaranteed Rate Field, chatting with him in the dugout and taking pictures on the infield. I was very excited to have him here, and I m very happy right now because he s signing with the team, Abreu said through a translator ahead of Sunday s series finale with the visiting Detroit Tigers. He s a very good player. I just told him that he has to keep working hard and keep doing the things to get here as soon as he can. He s a nice guy. I m excited to have that opportunity (to be a mentor). That s something that I like to do. I like to advise the guys and tell them what to do for their best like I am doing right now with Moncada. I m just waiting for that opportunity to happen with (Robert). While Abreu arrived on the South Side an older, more experienced player who was ready for the big leagues, Robert s journey to the majors will be a much different, much longer one. Abreu recognizes that and talked about how tough the transition will be. He also has confidence Robert, who has received glowing scouting reports comparing him to perennial All Stars, can succeed.

8 It s not an easy thing to do to come here straight to play in the majors because this is a very high level and a tough one to play, Abreu said. I think the best for him is the decision that he s making for him, to have some games in the minors and let him develop there. He s had a long time without playing baseball. Baseball in Cuba is good, but it s not as good as baseball here in the U.S. and you have to adjust. I think that process for him is going to be perfect in the minors. Saturday, Robert talked about the White Sox tradition of Cuban players, mentioning how it helped motivate him to sign with the team. Abreu has been one of the franchise s most successful Cuban players, a list that includes the legendary Minnie Minoso as well as more recent players like Alexei Ramirez and Dayan Viciedo and Moncada in the minor leagues. While that tradition might not be the entire or even main reason Robert is now a part of the organization, general manager Rick Hahn talked about how it s created an environment that will help Robert develop. Banners featuring Minoso, Abreu, Ramirez and Moncada flanked the table where Robert signed his contract. Abreu said it s a tradition he s very proud to be a part of. That made me feel happy and proud. Not just for this organization that I m a part of, but also for my heritage because I know that this is a very good organization and they are trying to take care of the Cuban players, Abreu said. I also feel a huge respect for Minnie Minoso because he was the first one who opened this door here with the White Sox. Through his mentoring, Abreu could keep that tradition going into the future. Robert and Moncada are huge pieces of the White Sox rebuilding puzzle, and Abreu is helping put those pieces together for the White Sox. Miguel Gonzalez Throws Six Perfect Innings as White Sox Take Series Against Tigers By Vinnie Duber / CSN Chicago May 28, 2017 For six innings Sunday, Miguel Gonzalez was perfect. The White Sox right-hander put the baseball world on perfect-game alert and conjured memories of Mark Buehrle and Philip Humber with his dazzling work through six innings. Gonzalez lost his bids for a perfect game, no hitter and shutout in the span of three batters to lead off the seventh inning, but that didn t take away much from how good he was in a 7-3 win for the South Siders at Guaranteed Rate Field. He was dominant, shortstop Tim Anderson said, providing an accurate if brief summation of the day s proceedings. Gonzalez, who entered with a 3-5 record and a 4.55 ERA in nine previous starts this season, set down the first 18 hitters he faced in order, with the visiting Detroit Tigers rarely even coming close to reaching base. That streak of 18 straight hitters retired to start the game was the longest by a White Sox starter since Chris Sale sat down the first 19 he faced back in May Of course, whenever a performance nears no-hitter territory, players know it and stay away from the pitcher in the dugout, afraid of jinxing things. And the White Sox weren t immune to that baseball tradition on Sunday. It was getting quiet, Gonzalez said. I was just trying to do my thing. Just go out there and make pitches, let them make the plays and that s how things went. The Tigers who trailed big after the White Sox gave Gonzalez a 7-0 lead finally broke through to start the seventh. Austin Romine reached on an infield single, Alex Avila singled through the right side of the infield, and Miguel Cabrera dumped an RBI base hit into right field. Detroit added two more runs on three extra-base hits in the eighth, but Gonzalez still finished with a great line, yielding just three runs on six hits in 7.2 innings of work. Gonzalez s gem snapped a streak of rough outings that started, coincidentally enough, against this Tigers team, when he was crushed for seven runs on 14 hits in an April 30 loss in Detroit. Entering Sunday s game, Gonzalez was a nasty 0-5 with a 6.99 ERA in his previous five starts. He hadn t made it out of the sixth inning in any of his previous three starts. I started off really good. I was struggling for a couple outings, and all you can do is keep working hard and things are going to happen, Gonzalez said. I think if you work hard in between your starts you have a pretty good chance of getting back on track and that s how I felt today. That seventh-inning blip by the Tigers ended the day s only drama, as the White Sox offense put the result of the game out of question earlier, tagging opposing starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann for seven runs in his five innings of work.

