Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois • 3-3

Chicago Tribune Chicago Sports Section 3 Monday, July 31, 2017 3 WHITE SOX 3, INDIANS 1 Cabrera latest to leave MIKE STOBEGETTY 3.90 ERA in 20 starts for high Class A Wilmington after being picked 67th in last year's draft. He was in an induced coma for three days between his sophomore and junior years of high school while he under pires after this season. Cabrera became the sixth Sox player traded for prospects in 11 days. Since July 31 of last year, when the Sox sent reliever Zach Duke to the Cardinals for outfielder Charlie Tilson, they have traded 11 big-leaguers and received 22 minor- only for his performance but for what he did in the clubhouse. He's a great ambassador for the game, very enthusiastic, a passionate player and he'll be missed.

"As we've made no secret, this is about preparing ourselves for the future." Hahn said talks with the Royals heated up during the last 48 hours. He also said the Sox might not be done dealing. "It's not 3 o'clock Monday yet," he said. "We're going to keep on with our conversations and see if they lead anywhere." Cabrera's next road will lead to Baltimore, where the Royals open a series Monday against the Orioles. He said he understood and appreciated the franchise's focus.

"With all these moves, the team acquired very good prospects and that's (what) they're trying to do here," he said. "Happy and sad moment for me. I had very good friends here." After OF sent to Royals, Hahn says he might not be done dealing By Paul Skrbina Chicago Tribune A little more than an hour before first pitch Sunday, Melky Cabrera was scheduled to bat leadoff against the Indians at Guaranteed Rate Field. Instead of wearing a White Sox uniform, though, the left fielder was in shorts and a T-shirt, packing his belongings and bidding teammates farewell before heading to the Royals, the latest in a slew of Sox to leave the building in the name of rebuilding as Monday's 3 p.m. trade deadline looms.

The Sox dealt Cabrera for two pitching prospects: right-hander A.J. Puckett and left-hander Andre Davis. They will pick up half the tab on the approximately $5 million owed to Cabrera, whose three-year, $42 million deal ex- Cabrera leaguers in return. "I wasn't expecting this because I love the city, I love the team," Cabrera said through a team interpreter. "But you are seeing what's happening around the team with all the moves.

I knew it was a possibility." General manager Rick Hahn has converted Chris Sale, Adam Eaton and Jose Quintana, among others, into such highly regarded prospects as Yoan Moncada, Michael Kopech, Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez, Eloy Jimenez and Dylan Cease. Puckett, 22, was the Royals' 13th-ranked prospect, according to MLB.com. He was 9-7 with a went brain surgery for an accidental injury he received from a friend. Davis, 23, was 5-4 with a 4.83 ERA and 87 strikeouts in 18 starts for low Class A Lexington. Cabrera, who played for the Royals in 2011, is batting .295 with 13 home runs, 17 doubles and 56 RBIs and is tied for the major-league lead with nine outfield assists.

He hit .287 with 39 homers, 219 RBIs and 194 runs scored in 407 games with the Sox, who signed him as a free agent in December 2014. He had four hits Saturday in his last game with the team. "He has been outstanding for this organization since he put on this uniform," Hahn said, "not THE BOX SCORE Ivan Rodriguez pauses to compose himself during his Hall of Fame induction speech. HALL OF FAME Emotion gets the best of Pudge Joins Bagwell, Raines, Selig, Schuerholz as newest inductees Associated Press COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez stared out at his father, wiping away tears.

"I love you with all of my heart," Rodriguez said. "If I'm a Hall of Famer, you're a Hall of Famer double." Those words punctuated Rodriguez's speech as he was inducted Sunday into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Jeff Bagwell and Tim Raines, along with former Commissioner Bud Selig and executive John Schuerholz, also were enshrined. Rodriguez holds major-league records for games caught (2,427) and putouts by a catcher He hit 311 homers and batted .296. He joined Johnny Bench as the only catchers elected on the first ballot.

"You have the right to dream," Rodriguez said. "Everything in life is possible. I speak from experience." Bagwell, who played his entire 15 -year career with the Astros, finished with 449 home runs and from 1996 to 2001 had at least 30 home runs, 100 runs scored and 100 RBIs per season, only the sixth player in history to reach those marks in at least six straight years. "It's always emotional when you see the fans cheering for you and my whole family in front of me," Bagwell said. "I'm an emotional person.

Now I have that plaque forever. It's unbelievable." The switch-hitting Raines batted .294 and had a .385 on-base percentage over 23 years, finishing with 2,605 hits, 1,571 runs and 808 stolen bases. His stolen-base total is the fifth-highest in history and included 70 or more steals in each season from 1981 to '86, a streak that stands alone. Raines focused on Hall of Famer Andre Dawson, his teammate with the Expos when he broke into the major leagues in the early 1980s. "Without Andre Dawson, there's no telling where I'd be," said Raines, who fought cocaine problems early in his career.

