Johnny Cueto pitched a number of huge video games at Kauffman Stadium, topped by a World Series begin for the Kansas City Royals in 2015.
The right-hander was again on the ballpark — and again within the majors — Monday with the Chicago White Sox.
He was terrific in his Sox debut, permitting two hits with seven strikeouts and two walks in six scoreless innings.
“Throughout my career, I always have put a special emphasis on my first start of the season,” Cueto stated by way of an interpreter. “I was facing a young team, a team that I used to play with, and I was excited.”
Cueto didn’t determine within the choice after the Royals tied the sport with three runs off Kendall Graveman within the eighth. But Luis Robert hit a two-run homer within the tenth and Liam Hendriks struck out the facet for a 5-3 Sox victory.
It was the second time in three video games Robert delivered the clutch hit. He drove within the game-winning run Saturday in opposition to the New York Yankees with a single within the ninth.
He hit an 0-1 Scott Barlow slider Monday over the center-field wall to place the Sox forward.
“I was just trying to make good contact to drive in that run and I was able to do it,” Robert stated by way of an interpreter.
Robert’s blast made positive Cueto’s effort wasn’t wasted.
“That’s the Johnny Cueto you’ve seen,” Sox supervisor Tony La Russa stated. “He’s so misleading and regardless of the fastball is, it performs tougher and he spots it. He’s down and smooth, after which swiftly he throws one by you.
“To be that sharp just shows you his talent and the work that he did to get ready.”
Cueto signed with the Sox as a minor-league free agent April 8.
“It’s a young team with a lot of talent,” he stated. “You can see they have a very good chemistry here.”
After he made 4 begins with Triple-A Charlotte, the Sox bought his contract.
It didn’t take lengthy for Cueto to impress as he struck out the facet within the first. He retired the primary 9 batters — placing out 5 — earlier than surrendering a single to Whit Merrifield to start the fourth.
He wrapped up his outing by placing out Salvador Perez with two on to finish the sixth.
“That’s what I work for,” Cueto stated. “I know that I need to save energy through my outing. And then once I know that my last balls are going to be thrown, then I just go for more.”
His 81-pitch outing (55 strikes) was simply what the Sox wanted as they started a five-game, four-day sequence in opposition to the Royals.
“You can’t be surprised because that’s what he has been his whole career,” La Russa stated.
The 36-year-old Cueto went 0-1 with a 5.17 ERA and 17 strikeouts with Charlotte.
“It was good,” he stated of the Charlotte expertise. “I just took it like spring training. I didn’t have a regular spring training. … I just built up my strength and my pitches and the last time I threw (82 pitches). I was ready.”
Cueto is 135-97 with a 3.45 ERA in 330 appearances (329 begins) throughout a 14-year profession with the Cincinnati Reds (2008-15), Royals (2015) and San Francisco Giants (2016-21).
He is a two-time All-Star (2014, 2016), completed second in National League Cy Young Award voting in 2014 and is 2-4 with a 4.54 ERA in eight profession postseason begins. He made 4 begins within the 2015 postseason with the World Series champion Royals.
“I said hello to him and then I told him I still feel the effects of Game 5 in the 2015 (American League) Division Series,” Sox starter Dallas Keuchel stated earlier than Monday’s recreation. “He stuck it to us pretty good (when I was) with the (Houston) Astros and he got traded over to the Royals.”
Cueto allowed two runs on two hits and struck out eight in that playoff recreation on Oct. 14, 2015, a 7-2 Royals win.
“He’s one of the best to do it for over a decade,” Keuchel stated, “and it’ll be nice to watch him on (our) side now.”
Cueto went 7-7 with a 4.08 ERA in 22 outings (21 begins) for the Giants in 2021.
Lucas Giolito was initially scheduled to pitch Monday, however he was positioned on the COVID-19-related injured listing Friday. Giolito started experiencing signs Wednesday.
“The good part of it is all the signs are looking up on (Giolito),” La Russa stated. “He’ll pitch in the series, whether it’s (Tuesday) or make an adjustment for Wednesday. That’s the good news. We’re going to wait and see.”
La Russa stated Dylan Cease will begin the primary recreation of Tuesday’s doubleheader. Game 2 is to be decided. Vince Velasquez and Keuchel are the possible Sox starters Wednesday and Thursday.
Cueto is predicted to be an element within the rotation going ahead.
“We would be disappointed if he’s not,” La Russa stated earlier than the sport. “And we don’t expect to be disappointed. He’s done enough since he’s reported to Arizona (for extended spring training) and what he’s shown in Charlotte (that) we expect him to be helpful.”
Cueto is able to help on and off the sphere.
“Just keep working hard and try to help the team,” he stated. “Try to help the young guys here and see what little things are waiting for us.”
In Monday’s corresponding roster transfer, the Sox optioned infielder Danny Mendick to Charlotte. Mendick is 5-for-23 (.217) with two doubles, one residence run and three RBIs in 11 video games throughout two stints with the Sox this season.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com