9 Zimmermann entered the day struggling on the 2017 campaign, and that didn t change Sunday. Willy Garcia tripled in Omar Narvaez for the game s first run in the third and scored on the same play thanks to a throwing error. Two hitters later, Melky Cabrera hit a solo home run to make it 3-0. Matt Davidson led off the bottom of the fourth with his 10th home run of the season, and Narvaez drove in Yolmer Sanchez to make it 5-0. Todd Frazier tacked on two more in the fifth with a two-run shot that also scored Jose Abreu. As an offense, we re trying to give that (big cushion) every night. That d be nice, Davidson said. And it really relaxes them. And you can see what happens when they ve got a lead and you let them do their thing. The White Sox took three of four from the Tigers in this weekend series that featured a doubleheader split Saturday. It s a positive start to this home stand which continues with a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox after going 3-7 on a recent 10-game road trip. I'm very happy with it, but again I'm not surprised by it, simply because I think they come out every single day to try to play good baseball and do what they need to help each other out and win ballgames, manager Rick Renteria said. It's just their character, the way they're put together. They keep battling. Chris Sale's return to South Side rekindles debate: Was trading him right move? By Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune May 28, 2017 Chris Sale had to go, and everyone knew it. The popular ace had no use for White Sox management, having accused them of prioritizing marketing over winning during his uniform-slicing episode last July. And for the most part, the feeling was mutual. As talented a pitcher as Sale was, no one can be bigger than the team and allowed to operate under his own rules, unilaterally deciding to cut up teammates' jerseys to avoid his own discomfort. So when the Sox rebuild officially began in December, Sale, to no one's surprise, was the first to go, dealt to the Red Sox for a few of their top prospects. No hard feelings. Just business. But as Sale returns with the Red Sox this week for his much-anticipated South Side homecoming, the questions remain: Did he really have to go? Could the Sox have built around Sale instead of using him to restock the depleted farm system? Sale is scheduled to pitch Tuesday night at Sox Park, following David Price's return from his elbow injury on Monday afternoon. These homecomings are commonplace in sports and tend to be scripted affairs in every city. So look for Sale to get a standing ovation from fans and a video tribute on the scoreboard. After that, booing is optional. It was last July 23, at the ballpark formerly known as the Cell, that Sale went on his slice-and-dice escapades with the 1976 Sox throwbacks, forcing manager Robin Ventura to scratch him from his scheduled start against the Tigers. As rumors about Sale having the flu spread across the internet, the Sox issued a clumsily worded press release from general manager Rick Hahn that alluded to an incident that was "non-physical in nature." Once it leaked that Sale had gone rogue and cut up teammates' uniforms in the clubhouse, the organization suffered its second embarrassing episode in a matter of months. Sale also played a key role in the Drake LaRoche saga, saying the players were "bald-faced lied to" by Sox vice president Ken Williams regarding the team's decision to limit the clubhouse time of Adam LaRoche's son. The Sox insist those incidents had nothing to do with Sale's departure, even though Sale's trouble-loving sidekick, Adam Eaton, was the only other star traded last winter.

