Luis Robert Jr. spent Tuesday’s pregame discussing the changes to what he’s carrying when he’s on base.
But it was an adjustment he made on the plate within the seventh inning that had everybody speaking at Wrigley Field.
Robert hit a go-ahead dwelling run within the seventh, main the Chicago White Sox to a 5-3 win towards the Cubs within the City Series in entrance of 40,389.
Robert swung-and-missed a slider earlier in his at-bat. He noticed one other slider later within the at-bat and hit the house run to provide the Sox a 4-3 lead. The Sox added a run within the ninth to take the opener of the two-game collection.
Robert loved each second after hitting the house run as Sox followers cheered and Cubs followers booed.
“(Julian Merryweather) was throwing hard and I was too aggressive in that at-bat,” Robert mentioned. “The pitch that I swung-and-missed, the fans started making jokes. I didn’t like that. That’s why when I hit the ball, I did what I did.”
Sox supervisor Pedro Grifol appreciated how Robert adjusted all through the at-bat.
“The good thing about him is makes adjustments quick,” Grifol mentioned. “He’ll swing at a pitch like that within the filth (earlier within the at-bat) and he’ll chase a pitch like that and he’ll make the adjustment and search for that very same pitch up within the zone.
“He’s pretty damn good when he stays in the strike zone.”
Robert went 2-for-5 in his return to the lineup after lacking time with a sprained proper pinkie finger.
The damage occurred on Aug. 9. The middle fielder had been carrying a sliding mitt on his left hand for cover when he was on base.
He tried to steal third base within the third inning towards the New York Yankees. The throw beat him to the bag, however Robert mentioned that’s when his instincts took over. He did a swim transfer along with his left hand, averted the tag and sneaked his proper hand in safely.
Unfortunately for Robert, he jammed his proper pinkie finger within the technique of the play and left the sport within the fourth inning.
Robert missed the weekend collection towards the Milwaukee Brewers with a sprained proper pinkie finger, aside from pinch operating on Friday.
He was again within the beginning lineup Tuesday and he wore sliding mitts on each arms.
Robert didn’t see any modifications with carrying the 2 mitts, with one exception, joking he’d have to determine methods to take off his helmet.
Robert mentioned by way of an interpreter earlier than Tuesday’s sport that he’s “not 100%, but I think I can play.”
“My goal this year is to play as many games as I can,” Robert mentioned. “I received’t let any minor points or soreness or stuff maintain me out of the sector. I’m going to do every part in my energy to play daily and have a powerful end to the season.
“That’s my goal, to try to be able to finish this season strong and if I have to get extra treatment before the game to be able to play, I’ll do it because that’s my goal.”
He mentioned his grip on the bat “feels good.”
“I think with the heat of the game, everything’s going to go well,” Robert mentioned. “I don’t think I’m going to have any problems.”
He confirmed no ill-effect Tuesday, additionally testing out the 2 mitts after reaching base on a single within the first.
He crushed Merryweather’s slider within the seventh for the 422-foot dwelling run. It was his thirty second of the season, which ranks second within the American League.
“As (long) as I can have a good grip of the bat and I can swing the bat well, it’s going to be OK,” Robert mentioned after the sport.
Grifol mentioned earlier than the sport Robert had been “craving to get back in.”
“It was just the right thing to do not to push this thing (during the weekend) and all of a sudden turn it into a two-week stint as opposed to three, four days,” Grifol mentioned. “He’s going to go out there, he’s going to feel it a little bit, he won’t be 100%. But I’m in agreement with him, I think the adrenaline, playing here, the pain will subside a little bit. But he’s still going to have some pain.”
Robert is slashing .273/.326/.568 with 30 doubles, 32 dwelling runs and 65 RBIs.
He has additionally used his legs for 16 stolen bases.
“I’ve talked to him all year about stealing bases,” Grifol mentioned. “And I said, ‘Look, bases that don’t mean that much to us, I want you to stay away from. Bases that are going to help us win games, those are the ones I want you to steal.’ Will that eliminate probably 15 to 20 a year? Maybe. But I also want to keep him healthy. A lot of his injuries have been diving headfirst. So he’ll wear the double mitt.”
Grifol added: “I’ve never been one to try to limit or talk about not playing the game aggressively. That’s when guys get hurt. We’ve had this discussion for years and years whether guys should dive in headfirst, feet first. You know what? Just go play the game. Be careful, but go play the game and don’t try to slow down, because that’s when you’re really going to get hurt.”
Robert tried to play by way of a wrist damage late final season, at instances primarily swinging with one hand. Grifol doesn’t anticipate any such points with the pinkie.
“I don’t think (there will be an effect) in the field,” Grifol mentioned. “There’s been a bit of little bit of that hitting. I don’t assume it’s going to be like final yr, although. I bear in mind from the opposite aspect (because the Kansas City Royals bench coach) it, it seemed like he was in some ache, particularly on the follow-through the place he simply would launch the underside hand and simply end with the highest hand.
“I don’t think that’s where we’re at.”
And because the seventh inning confirmed, Robert was able to go.
“You enjoy playing in this crowd and a full stadium, full house,” Robert mentioned. “The rivalry. The atmosphere in this rivalry is always going to be there.”
Tim Anderson scratched with neck stiffness
The Sox made a lineup change lower than an hour earlier than the primary pitch on Tuesday, as shortstop Tim Anderson was scratched with neck stiffness. Elvis Andrus moved from second base to shortstop and Zach Remillard performed second.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com