Luis Robert ended the first half with a whimper, but he's starting the second half with a bang.
The White Sox' top prospect has homered in each of the first three games after the All-Star break, a rapid departure from his 0-for-15 slump before it. He's 5-for-14 with a walk and three steals to go along with the power outburst in Chattanooga.
Robert is doing a fine job stoking his own hype, but Chicago Sun-Times columnist Steve Greenberg framed it for some back-page action in newspaper stands. But he also went a little deeper and explored the state of Robert's existence, including his assimilation into American culture.
English is, for now, something of an opponent. Robert speaks it only sparingly. This isn’t always the greatest thing in the Deep South, where it’s “always tough outside the ballpark,” he said. Hotel check-ins on road trips cause Robert particular angst. It’s hard enough sometimes to gather the gumption to approach the front desk. When a clerk starts in with questions, things have a way of going haywire.
“Definitely in the beginning, it was tough to come over here and not know anybody, not to understand, and hearing people talk and not understanding what they were talking about,” he said. “But I’m starting to get a lot more comfortable. I’m able to understand a lot more things. I feel a lot more comfortable with my teammates, being able to communicate with them more.”
Charlotte 11, Louisville 4 (Game 1, 9 innings)
- Danny Mendick went 2-for-5 with a strikeout, and was caught stealing.
- Daniel Palka went 1-for-3 with a walk and a sac fly.
- Yermin Mercedes was 2-for-4 with two doubles and a strikeout.
Charlotte 7, Louisville 6 (Game 2, 9 innings)
- Danny Mendick homered, walked and struck out twice.
- Jon Jay went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts.
- Daniel Palka and Seby Zavala both were 1-for-4 with a homer.
- Kyle Kubat's Triple-A debut: 5 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 1 HBP
Birmingham 11, Chattanooga 2
- Luis Robert homered for the third straight game during a 3-for-6 night, striking out once. He also stole two bases.
- Nick Madrigal went 2-for-4 with two walks and a steal.
- Luis Gonzalez was 2-for-5 with a double, walk and two strikeouts.
- Gavin Sheets went 2-for-4.
- Blake Rutherford went 2-for-5 with a double and two strikeouts.
- Laz Rivera, 2-for-5 with a triple and a stolen base.
- Lincoln Henzman: 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HBP
Lynchburg 8, Winston-Salem 6 (10 innings)
- Steele Walker went 1-for-5 with a double and a strikeout.
- Carlos Perez, 1-for-4.
More:
*The magic of minor-league baseball:
Augusta 8, Kannapolis 1
- Lenyn Sosa went 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout.
- Bryce Bush singled and struck out thrice.
- Corey Zangari went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.
- Golden sombrero for Luis Curbelo.
- Amado Nunez went 1-for-3 with a strikeout and a stolen base.
- Jason Bilous: 4 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 5 BB, 3 K
Great Falls 8, Missoula 6
- Cabera Weaver went 2-for-4 with a walk, strikeout and a CS.
- Ditto Kelvin Maldonado.
- Luis Mieses was 2-for-5 with a strikeout.
- Harvin Mendoza, 1-for-3 with a double, two walks and a strikeout.
- Lency Delgado was 1-for-5 with two strikeouts.
- Sam Abbott went 0-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout.
- Kleyder Sanchez, 1-for-4.
- Camilo Quinteiro went 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout.
- Ramon Pineda: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
AZL Indians Blue 7, AZL White Sox 3
- Misael Gonzalez went 0-for-4 with a strikeout.
- Samil Polanco, 1-for-4 with a triple and a K.
- Jose Rodriguez and Anthony Coronado both were 0-for-4 with a K.
- D.J. Gladney went 1-for3- with a walk.
- Bryan Ramos was 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.
- Josue Guerrero, 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout.
- Yoelvin Silven: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K
DSL White Sox 7, DSL D-backs1 6
- Anthony Espinoza went 2-for-4 with a double.
- Benyamin Bailey, 2-for-4 with a strikeout.
- Cesar Jimenez went 2-for-4 with a stolen base.
- Ronaldo Guzman: 3 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 1 HBP