10 Now Sale is dominating with the Red Sox, and could be in line for another All-Star start. He's 5-2 with a 2.34 ERA and a major-league-leading 101 strikeouts after nine starts, having struck out 10 or more in each of his first eight starts, tying a record set by the Red Sox's Pedro Martinez in 1999 and tied by Sale in Sale just keeps getting better. He's widely regarded as the top strikeout artist of his era and had the most strikeouts ever over his first 150 career starts (1,149), edging Kerry Wood (1,122) and Nolan Ryan (1,118). With Price on the disabled list, Sale helped keep the Red Sox afloat, and they've finally begun to play up to their preseason hype, winning six straight before Sunday's loss to the Mariners. Interestingly, the marketing department Sale skewered last July for prioritizing a throwback jersey promotion over winning is the same one in charge of ensuring a classy welcome upon his return. Awkward, but necessary. And surprisingly, months after the trade, few Sox fans seem to mind that Sale is gone. As popular as he was, Sale was never a particularly big draw on days he started, and the Sox were never able to capitalize on his success. Last May 24, when Sale brought a 9-0 record into a game against the Indians, the Sox drew only 21,558 on a pleasant spring night. True, the marketing department came up with the K-Zone section for Sale's starts, but it never figured out how to make him a larger than life figure, as the Cubs have done so well with Kyle Schwarber. Most Sox fans just seem happy Hahn got a nice haul from the Sale trade, including top prospect Yoan Moncada, who currently is raking at Triple-A Charlotte and helped Hahn reel in fellow Cuban Luis Robert, also pegged as a can't-miss kid. Michael Kopech and his 103-mph fastball are also major league-ready, though still developing at Double A. Kopech, 20, has held opposing hitters to a.154 average with 12.4 strikeouts per nine innings at Birmingham, and should be headed to Triple A before long. "We haven't had that conversation yet," Hahn said. "He hasn't had a full season as a pro where he's taken the ball every fifth day for the length of a minor-league season. So that's really the No. 1 goal for the year. The improvement of his secondary pitches is the second goal, and what level he does that at is a little less important. "He's 20 years old and already with an advancement placement at Double A. If he spent the entire year there, that's still a pretty good accomplishment." But even a jump from Double A to the Sox wouldn't seem to faze Kopech, would it? "We've done Double A to majors jumps," Hahn said. "We did that with (Mark) Buehrle, and (Jose) Quintana and Bobby Jenks too. It happens. But when you're talking about a kid who hasn't had a full season as a pro under his belt and is 20, it's less likely." We won't be able to fairly judge the Sale deal for a few years, when Moncada and Kopech are teammates and the rebuild is turning a corner. But if Sale pitches the Red Sox to a championship and Moncada and Kopech help spark a White Sox turnaround, it would be one of those win-win trades for both organizations. Either way, Sale's return on Tuesday should be a moment for Chicago to savor. He may have been a headache, but he never was a bore. Some White Sox players are looking forward to Chris Sale's return By Paul Skrbina / Chicago Tribune May 28, 2017 Chris Sale will pitch for the Sox again Tuesday at Guaranteed Rate Field. But the left-hander will be on the mound representing the Red variety when he makes his first start against the White Sox, with whom he spent his first seven seasons. Sale was traded to Boston in December for a haul of prospects, including second baseman Yoan Moncada, who is rated as the top among his peers in minor-league baseball, and pitcher Michael Kopech.

11 The five-time All-Star's return generated some excitement in the White Sox clubhouse Sunday morning before the Sox defeated the Tigers 7-3. Jose Quintana, who will pitch opposite Sale on Tuesday, saved his "bests" for describing his former teammate. "It's good to face the best left-hander in the league," Quintana said. "He's the best teammate of the pitchers I've had." Sale has continued to be among the best pitchers in baseball since relocating. His 101 strikeouts are the most in the American League. It also complements his 2.34 ERA and 7.28 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He had an eight-game stretch this season during which he struck out at least 10 batters each game, which tied a record he already shared with Pedro Martinez. "I have so much respect," Sox first baseman Jose Abreu said through a team interpreter. "That will be fun." Abreu the mentor: Until Saturday, Abreu hadn't met Luis Robert, the 19-year-old Cuban prospect to whom the Sox gave a $26 million signing bonus. But Abreu said he hopes to mentor Robert, like he's been doing with Moncada. "That's something that I like to do," Abreu said. "I like to advise the guys and tell them what to do for their best like I am doing right now with Moncada. I'm just waiting for that opportunity to happen with (Robert)." Shields update: Right-hander James Shields will pack his bags for Triple-A Charlotte this week and is expected to make a rehab start as he makes his way back from a strained right lat muscle that has kept him on the disabled list for the last month and a half. He last pitched April 16. White Sox bats back Miguel Gonzalez in 7-3 win over Tigers By Paul Skrbina / Chicago Tribune May 28, 2017 The first six innings were as easy as for Miguel Gonzalez, who