White Sox 11, Twins 1: Eloy Jimenez continues his reign of terror in Luis Robert’s return

White Sox win

After a convincing sweep of their inner-city rival, the Chicago White Sox, before tonight’stonight’s game, continued the good vibes with the return of Luis Robert. Missing since May 2nd due to a hip injury, Robert had an excellent start to 2021, hitting .311/.357/.467 and produced 1.0 fWAR in 25 games.

In an odd twist, Robert was making his first start against the Minnesota Twins in 2021. Before Opening Day, there was much excitement to see two stars roaming in center field for both the White Sox and Twins. Thanks to injury, only Robert would appear in this season’s rivalry. At the same time, Byron Buxton continues to deal with health setbacks of his own.

Facing Beau Burrows, who was the Twins opener, Tim Anderson got Robert’s return party started in style with a leadoff home run. That set the tone as the White Sox would go on to win, 11-1.

Anderson hit a leadoff home run in back-to-back games was the second time he’s accomplished the feat. Last year in Detroit, Anderson hit a leadoff home run in the August 17 and 18 games. While Anderson repeated that accomplishment, the inning seemed like a repeat of yesterday’s game against the Chicago Cubs. After a Cesar Hernandez walk, Eloy Jimenez demolished a high slider for a two-run homer.

Still, in the first inning, Brian Goodwin doubled to allow Robert to bat. On a high fastball, Robert chased after it resulting in a high pop fly over shallow right field. Twins’ first baseman, Miguel Sano, was tracking the fly ball, and while it appeared he was in position to make the catch, he instead saw the ball drop out of the glove. Goodwin hustled to score, and Robert slid safely into second base on Sano’s error.

Already up 4-0, Jimenez continued his reign of terror. After Anderson reached on a single and Hernandez was walked for the second time, Jimenez turned on a high fastball pulling into the left-field bleachers. With his fourth home run in two games, Jimenez put the White Sox ahead 7-0.

Robert would make it an eight-run lead in the fifth inning. Yoan Moncada singled through the shift and was still standing on first base with two outs. Facing lefty Charlie Barnes, Robert didn’t waste any time hitting a line drive towards center field. Twins outfielder Jake Cave made a late attempt at a diving catch, but the liner fell to the ground resulting in an RBI double for Robert. His first base hit since May 2nd.

Not to be lost was how well Lucas Giolito pitched. After a rough outing at home against Kansas City last week, Giolito was zeroed in keeping the Twins off the scoreboard. Hitless through four-inning, Luis Arraez picked up the Twins’ first base knock that deflected off Giolito’s shin for an infield single. White Sox training staff and coaches visited the mound to ensure Giolito was alright and could keep weight on his plant leg.

The comebacker probably didn’t feel great, but Giolito kept dominating. Facing the minimum through seven innings, Giolito got a quick out to start the eighth when Sano stepped up to the plate. Falling behind 3-1, Giolito made a great pitch throwing a slider that hit the outside corner to put the count to full. Unfortunately, the next slider caught too much of the plate, and Sano crushed it for a solo home run.

Despite that blemish, Giolito punched out Ryan Jeffers with his 103rd pitch of the night. In eight innings, Giolito only allowed one run while striking out eight and walking none.

Yoan Moncada hit a 443-foot solo home run in the ninth inning, putting a cherry on top of the evening.

Game Notes:

  • Every White Sox hitter reached on base. 
  • Brian Goodwin added a sacrifice fly to make it 9-0 in the seventh inning.
  • Tim Anderson picked up another RBI with a single in the eighth inning.

Record: 67-46 | Box Score | StatCast

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Joliet Orange Sox

The bit about Eloy joining Lee May in baseball history made me think of Carlos May, Lee May’s younger brother. Carlos May was a Sox first round draft pick in the early days of the draft who made it to majors quickly. He wore number 17 so the back of his uniform said May 17 which was his birthday. As a 21-year-old rookie in 1969, he was having a great year when he was involved in a mortar accident while on a reserves weekend in early August and had to have his right thumb partially amputated ending his season. He still managed to finish 3rd in the 1969 AL Rookie of the Year voting with several first place votes despite not playing after the first week of August (Lou Piniella was the AL ROY that year).

May went on to be a fixture for the Sox in the first half of the 70’s (the red pinstripe uniform days) playing mostly LF. He was the regular first-baseman during the 1971 season before the Sox made an offseason trade for some other guy whom I don’t remember to play 1b in 1972.

Last edited 2 years ago by Joliet Orange Sox
GrinnellSteve

I cried myself to sleep the night he blew off his thumb.

I’ve hated Piniella ever since he stole Carlos’ ROY. Even with the partial season, May had better numbers.

Pointerbabe

I actually still have a couple of Carlos May giveaway photo mugs. Carlos was the best.

roke1960

I got a picture with Carlos at Soxfest in 2020. He was one of my favorite players of all time.

gibby32

I got to know Carlos during multiple fantasy camps, and have shared golf outings, meals and phone calls with him since then. I am pleased to report that he is also a wonderful guy.

mikeschach

Thanks for the trip down memory lane. My older sister was born on the base at Camp Pendleton 13 years earlier where my father had been a navy chaplain and I used to tease her that the Carlos May accident was only the second disaster that had occurred there. On a more serious note, I remember being devastated by his accident as he looked like the first potential superstar of my young fandom. Considering how good he was with his limited grip, he probably would have made it. And on a related note (hahaha), unfortunately the nephew didn’t inherit the hitting genes.

Joliet Orange Sox

Jacob May is Lee May’s grandson. I recently posted that Jacob May was the most overmatched hitter I’d seen on the Sox in recent years. That said, for a 39th round draft pick like Jacob May to ever see the major leagues is a testament to his hard work and perseverance.

On another note, Lee May was part of the biggest trade I remember from my youth. Lee May was the main player Houston received in the trade that brought Joe Morgan and Cesar Geronimo to the Reds to become pieces of the offensive juggernaut that was the Big Red Machine. It’s a trade that would never be made today because Lee May’s counting stats were overvalued and Joe Morgan’s defense and obp were undervalued (a topic that came up in a recent discussion of the Lemon/Kemp trade). Morgan’s power also went way up after the trade due to some combination of leaving the cavernous Astrodome and reaching his prime.

texag10

To be fair, Tim did waste a little bit of time. It took him 5 whole pitches to hit a leadoff home run this game. I also appreciated the Twins trying to help build Robert’s confidence up by flailing at would be outs until he could get a no doubt hit of his own.

LamarHoyt_oncrack

In becoming fastest Sox player ever to 50 homers, I hope it is not too overzealous to say I like Eloy’s chances at having a better career than Ron Kittle.

To Err is Herrmann

Having both Eloy and Luis back is like rain in the desert after a long drought. It is amazing to think how the White Sox bench, AAA prospects and a cast of castoffs kept this team going in their absence. I wasn’t thrilled with the hiring of Tony La Russa at the time, but he is one great juggler of lineups. I think the standard comment that he knows how to put players in a position to succeed is true. We are 21 games over .500. We have as good a shot to win the AL pennant as anyone. That’s pretty good — pretty, pretty, pretty good.

LamarHoyt_oncrack

As a fellow LD/Curb fan, appreciate the reference!