Photos: Phoenix Mercury Center Brittney Griner

The Chicago White Sox had an opportunity to inch closer to first place ahead of a big series against the division-leading Guardians in Cleveland. Instead, they closed out a homestand with a clunker Thursday against the Houston Astros. The Sox surrendered four home runs, including two two-run homers to Alex Bregman, in a lopsided 21-5 loss in front of 24,407 at Guaranteed Rate Field. A series that began with a pair of thrilling wins for the Sox ended with a thud.

ATLANTA — Mets’ right-handed pitcher Taijuan Walker, last seen throwing just two innings on Tuesday night before leaving with back spasms, took some time out of his treatment to explain how he’s feeling. “A lot better than expected,” he reported. “Tuesday, I would say, was a lot, a lot of pain.

The link in the NBC Sports Chicago tweet Wednesday begged to be opened. “Tony La Russa calls White Sox leadership meeting, fuels win streak.” Could it really be that the White Sox manager was responsible for the five-game winning streak against the Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros after calling a meeting of his key players?

Oswaldo Cabrera is embracing all of it. He made a special salute when the crowd chanted his name during roll call Wednesday night and Thursday when he got his first major league hit, a double, the 23-year old mimed ripping the pin out of a grenade and lobbing it. Cabrera, who also had a single on Thursday night, was about the only bright spot in the Yankees 9-2 loss to the Blue Jays at the Stadium on Thursday night. “It was amazing,” Cabrera said of his fourth-inning double to right-center field.

Zac Gallen struck out a career-high 12 in 7 1/3 innings, extending his shutout streak and pitching the Arizona Diamondbacks past the San Francisco Giants 5-0 on Thursday.       

A crowd of community members, teammates, coaches and friends celebrated Kueter's Junior world championship title, Aug. 18, 2022, at City High School.