Luis Robert Jr. changed the game for the White Sox with one sixth-inning swing. Robert crushed a first-pitch curveball near the bottom of the zone for a 470-foot, game-tying home run to left-center field to kickstart a quiet Sox offense.
Following Robert, first baseman Andrew Vaughn was hit by pitch before shortstop Paul DeJong swung at a sinker in the middle of the zone for a two-run home run to give the Sox the lead for good in Saturday’s 11-3 win.
After battling and forcing long at-bats, the Sox finally got to right-hander Cal Quantrill, who allowed five earned runs. The offense stayed on the attack and scored six runs off the Rockies’ relievers.
“Offense was great,” starter Jonathan Cannon said. “Just a terrific job.”
Saturday’s performance showcased the raw talent that Robert possesses. The comeback started with him. He has the athleticism, raw power and defensive aptitude to impact a team.
“When Robert’s Robert, it affects everybody around him, let alone him doing damage and putting us on the board,” manager Pedro Grifol said.
Robert has seven home runs and 17 hits since returning from the injured list on June 4 from a right hip flexor strain. He’s also slashed .203/.292/.481.
But in high-leverage situations, Robert raises his game and has slashed .300/.417/.800 entering Saturday’s game. Robert is arguably the team’s best position player because of his proficiency at the plate and in the field. His biggest challenge is staying on the field.
But when he has it going like he did Saturday, he can be a difference-maker.
“He changes the game late, and that’s the mark of a superstar,” Grifol said.
Saturday’s win was the Sox’ first series win since May 14-15 against the Nationals. According to Elias Sports Bureau, there’s no official designation on how many games constitute a series, but a makeup game doesn’t retroactively apply to the previous series, so the Sox’ win Thursday against the Braves doesn’t count toward their series from April 1-3.
To win Saturday’s series-clinching game, the Sox needed all three phases to be in sync. The offense delivered with four homers — third baseman Lenyn Sosa, Robert, DeJong and catcher Korey Lee — and 12 hits. Cannon struggled early on because he was leaving pitches up in the zone.
The hard contact led to fly balls that required his outfielders to make plays. Robert, in particular, had an impressive diving grab in the second inning off a lineout by third baseman Ryan McMahon. Robert sprinted to his right before completing the sliding catch.
“Thank god I always have the ability to play good defense,” Robert said through an interpreter. “That’s something that is always there in my game. Even when my offense is not there, I always can rely on my defense. I take pride in that.”
The lineout had an expected batting average of .490.
“When that ball was hit for sure, in my mind, that was a sure double,” Grifol said. “I know he slid, but he caught it easy. The jumps and just what he does out there, and what he does out there is he pushes the other two guys [outfielders] to the corner, so we’re able to cover more down the line.”
Robert’s clutch play is a reminder of how high his ceiling is. He said he hopes the team can start to build on performances, and that starts with him being dialed in consistently.
“When the game is on the line, and you’re facing their best in the back end of the pen, he performs,” Grifol said.