Dodgers, Kershaw extend White Sox’ losing streak to five

Clayton Kershaw delivers during the first inning against the White Sox Tuesday. (AP)

The White Sox had a tall order Tuesday night at Guaranteed Rate Field, trying to halt a four-game skid while facing three-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers.

The Sox countered with Miguel Gonzalez, who was making his first start since going on the disabled list with a sore shoulder June 18.

Then, as they took the field, word was spreading that Todd Frazier, David Robertson and Tommy Kahnle were close to being traded.

Though they put up a fight, the Sox fell 1-0, and the Dodgers extended their winning streak to 10 games, their second 10-game run of the season. Rookie sensation Cody Bellinger singled home Chris Taylor in the first inning, and the lead held.

Gonzalez struck out five and pitched around five walks to post six innings of one-run ball.

Kershaw (seven strikeouts, one walk) pitched seven scoreless innings to lower his ERA to 2.07 before turning the game over to the bullpen. He earned his major-league-leading 15th victory.

Ceasing to be a Cub

Right-hander Dylan Cease, the Cubs’ top pitching prospect acquired in the trade for Jose Quintana, expressed his appreciation for the care and coaching he received in the Cubs’ system a day after pitching his first game for the Sox’ Class A affiliate at Kannapolis. But now it’s time to move on.

“It doesn’t really matter,’’ he said of moving from an organization that won the World Series in 2016. “All that matters is what I’m learning and getting better and hopefully make it and be part of something special. What the Cubs are doing is great, but I obviously didn’t have anything to do with that. It’s exciting to be in a system like this one where there are so many talented guys and the potential to do something great is there.’’

Cease, who had Tommy John surgery in 2014, isn’t satisfied with how he’s executing pitches but has “learned a ton” this year. Command of his mid- to upper-90s fastball is his top priority.

“I need to keep getting innings and get experience to keep working on things,’’ he said.

Cease pitched five innings of two-run ball in his first start for Kannapolis on Monday.

The Cubs “not only took a chance on me in the draft [knowing he needed surgery], they rehabbed me back, invested a bunch of resources in teaching me and helped change my mechanics,” Cease said. “The mental-strength program was great. In terms of growth, they taught me what I never thought I could learn in just a couple of short years.”

Award for Avisail

Avisail Garcia is the Sox’ recipient of the 2017 Heart and Hustle Award, which honors players who demonstrate a passion for the game and best embody the values, spirit and traditions of the game. It’s the only MLB award voted on by former players.

“He’s having a breakout year and getting more notice for his skills; we have appreciated this quality of his since Day 1,’’ Sox vice president Ken Williams said.

Follow me on Twitter @CST_soxvan.

Email: dvanschouwen@suntimes.com