Luis Robert hit a two-out, two-run home run in the 10th inning and the Chicago White Sox defeated the host Kansas City Royals 5-3 in the first game of a five-game series Monday night.
The two clubs will play a day-night doubleheader Tuesday.
Ryan Burr (1-1) pitched the ninth for the win.
Kansas City’s Scott Barlow (2-1) came on in the ninth and retired the White Sox in order. He then retired the first two batters in the 10th, keeping designated runner Josh Harrison at second. However, Robert’s 425-foot blast changed everything.
Liam Hendriks picked up his 10th save by striking out all three batters in the bottom of the 10th.
Johnny Cueto made a spectacular return to Kansas City, pitching six scoreless innings for the White Sox, allowing just two hits. It was Cueto’s White Sox debut after his contract was purchased from Triple-A Charlotte earlier Monday.
It was Cueto’s first appearance at Kauffman Stadium since he pitched a complete-game victory over the New York Mets in Game 2 of the 2015 World Series as a member of the Royals. He came to the Royals just before the trade deadline in 2015 for three players. He starred down the stretch and went 2-1 in the postseason for Kansas City.
Kansas City starter Brad Keller also pitched well, allowing three runs on eight hits in seven innings.
The White Sox got on the board in the third on a sacrifice fly by Andrew Vaughn. Adam Engel led off with a flyball to left-center that seemed to confuse the Royals outfielders as it dropped between left fielder Andrew Benintendi and center fielder Michael A. Taylor for a double. Engel then stole third and scored on Vaughn’s flyout to right.
Robert led off the fourth with an infield single, extending his hitting streak to a career-high 14 games. He scored when Yasmani Grandal lined an 0-2 pitch into the bullpen in right field.
The Royals tied it in the eighth, with two runs coming on a double by Whit Merrifield, who missed a home run by a few feet. He went to third on the throw home and scored on an RBI single by Benintendi.
–Field Level Media
