Robert homers for 4th straight game, White Sox beat Guardians 8-3

By: Matt Carlson, The Associated Press Posted: 10:00 PM CDT Tuesday, May. 16, 2023 Last Modified: 10:52 PM CDT Tuesday, May. 16, 2023

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CHICAGO (AP) — Luis Robert Jr. homered for the fourth straight game, Gavin Sheets and Jake Burger went deep off Shane Bieber in Chicago’s six-run fifth inning, and the White Sox beat the Cleveland Guardians 8-3 on Tuesday night.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 16/05/2023 (898 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Lance Lynn (2-5) allowed three runs — one earned — on seven hits in seven innings. He struck out seven and walked none.

Robert’s solo shot to deep left in the eighth was his AL-leading 12th homer of the season. He became the first White Sox player to homer in four consecutive games since Matt Davidson in 2017.

Chicago White Sox's Gavin Sheets celebrates his three-run home run off Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Shane Bieber with Andrew Vaughn during the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 16, 2023, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

In 14 games in May, Robert is hitting .408 (20 for 49) with seven homers and 15 RBIs.

“He got a good pitch up in the zone and he’s not missing those right now,” Chicago manager Pedro Grifol said. “And they’re going a long way. He’s shrinking this ballpark, he’s shrinking any ballpark right now.”

Sheets’ three-run shot and Burger’s two-run drive were among six straight hits by the White Sox with two outs in the fifth as Chicago jumped ahead 6-0.

“You’ve got a matchup like Lance and Bieber going at it and both guys were throwing the ball really well,” Sheets said. “So to have that inning was huge for us.”

Bieber (3-2) was charged with six runs, five earned, on 12 hits in 4 2/3 innings.

“It was a weird, weird game,” Cleveland manager Tony Francona said. “The first four innings he scattered hits, but kept them off the scoreboard, kind of typical Bieber style. Bobbed and weaved a little bit, but made pitches.

“Then we got two quick outs (in the fifth) … and it was like the roof caved in.”

Yoán Moncada and Andrew Vaughn each had two hits and an RBI for the White Sox.

Cleveland’s Steven Kwan drove in runs with a sacrifice fly and a double.

The Guardians played without All-Star third baseman José Ramírez, who was placed on the bereavement list before the game. Francona said Ramírez isn’t expected to rejoin the Guardians until they begin a three-game series at the New York Mets on Friday.

Ramírez, batting .285 with four homers and 22 RBIs, traveled to the Dominican Republic following the death of his grandmother.

Lynn retired the first 11 Cleveland batters before Josh Naylor singled to right with two outs in the fourth. Naylor, who took Ramírez’s No. 3 spot in the batting order, exited in the sixth inning with left leg tightness.

Myles Straw led off the eighth against Lynn and reached on a throwing error by shortstop Tim Anderson. He scored on Kwan’s double, which ended Lynn’s night. Kenyan Middleton relieved and allowed two infield singles that plated the second unearned run charged to Lynn.

GUARDIANS MOVES

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Shane Bieber delivers during the first inning of the team's baseball game against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Cleveland recalled INF Brayan Rocchio from Triple-A Columbus to take Ramírez’s roster spot. Rocchio made his major league debut when he pinch-hit for Naylor in the sixth and reached on an infield single. He stayed in the game to play third as Gabriel Arias shifted to first.

HENDRIX WATCH

White Sox closer Liam Hendriks, recovering from stage-4 non-Hodgkin lymphoma, is expected to make another rehab appearance for Triple-A Charlotte on Thursday, Grifol said. There’s still no timetable for the 34-year-old Australian right-hander’s return to the majors.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Indians: Francona said he’d know more on Wednesday about the extent of Naylor’s injury, sustained when he dived after a ball. … RHP Aaron Civale (oblique strain) is expected to throw 50 pitches in a rehab assignment for Triple-A Columbus on Thursday. … Francona said RHP Triston McKenzie, (teres major strain) is expected to be assigned “somewhere” to pitch on Saturday.

White Sox: Returned LHP Garrett Crochet (Tommy John surgery) from his rehab assignment from Charlotte and optioned RHP Nick Padilla. The 6-foot-6 Crochet, who hasn’t pitched in the majors since Oct. 1, 2021, was expected to be available from the bullpen. … OF/DH Eloy Jiménez (appendectomy) ran in the outfield and ran the bases on Tuesday.

UP NEXT

Cleveland RHP Peyton Battenfield (0-4, 4.45 ERA) starts against Chicago RHP Mike Clevinger (2-3, 4.79) on Wednesday night.

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