"I wanted to be like (him), and he finally accepted and I followed. Thank you so much for making me the player I became." For Selig, who was celebrating his 83rd birthday, it was a reversal of roles. For more than two decades he gave out the Hall of Fame plaques on induction day. "It's an overwhelming, stunning feeling," Selig said. "You're getting the highest honor." In his 22 years, Selig was instrumental in approving inter-league play, expanding the playoffs, splitting each league into three divisions with wild cards, instituting video review and revenue sharing and overseeing an era that featured the construction of 20 new parks.

His tenure also included the steroids era and the cancellation of the 1994 World Series amid a players strike, but he left baseball with a strict drug-testing policy that has helped clean up the game. In 26 years as a general manager for the Royals and Braves, Schuerholz stood alone. His teams won 16 division tides, six pennants and two World Series, one in each league, a first. Schuerholz, who played second base at Towson, said he figured out where he should concentrate his baseball future after a tryout when he was told to time the players instead of taking the field. "The message was delivered," he said.

"I'd better concentrate someplace other than trying to be a pro baseball player." NUCCIO DINUZZOCHICAGO TRIBUNE Teammates greet Matt Davidson at the plate after he slugged a walk-off home run to beat the Indians 3-1. Walk-off a step up pskrbinachicagotribune.com Twitter ChiTribSkrbina BLUE JAYS AT WHITE SOX All games on WLS-AM890. Season: Sox 2-1. Monday: 7:10 p.m., CSN. RH Marco Estrada (4-7, 5.43) vs.

RH James Shields (2-3, 5.86). Tuesday: 7:10 p.m., WGN-9. RH Marcus Stroman (9-5, 3.08) vs. RH Mike Pelfrey (3-8, 4.73). Wednesday: 1:10 p.m., CSN.

LHJ.A.Happ (3-8, 4.15) vs. LH Derek Holland (5-10, 5.42). Storylines: The rebuilding Sox could make another move before the trade deadline Monday. They have lost 14 of 16 and have the AL's worst record (40-62). Sunday's victory was their first at home since July 2, and they're assured of the worst July (5-18 so far) in franchise history.

The 1950 Sox were 9-23 Trending: The Blue Jays' Steve Pearce has hit two walk-off grand slams in the last week, including one Sunday to complete an 11-10 victory against the Angels. The Sox rotation has a 5.85 ERA in the last 59 games with only 13 quality starts during that span. Pencil him in for pen? Two days after throwing 45 pitches, Sox starter Mike Pelfrey warmed up in the bullpen Saturday. The right-hander said it was in case of emergency and was included as part of his weekly routine. But a move to the bullpen soon wouldn't surprise Pelfrey, who has made eight relief appearances in 260 career games.

The Sox could call up Reynaldo Lopez or Lucas Giolito soon. "I don't know what their ultimate idea is," Pelfrey said. "I know eventually those guy are the future. I think they might come up and get their feet wet. I'm willing to do whatever they ask of me." Melky era illustrates Sox failure Sullivan, from Page 1 prospects, including pitcher A.J.

Puckett, ranked 13th in the Royals organization by MLB.com. The Sox also had to pay part of Cabrera's remaining salary, which suggests the market for his services was weak despite his solid bat. The Melky era will be remembered as one of great promise and little success. The Sox overpaid to sign the former PED user, knowing he carried the stigma from his 2012 drug suspension with the Giants. Hahn said Cabrera had shown "remorse" and deserved a shot at redemption, and he got that on the South Side.

Hahn praised him Sunday for being a "great ambassador" for the game. After the Cabrera signing, Hahn said Reinsdorf "smelled it and he wanted to get it done." Robertson received a four-year deal despite having closed for only one season with the Yankees. Samardzija arrived from the As in a deal for prospects, including shortstop Marcus Semien, giving the Sox a quality top of the rotation with Chris Sale and Jose Quintana Cabrera got off to a rough start in 2015, and the season eventually turned into a 76-86 nightmare. He put up decent numbers for losing teams all three years, and his .287 average in 2V2 seasons with the Sox was what you would expect from a .286 career hitter. He hit 39 home runs, drove in 219 runs and smashed a guitar while batting in a TV promotion for Country Music Night.

The Royals know what they're getting. They had Cabrera in 2011, when he put up solid numbers before being dealt to the Giants. He was hitting .346 the next year in San Francisco before the steroid suspension on Aug. 15, right in the middle of a pennant race. He still received a World Series ring and got a two-year, $16 million deal from the Blue Jays the next offseason.

Crime paid after all. The dumping of Cabrera was not a shocker, though he said he liked it here and wanted to stay. No one ever leaves and says he didn't like it in Chicago, except perhaps LaTroy Hawkins. The trade leaves Jose Abreu as the only remaining Sox star from that 15 team. It's doubtful he'll be traded because he's a mentor to fellow Cubans Yoan Moncada and Luis Robert, though Abreu is a more valuable piece than Cabrera The Sox players will miss Cabrera in the clubhouse, and his dugout antics, such as climbing on the backs of his teammates, were always fun to watch.

On the flip side, Cabrera didn't always hustle and just last week in Kansas City turned an easy double off the wall into a single because he thought it was a home run and didn't bother to run. Radio analyst Darrin Jackson called out Cabrera for loafing during the broadcast, but it seemed to fall on deaf ears with the Sox. Cabrera was setting a bad example for younger players, but because he was so well liked, the Sox shrugged it off. No one could be mad at Melky, who just wanted to have fun. psullivanchicagotribune.com Twitter PWSuttivan CLEVELAND AB Bl AVG.