needed just 69 pitches to retire the first 18 Tigers in order Sunday at Guaranteed Rate Field. Hopes of perfect game, no-hitter and/or a shutout were lost in a span of four pitches in the seventh inning, though the White Sox won 7-3 to take three of four in the series. Andrew Romine led off the eventful seventh with a hard grounder that shortstop Tim Anderson couldn't quite handle. Initially ruled an error, which briefly kept the no-hitter intact, the play soon was changed to a hit. Former White Sox catcher Alex Avila singled on the next pitch. Two pitches later, Miguel Cabrera guided a single into right field that allowed Romine to scoot home and the shutout to vanish. Gonzalez, the first Sox pitcher since Chris Sale (19 in a row) on May 12, 2013, to retire the first 18 he faced, lasted until two were out in the eighth, when the Tigers scored twice more. The White Sox have thrown 18 no-hitters in franchise history, the last two of which, by Philip Humber in 2012 and Mark Buehrle in 2009, were perfect games. "It was getting quiet (in the dugout)," Gonzalez said with a grin. "I was just trying to do my thing." White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu helped preserve perfection in the fourth, when he snagged Avila's screaming ground ball down the first-base line and flipped the ball to Gonzalez for the second out of the inning. Had Gonzalez finished with a one-hitter, Anderson said he would have pleaded guilty to the error. "I would have been like, 'Give me the "E," please,'" Anderson said. Alas, Anderson's plea for an "E" wasn't necessary. But the White Sox's ability to earn the "W" had to do with more than Gonzalez, who ended a career-worst five-game losing streak by allowing three runs and six hits while striking out six in 72/3 innings.

12 Willy Garcia tripled home Omar Narvaez and scored on a throwing error on the same play to stake the Sox to a 2-0 lead in the third. Melky Cabrera also hit a solo home run in the inning as rain caused a 30-minute delay by the time Gonzalez took the mound for the top of the fourth. The right-hander picked up where he left off when the game resumed, retiring the next nine in a row. In the meantime, the Sox scored four more times, including three on home runs by Matt Davidson and Todd Frazier. Gonzalez's 107-pitch performance, scarred only by that seventh and a two-run eighth, was important for another reason: preserving the bullpen. With starting pitchers on the disabled list, the Sox will turn to reliever David Holmberg to start Monday's game against the Red Sox, meaning the relievers could face some extra work. "He kind of gave us a boost," Renteria said of Gonzalez. "We were trying to stay away from a lot of guys (in the bullpen). He ate up a lot of innings. All these guys have a point where they start hitting a little bit of a wall." Gonzalez said he took a no-hitter into the ninth inning of a Mexican League game, but he never has finished a job like he started Sunday. He also hopes he put his recent skid behind him. He is 0-5 with a 6.99 ERA and.336 batting average against while allowing 41 hits in 28 1/3 innings in his last five starts. "If you work hard in between your starts, you have a pretty good chance of getting back on track, and that's how I felt today," he said. Jose Quintana, Jose Abreu eager to face Chris Sale White Sox to face former ace for the first time Tuesday By Brian Sandalow / Chicago Sun-Times May 28, 2017 Jose Quintana isn t downplaying what it will be like Tuesday to pitch against Chris Sale at Guaranteed Rate Field. Facing Saler is going to be awesome, big time, Quintana said. A big moment of the season. He was my teammate. It s a different feeling but it s good to face the best left-hander in the league. I m excited and I think he s excited, too. But my focus right now is to do my job. Do my work and do my thing and put us in a good position to win. That s all I can do. Sale was famously traded this offseason to Boston for a package of prospects led by Yoan Moncada and Michael Kopech in a deal that signaled the beginning of the White Sox s rebuild. Quintana, who could follow the same path this summer, said he enjoyed working with Sale. He s the best. He s the best teammate of the pitchers I ve had. We have a really good relationship, Quintana said. He s really fun to watch. He s good and he has good stuff. But we re focusing on us. I want to do my job and that s my focus. Todd Frazier, Jose Quintana and Chris Sale hold their all-star jerseys last season. Getty Images Quintana s job Tuesday won t be to hit against Sale, and that will fall to some of his former Sox teammates. Jose Abreu, like Quintana, had nothing but respect for Sale. He was one of the best teammates that I had here in my first three years. That will be fun, Abreu said through a translator. He s a very good pitcher, and we ll see what happens that day. Updating the rotation Tyler Danish made a good impression Saturday. The next starting pitcher to get that chance will be David Holmberg. On Monday, Holmberg will oppose Boston s David Price. Manager Rick Renteria said he was hoping for five innings from the 25-year-old lefty who has made 12 career starts, going 3-6 with a 6.99 ERA. Meanwhile, Renteria said that James Shields, who has been on the disabled list since April 21 (strained right lat), is moving along. Hopefully there are no setbacks, Renteria said. He s continued to throw with really positive results in terms of his feeling and I think that determination in terms of how long it ll be is still up in the air but he s moving along very well.

