CHICAGO (AP) — Tim Elko's first big league hit was a homer — and a decisive one at that.
Elko's three-run shot in the bottom of the sixth inning put the Chicago White Sox ahead to stay, and they went on to a 4-2 victory over the Miami Marlins on Sunday.
Elko hit .348 for Triple-A Charlotte this season, with 10 home runs in 31 games. After receiving his call-up to the majors, the 26-year-old first baseman made his big league debut Saturday.
He was the designated hitter Sunday when he connected to break a 1-all tie against Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara.
“I want to come here and help us win games and do whatever I can to do that," Elko told MLB.com. "I was able to contribute today and check a few other boxes, too, which felt great.”
The White Sox rebounded from a four-game sweep at the hands of Kansas City, taking two of three against Miami. Elko isn't one of their top 30 prospects per MLB Pipeline, but given the way he hit at Triple-A it's possible he can help Chicago's offense.
The White Sox have been held to one or fewer runs 11 times already in 2025. And nobody in the American League has scored fewer on the year than Chicago.
Alcantara is 2-5 with an 8.10 ERA after allowing four runs in 5 2/3 innings. He retired one more batter after Elko's homer, but the 2022 Cy Young Award winner has made it through six innings only once in eight starts this season.
This story has been corrected to show that Elko's first name is Tim, not Mike.
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Chicago White Sox's Tim Elko, front right, is doused by teammates after a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Sunday, May 11, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)
Chicago White Sox's Tim Elko rounds the bases after hitting a three-run home run against the Miami Marlins during the sixth inning of a baseball game Sunday, May 11, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo blocked a shot by LeBron James and stole the ball from him on consecutive possessions in the final minute, and the Milwaukee Bucks blew a fourth-quarter lead before rallying for a 105-101 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.
Kevin Porter Jr. scored 22 points, and he hit two free throws to break a tie after Antetokounmpo blocked a driving layup attempt by James with 39 seconds left.
Antetokounmpo then knocked the ball out of James' hands from behind with 2 seconds left, and Porter hit two more free throws to seal Milwaukee's fifth win in seven games — its first over a team with a winning record since Dec. 11. Antetokounmpo finished with 21 points in his lowest-scoring effort since returning from his right calf strain.
Luka Doncic had 24 points and nine assists on 8-of-25 shooting for the Lakers. He had his lowest-scoring performance since Christmas, and he fouled out on Porter's 3-point attempt with 16.2 seconds to play.
James had 26 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds, but Antetokoumpo got the best of the top scorer in NBA history at crunch time. Los Angeles has lost six of 10.
Milwaukee surged to a double-digit lead in the first half even with Antetokounmpo on a minutes restriction in his injury return. Doncic scored 12 points in the third quarter but also committed four fouls in the period, including his fifth of the game.
Los Angeles abruptly erased its deficit by going on a 17-4 run to open the fourth, with James putting the Lakers ahead when he stole the ball from Antetokounmpo for a layup with 6:02 left. Milwaukee missed nine of its first 12 shots in the period, but Porter's layup tied it with two minutes left.
Lakers starters Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura remain sidelined by injury, but Hachimura (calf) might return early next week from his six-game absence, coach JJ Redick said.
Bucks: At Denver on Sunday.
Lakers: At Sacramento on Monday.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart, left, tries to shoot as Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Trent Jr. defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, left, and Milwaukee Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. go after a loose ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
