AJ Pollock spent three seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier than being traded to the Chicago White Sox in April.
With the Dodgers on the town this week for a three-game collection at Guaranteed Rate Field, the outfielder is getting the prospect to see some acquainted faces.
“It’s fun,” Pollock advised the Tribune earlier than Tuesday’s sport. “You spend so much time with a group and you form a lot of bonds. It’s good to see them. Hopefully we can kick their butts. But it’s nice to say hi and catch up a little bit.”
Pollock performed a pivotal position within the collection opener later that night when he broke a scoreless tie with a two-run pinch double to proper within the sixth inning. He additionally scored throughout the four-run inning because the Sox gained 4-0.
“It was good,” Pollock advised reporters after the sport. “I had a lot of intrasquad battles the last couple of years. It’s always fun battling those guys. And it’s good to get a win against anyone. That’s a good ballclub. I know that’s a tough team and (it’s) a little extra special.”
Pollock was within the beginning lineup Wednesday, batting eighth in opposition to Dodgers starter Tony Gonsolin, and went 0-for-2 with a stroll within the Sox’s 4-1 loss. Sox supervisor Tony La Russa mentioned it’s powerful to inform who has an edge when a participant faces his former crew.
“I saw AJ, he won a championship over there (in 2020), they gave him a big welcome,” La Russa mentioned Wednesday. “They know him and he is aware of them. You can know (Gonsolin), nevertheless it’s exhausting to hit him. And it’s possible you’ll suppose you already know the place to pitch AJ, however he’s a reasonably good hitter.
“If you miss, he’s going to hit you.”
Pollock’s teammate Reese McGuire skilled a reunion final week when the Sox performed in Toronto. The catcher spent elements of 4 seasons with the Blue Jays earlier than being traded to the Sox for catcher Zack Collins on April 3.
McGuire went 3-for-12 with one RBI within the three video games at Rogers Centre.
“It was fun going back into that city, playing in that stadium,” McGuire advised the Tribune on Wednesday. “Quite a lot of good reminiscences. (I made) my big-league debut there, so it was cool to get slightly little bit of a special perspective this time round and soak all of it in and see a few of my higher buddies in baseball throughout the diamond. Still a few of them I speak to.
“All in all, it was a fun trip. Obviously would have liked to come away with some wins there (the Sox lost all three games), but it was cool.”
The Sox acquired McGuire two days after choosing up Pollock in a commerce that despatched reliever Craig Kimbrel to the Dodgers.
“The longer you stay in this game, it’s like you (can) take offense to everything and can easily do that, but it’s a business,” Pollock mentioned after Tuesday’s sport. “They had some moves they wanted to make. They’re going to look out for their ballclub, and I was excited to be on a team that’s contending. It’s just baseball.”
Pollock slashed .282/.337/.519 with 52 homers and 150 RBIs in 258 regular-season video games with the Dodgers.
“It was a tough day,” Dodgers supervisor David Roberts advised reporters Tuesday when requested of the commerce. “AJ helped us win a championship, so he’s very well-liked within the clubhouse, within the group, and to commerce him was powerful for everybody.
“But to be able to acquire a guy that could step in and close for you was huge. And Craig has been great with us.”
Kimbrel, who went on paternity leave Tuesday, has 11 saves and a 4.00 ERA in 18 appearances for the Dodgers. Pollock entered Wednesday with a .220/.246/.354 slash line with three residence runs and 13 RBIs in 37 video games.
Pollock had his second game-winning hit of the season Tuesday; the primary was a go-ahead homer within the ninth in opposition to the New York Yankees in Game 1 of a May 22 doubleheader at Yankee Stadium.
The right-handed-hitting Pollock didn’t begin Tuesday however got here to bat for the left-handed-hitting Gavin Sheets with runners on first and third and two outs within the sixth when left-hander David Price entered for the Dodgers.
“It happened pretty quick,” Pollock mentioned. “DP was warming up (in the bullpen) very quick. They were trying to ambush us there with Gavin’s spot coming up. I was hitting a lot down there (in the cage), so I was ready to go.”
Pollock hit Price’s first pitch for the go-ahead double.
“I’m ready to go if it’s where I want to hunt it,” Pollock mentioned. “If it’s there, I’m ready to go. If not, hopefully I’m taking it. But I was ready to go. Some days it works, some days you get quick outs. It worked out very well for us.”
Tuesday served for example of what Pollock is targeted on.
“Just keep working, doing what I’m doing,” he mentioned.
“You want to help the ballclub win. Whatever I can do I’m going to do.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com