13 Luis Robert signing adds to spotlight on Jose Abreu Sox slugger, one of the team s hottest hitters, is expected to mentor prospect By Brian Sandalow / Chicago Sun-Times May 28, 2017 Jose Abreu is in the middle of a lot of Sox storylines. His name has been thrown about in trade speculation, which makes sense for a team in the midst of a rebuilding project. He s also one of the team s hottest hitters, enjoying one of the best stretches of his career. And on Saturday the Sox formally signed Luis Robert, a fellow Cuban whose addition clearly means a lot to Abreu. I was very excited to have him here, and I m very happy because he s signing with the team, Abreu said Sunday through a translator before the Sox beat the Tigers 7-3. He s a very good player. I just told him that he has to keep working hard and keep doing the things to get here as soon as he can. He s a nice guy. Robert might be a nice guy, but he doesn t have much experience and is unfamiliar with American baseball. Enter Abreu, who will act as a mentor, which he already is for Yoan Moncada. I m excited to have that opportunity. That s something that I like to do, Abreu said. I like to advise the guys and tell them what to do for their best like I am doing with Moncada. I m just waiting for that opportunity to happen with [Robert]. Just 19, Robert will spend time in the minors, a luxury Abreu didn t have. And Abreu sees the value in the Sox patient approach with their latest prized asset. It s not an easy thing to do, to come here straight to play in the majors, because this is a very high level and a tough one to play, Abreu said. The best for him is the decision that he s making for him, to have some games in the minors and let him develop there. But that development time could mean Abreu and Robert never will be teammates in Chicago. Abreu, 30, has two years left on his contract after this season, and he could be attractive to teams this summer looking to add an impactful right-handed bat to the middle of their lineup. Asked Sunday if he wanted to discuss a long-term deal with the Sox, Abreu said, We are thinking just about this year, just to help this team to win this year, but he made it clear he wouldn t mind staying here. What s in the future is going to be in the future, Abreu said. Of course, I would like to be a White Sox forever. But that s something that I can t control. If Abreu gets what he wants, he will be a key part of the team on and off the field. Manager Rick Renteria sees the value in having him stay. The perspective [he brings], maybe he can enlighten some younger players in terms of what he has gone through in his life, Renteria said. Sometimes we ve talked about how it is to be in the big leagues [and] it s a surreal existence. It s beyond compare to -anything you might imagine. I imagine all professional sports go the same way. On the field, Abreu stayed hot Sunday. He had two hits and extended his hitting streak to 10 games, batting.444 over that span. He said he has tried to control his feet and hands, because they re key parts of his swing process. Once you have control over the precision and the movement of your feet and hands, then you can be able to use the whole field, Abreu said. Miguel Gonzalez, White Sox power past Tigers Gonzalez takes perfect game into seventh inning, Melky Cabrera, Matt Davidson and Todd Frazier homer as Sox win series By Brian Sandalow / Chicago Sun-Times May 28, 2017 Miguel Gonzalez faltered late. The White Sox still were more than happy with what he did Sunday. Gonzalez took a perfect game into the seventh inning, Melky Cabrera, Matt Davidson and Todd Frazier homered, and the Sox beat the Tigers 7-3 to take three of four in the series.