Brandon Marsh's RBI double
South Side boxing event aims to find cure for children's brain tumor
It's just about time to get ready to rumble for a good cause on the city's South Side. Dan Letz is the owner and operator of Letz Box Chicago—a pugilistic palace in Mount Greenwood. For the last several months, he's been training a good-hearted, fleet-footed field of warriors who are fighting to help find a cure for Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), which is a brain tumor that can develop in the brainstem. "It's horrific. It affects mainly children," Katie Gaskin said. "It's a tumor that grows within the brain stem, specifically in the ponds, and when a child is diagnosed with this, right now, they're really only given radiation as a treatment option and usually eight to 12 months to live." Gaskin's son, Anthony, was 7 years old when he died from DIPG, just 19 months after his diagnosis. In memory of Anthony, who Gaskin described as an old soul who loved the Chicago Cubs, she started the Anthony's Avengers DIPG Foundation. Letz and Gaskin have partnered to host an event on Friday, June 13 at Saint Rita of Cascia High School in benefit of Anthony's Avengers and their mission to find a cure. Starting at 7 p.m., the St. Rita Mustang's football field will be transformed into a boxing ring under the Friday night lights of a different sort. WGN's Pat Elwood brings you the story. For more info on Anthony's Avengers and the fight to find a cure, visit their website: https://anthonysavengers.org/
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Chicago Tribune
2 hours ago
- Chicago Tribune
3 takeaways from the Chicago Cubs' series loss against the Houston Astros as they lose ground in the division
HOUSTON — The Chicago Cubs' hold on first place in the division is becoming tenuous. They dropped their series against the Houston Astros with a 2-0 loss Sunday at Daikin Park and have lost four of their last 10 games. The Cubs (49-35) completed their challenging stretch of 26 games in 27 days, including one postponement due to rain, with a 12-13 record. But the Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals have been playing well and now sit 2 games and 2 1/2 back of the Cubs, respectively, in the National League Central. The Cubs had an opportunity to erase the Astros' two-run lead from Jose Altuve's home run in the fifth inning, but they failed to capitalize after putting a pair of runners on to open the top of the seventh to force lefty Framber Valdez out of the game. Pinch hitters Michael Busch (foul out) and Vidal Bruján (strikeout) and Ian Happ (strikeout) couldn't take advantage against Astros righty reliever Bryan Abreu. 'Their bullpen, those two guys Abreu and (Josh) Hader, they're two of the best, and Valdez got deep enough in the game where they could go right to them,' manager Craig Counsell said. 'Abreu did a great job, and (Busch) that's the one you pitch you want back. He took a good swing at the right pitch, and he just missed it.' As the Cubs look ahead to a six-game homestand versus the Cleveland Guardians and Cardinals following Monday's off day, here are three takeaways from their weekend series in Houston. Jameson Taillon's consistency had been a huge part of the Cubs' early-season success, until he gave up his most runs in back-to-back starts the last two times out since his second season in the majors. Taillon looked to get locked in Sunday against Houston. Leading up to the start, the veteran studied his pitch usage and sequencing to evaluate what adjustments he needed to make. Part of that puzzle to regain his form required improved execution. The Astros certainly made Taillon work Sunday, especially former Cubs third baseman Isaac Paredes, who forced the starter to throw 31 pitches, including 17 foul balls. Taillon, though, had kept the Astros off the board until Altuve's home run on his 107th pitch to end his day. 'I knew it was gone,' Taillon said. 'I grew up coming to games here. I've seen so many balls go into the Crawford Boxes. It's one of those things, like, yeah, it's a short left field, but it also isn't a very good pitch. So that's what he does. He's probably a future Hall of Famer. I thought it was gone off the bat.' Taillon's improvement from his previous two outings stemmed from better pitch usage, most notably throwing more cutters — up from his 12% average this season to 29% Sunday. 'Part of that was predetermined and part of it, I just thought the cutter was better today,' Taillon said. 'I haven't had great feel of that lately, and I also haven't seen seven righties in a lineup, probably all year, in a while. 'It's hard to be too happy when you don't complete even five innings, but I actually thought that was some of the best stuff and command I've had all year. … Obviously got beat by the homer again today, which I'm getting pretty tired of, but it was a pretty good hitter that hit it.' Nico Hoerner knows his lack of home run power has been a conversation topic. He was one of only two qualified hitters without a home run this season. But suddenly, Hoerner has tapped into the long ball. Hoerner's go-ahead home run in Saturday's win against Houston gave him three in his last five games. 'Obviously the question has always been how to add more power to my game and this and that, and it's hard to put a finger on one thing,' Hoerner said. 'But just good contact, simple swings.' Chicago Cubs' Kyle Tucker still a fan favorite in his first return to Houston since leaving the AstrosDespite his limited home runs through the first three months of the season, Hoerner entered Sunday's series finale with a career-best 109 OPS+ and his .386 slugging percentage is the second-best over his career. After Saturday's game, when asked whether it crosses his mind when he hasn't hit a home run in a while, Hoerner laughed before noting, 'Yeah, I do.' Hoerner had gone 321 plate appearances between home runs, dating to last season. 'I'm obviously aware of how I'm producing and I'm aware of the things that I do well, and I don't want to lose sight of those things that I've always done well,' Hoerner said. 'But I want to be a really impactful player in this league and help us win games. 'It's hard to be a really good player in this league without hitting for power. So, you can't force it, but there's daily work that gives me a better chance to do it, and I feel like I'm getting better.' Chris Flexen hasn't pitched out of the bullpen much during his eight-year big-league career. His 15 relief appearances are already his most in a single season. But despite not possessing a ton of experience in that role, Flexen understands the value of making sure his fellow relievers are as fresh as possible. After the seventh inning in Friday's loss, Flexen told Counsell he had one more inning in him, wanting to ensure the bullpen was good for Saturday. Flexen finished with four shutout innings Friday to lower his season ERA to 0.64 through 15 outings (28 innings). 'He gets it, you know what I mean?' Counsell said. 'In your bullpen, the guys are connected to each other. And so Chris made somebody else more effective (Saturday) and (Sunday). And I think that's a big deal. There's no statistic for that, there's no metric, there's no analytics for that.' Counsell described Flexen as a glue guy, highlighting how valuable the 30-year-old right-hander has been in his relief role this year. His effectiveness on the mound has stemmed from his curveball shape and speed he throws it, combined with his cutter and high fastball, makes Flexen tough to hit. He's surrendered only 16 hits in 28 innings. 'Stuff wise, he's just got really good feel for all of his pitches right now,' Counsell said. 'That's what you see in his outings, just confidence: any count, any time, any one of his pitches.' With how well Flexen has been performing and built up to four innings and 50 pitches, he's an appealing choice to start if the Cubs go the bullpen game route sometime at some point. Counsell acknowledged that possibility. 'The fact that we have him stretched, gotten him some longer appearances, he may give us some flexibility,' Counsell said Saturday. 'If he had some rest going in, we could get him to the 60-65 pitch level.'
