Robert powers White Sox past Royals in 10 after Cueto's gem
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Luis Robert hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning after Johnny Cueto's impressive Chicago debut, and the White Sox defeated the Kansas City Royals 5-3 on Monday night in the opener of a five-game series.
Yasmani Grandal also had a two-run shot for the White Sox, who squandered a 3-0 lead in the eighth.
Robert connected off Scott Barlow (2-1) with two outs, scoring the automatic runner as well.
The 36-year-old Cueto pitched six shutout innings in his first major league start this season after getting promoted from Triple-A Charlotte. He allowed just two hits and two walks, striking out seven. Only one runner reached second base against him.
Cueto, a two-time All-Star, made his first appearance on the Kauffman Stadium mound since throwing a two-hitter for Kansas City against the New York Mets in Game 2 of the 2015 World Series. He was acquired from Cincinnati just before the trade deadline that year and played a key role in the Royals winning the World Series.
Ryan Burr (1-1) worked a scoreless ninth and Liam Hendriks earned his 10th save in 13 tries.
Barlow got five outs without giving up a hit until Robert went deep.
Brad Keller also was solid for Kansas City. He allowed three runs and eight hits in seven innings — with many of the hits coming on soft contact.
The White Sox got their first run on a sacrifice fly by Andrew Vaughn in the third. Adam Engel led off with a fly ball that dropped between left fielder Andrew Benintendi and center fielder Michael A. Taylor. Engel then stole second and scored on Vaughn's fly to right.
Grandal made it 3-0 when he lined an 0-2 pitch into the right-field bullpen. He drove in Robert, who extended his hitting streak to a career-high 14 games with an infield single.
The Royals tied it in the eighth. Whit Merrifield lined a two-run double off the wall in left-center. He went to third on the throw home and scored on a single by Benintendi.
TRANSACTIONS
Chicago selected Cueto's contract and optioned INF Danny Mendick to Charlotte. Cueto agreed to a minor league deal with the White Sox in April. His contract includes a $4 million salary in the majors and a $210,000 salary in the minors. He went 0-1 with a 5.17 ERA in four starts with Charlotte.
Cueto spent the past six seasons with San Francisco, going 7-7 with a 4.08 ERA in 22 games, 21 starts, for the Giants last year.
UP NEXT
The teams play a scheduled split doubleheader Tuesday.
The White Sox will send RHP Dylan Cease (3-1, 3.55 ERA) to the mound in the opener and wait until after that game to determine who will get the ball for the nightcap. Chicago manager Tony La Russa said it's possible RHP Lucas Giolito (2-1, 2.70) could return from the COVID-19 injured list.
The Royals will have Jonathan Heasley (0-1, 2.70 ERA) pitch one game and Brady Singer (0-0, 6.35) the other. Kansas City manager Mike Matheny had not announced the order.