Lindorss 4 111 .271 Jackson If 4 0 2 0 .336 Ramirez 2b 4 0 2 0 .320 Encarnacion dh 3 0 0 0 .256 Santanalb 4 0 0 0 .245 Guyerrf 3 0 0 0 .215 Urshela3b 4 0 10 .195 Perez 4 0 10 .183 1- Gonzalez pr 0 0 0 0 .284 Gomes 0 0 0 0 .228 Zimmercf 4 0 1 0 .279 TOTALS 34 1 8 1 WHITE SOX AB Bl AVG. Garcia If 4 111 .297 Saladino3b 3 0 0 0 .200 a-Sanchez ph 1 0 0 0 .256 Abreu dh 3 0 1 0 .294 2- Hanson pr-dh 0 1 0 0 .242 Davidson lb 4 112 .236 Moncada 2b 2 0 0 0 .111 Smith 3 0 1 0 .263 Anderson ss 3 0 0 0 .235 Garcia rf 3 0 0 0 .253 Engel cf 3 0 0 0 .213 TOTALS 29 3 4 3 Cleveland 001 000 000-1 8 1 WHITE SOX 000 001 002-3 4 0 Davidson's winning HR relieves pressure on beleaguered team By Paul Skrbina Chicago Tribune Matt Davidson made a Bryan Shaw pitch disappear over the wall in left-center field as Sunday afternoon leaned into Sunday evening. The rookie's first walk-off home run didn't take with it the White Sox's struggles, but it was good for a 3-1 victory over the Indians. And it provided a moment of joy for a team that continued its massive rebuilding Sunday by trading left fielder Melky Cabrera to the Royals. "It's a big pick-me-up," Sox manager Rick Renteria said after his team ended the Indians' winning streak at nine.

The home run, Davidson's team-leading 21st, followed Jose Abreu's double to left field and ended the team's five-game losing streak. It was the Sox's second win in 16 games and first at home since July 2. "It's been a rough go for us, so to get that feeling and get that win was huge for us," Davidson said. "That's why these things probably mean more than just a normal win." White Sox hitting coach Todd Steverson was ejected after the fifth inning for arguing a called third strike against Tim Anderson, the fourth of six in a row by Sox hitters. Coincidentally, they had zero hits at the time.

That changed with two out in the sixth when Leury Garcia, reinstated off the disabled list and inserted as Cabrera's last-minute replacement, hit a solo home run to tie the score in his first game since June 15. Starter Carlos Rodon didn't One out when winning run scored, a-g rounded out for Saladino in the 9th. 1-ran for Perez in the 9th. 2-ran for Abreu in the 9th. Lindor (8).

8, WHITE SOX 3. 2B: Ramirez (32), Perez (8), Abreu (28). HR: Lindor (16), off Rodon; Garcia (7), off Goody; Davidson (21), off Shaw. RBIs: Lindor (49), Garcia (23), Davidson 2 (48). SB: Jackson (1), Ramirez (11), Guyer (1), Zimmer (13).

SO: Lindor (1), Encarnacion (1), Santana (1), Guyer (3), Perez (2), Zimmer (3), Garcia (1), Saladino (1), Abreu (1), Davidson (2), Moncada (1), Smith (1), Anderson (1), Garcia (1), Engel (1). Runners left in scoring position: Cleveland 6 (Lindor 2, Santana 2, Zimmer 2); WHITE SOX 1 (Anderson). RISP: Cleveland 0 for WHITE SOX 1 for 2. GIDP: Encarnacion, Garcia. DP: Cleveland 1 (Lindor, Ramirez, Santana); WHITE SOX 1 (Saladino, Moncada, Davidson).

CLEVELAND IP ER BB SO ERA Tomlin Goody Otero Shaw, WHITE SOX 4 VA VA IP 5.38 2.29 3.57 2.90 ERA Rodon 6 1 1 2 9 5.23 Petricka 1 0 0 0 0 7.24 1 1 0 0 0 2 4.87 Inherited runners-scored: Petricka 2-0. HBP: Tomlin (Abreu). Umpires: Lance Barrett; IB, Clint Fagan; 2B, Bill Welke; 3B, Jim Reynolds. Time: 2:56. 28,152 HOW THEY SCORED INDIANS THIRD: Lindor homered.

Jackson singled. Ramirez lined out. Encarnacion grounded out, Jackson out at second. One run. Indians 1-0.

WHITE SOX SIXTH: W. Garcia struck out. Engel struck out. L. Garcia homered.

Saladino grounded out. One run. Tied 1-1. WHITE SOX NINTH: Sanchez grounded out. Abreu doubled.

With Hanson running for Abreu, Davidson homered. Two runs. White Sox 3-1. benefit with a victory, but he lasted 623 innings with nine strikeouts and two walks. He allowed six hits, including a solo home run to Francisco Lindor.

"We are trying to do something special here," Rodon said. "We were trying to do it for a while. As you see by the moves, it takes some time.".