Good finish a priority for Abreu
Shields puts end to two- month skid as Sox top Rays
For the third consecutive season, White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu plans to watch the playoffs from home.
Sure, it probably will sting to watch other players contend for a championship. It won’t feel good to reflect on the Sox’s latest subpar season as Abreu stares at a TV screen showing teams that fulfilled their potential. Still, he will watch. ‘‘ I’m a baseball fan,’’ Abreu said.
On Monday, Abreu gave a smattering of fellow fans something to enjoy. He finished 2- for- 3 with an RBI and a run scored as the Sox rolled to a 7- 1 victory against the Tampa Bay Rays at U. S. Cellular Field.
Right- hander James Shields ( 6- 18) pitched six strong innings to earn his first victory since defeating the Cubs on July 26. He limited the Rays to one run and seven hits, struck out six and walked two.
‘‘ I’m just trying to finish the season strong right now,’’ said Shields, who was 0- 6 in his previous 10 starts. ‘‘ Body feels good, arm feels good, so hopefully I can get another win Saturday to end my season and move into next year.’’
Justin Morneau and Carlos Sanchez each added tworun home runs as the Sox earned their 75th victory. Melky Cabrera notched his 40th double for the first time since 2011.
Abreu, 29, doesn’t know what the Sox will look like when they convene next spring at Camelback Ranch. He ratherwould field ground balls than field questions about rumors of a possible rebuild on the South Side.
A rebuild almost certainly would increase Abreu’s streak of 452 games and counting without a playoff appearance.
‘‘ I can’t really talk about it because it’s none of my business,’’ Abreu said. ‘‘ I don’t have a decision about it. The only thing I can control is to play hard, to try to finish this season strong.
‘‘ That’s a decision that the team has to make. I hope the decision that they make is the best for the team.’’
In the meantime, Abreu is chasing as many victories as possible in the final week of the Sox’ season. The way he views it, if he focuses on helping the Sox win, his individual stats will follow.
Abreu raised his batting average to .299 and notched his 98th RBI with his performance against the Rays. A .300 season with 100 RBI is well within reach.
Such possibilities seemed remote as Abreu staggered toward the All- Star break 2 ½ months ago. But he kept working with assistant hitting coach Greg Sparks to improve his approach. The work paid off, as Abreu has hit .360 with 14 homers and 42 RBI in his last 51 games.
Abreu said the midseason turnaround gives him confidence heading to 2017.
‘‘ You have to do a lot of work during the offseason to keep that momentum,’’ Abreu said.
Can momentum jump from season to season?
Yes and no, manager Robin Ventura said.
‘‘ It’s going to start from zero,’’ Ventura said. ‘‘ The mechanics of it, you’re going to have to start back over. But your mindset — making somewhat of a comeback or a surge in the second half when you didn’t feel it mechanically, which hadn’t happened to him here — I think that’s the biggest thing.
‘‘ You’ve seen him rebound, you’ve seen him make adjustments while he’s up here during the year, and that’s new for him.’’
Abreu knows the excitement that is bubbling eight miles north of U. S. Cellular Field. When the Cubs open the playoffs, he will be watching.
After all, he’s a baseball fan.
‘‘ They have a very good team, and I wish them the best,’’ Abreu said. ‘‘ They have the kind of players, the kind of group, that can accomplish good things.’’
‘‘ I can’t really talk about it because it’s none ofmy business. I don’t have a decision about it. That’s a decision that the team has to make.’’ Jose Abreu, on a possible Sox rebuild