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Jose Altuve homers and Framber Valdez tosses six shutout innings in Astros' 2-0 win over Cubs
Houston Astros' Luis Guillorme (0) and Jose Altuve celebrate after a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs Sunday, June 29, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Houston Astros' Luis Guillorme, right, reacts after a strike-three call by home plate umpire Lance Barrett during the second inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs Sunday, June 29, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jameson Taillon throws against the Houston Astros during the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, June 29, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Houston Astros pitcher Josh Hader throws against the Chicago Cubs during the ninth inning of a baseball game Sunday, June 29, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Houston Astros' Jose Altuve celebrates in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run against the Chicago Cubs during the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, June 29, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Houston Astros' Jose Altuve celebrates in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run against the Chicago Cubs during the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, June 29, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Houston Astros' Luis Guillorme (0) and Jose Altuve celebrate after a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs Sunday, June 29, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Houston Astros' Luis Guillorme, right, reacts after a strike-three call by home plate umpire Lance Barrett during the second inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs Sunday, June 29, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jameson Taillon throws against the Houston Astros during the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, June 29, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Houston Astros pitcher Josh Hader throws against the Chicago Cubs during the ninth inning of a baseball game Sunday, June 29, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Houston Astros' Jose Altuve celebrates in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run against the Chicago Cubs during the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, June 29, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) HOUSTON (AP) — Jose Altuve hit a two-run homer and Framber Valdez tossed six shutout innings, and the Houston Astros beat the Chicago Cubs 2-0 on Sunday. Altuve's 13th home run of the season broke a scoreless tie in the fifth inning. It was his first extra base hit in 34 at bats and the Astros' only extra base hit of the game. Advertisement Valdez (9-4) struck out six while allowing five hits and two walks. Only one man reached third base against him. He exited with two on and nobody out in the seventh, but Bryan Abreu replaced him and retired Michael Busch, Vidal Bruján and Ian Happ to work out of trouble. Abreu pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning. He struck out four of the six men he faced. Josh Hader retired the side in order in the ninth inning to convert on his franchise record 23rd straight save opportunity to start the season. Jameson Taillon (7-6) matched zeroes with Valdez until Altuve's home run on his 107th and final pitch of his outing. He struck out four while giving up five hits and one walk over 4 2/3 innings. Advertisement The bullpen trio of Ryan Brasier, Ryan Pressly and Brad Keller held the Astros to two hits over 3 1/3 innings. Key Moment Altuve's fifth inning, two-run homer to break the scoreless tie. Key Stat The Astros are unbeaten in their last 11 series, dating back to May 22, going 9-0-2 in that span. Up Next The Cubs open a three-game series against the Guardians on Tuesday with LHP Matthew Boyd (7-3 2.65 ERA) against RHP Gavin Williams (5-3 3.68 ERA). The Astros open a three-game series at the Rockies on Tuesday with LHP Colton Gordon (3-1 3.98 ERA) against RHP Chase Dollander (2-8 6.06 EA). ___ AP MLB:
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Cubs Predicted to Add Right-Hander Tyler Bremner
Cubs Predicted to Add Right-Hander Tyler Bremner originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Chicago Cubs have a few ways they can go in a few weeks during the 2025 MLB draft. With a team with as loaded of a farm system as the Cubs have, they're in a good position to continue improving it. However, that also allows them not to have to focus on one position, and just try to select the best player available. Advertisement At No. 17, there's a good chance they'll have a few options, with recently predicting them to select Tyler Bremner, who was as high as the top pick in the 2025 MLB draft heading into this season. 'The leading candidates with how this is playing out both come from the college ranks -- with Bremner on the mound and Aloy from the hitting group leading the way. A prep hitter like Fien could be discussed,' they wrote. Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell (11) watches players warm up during spring training Scuteri-Imagn Images Bremner dealt with some injuries throughout the year, but he was flat-out nasty once again. He had a tough time locating his slider for parts, which is a bit worrisome, but his fastball plays at a high level. He posted a 3.49 ERA in 77.1 innings and struck out 111 hitters. Advertisement Bremner only walked 19 in that span, so it isn't like the command is too big of an issue, but if he can't throw the slider for strikes, or at least tempt hitters to swing at it, he might run into some problems in Major League Baseball. However, the Cubs have done a decent job developing players in recent years, so there's a reason to believe that a few years in their farm system could do wonders for the big right-hander. Related: Cubs' Craig Counsell Delivers Stern Message to Rookie Pitcher After Rough Start This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
