Leury unleashes in first multi-homer game
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CHICAGO -- One of the White Sox Garcias hit two home runs during San Diego's 6-3 victory Friday night at Guaranteed Rate Field.
It was not Avisaíl García, who stands 6-foot-4, 240 pounds, although he knocked out two hits to raise his average to .347. It wasn't Willy García, who checks in at 6-foot-2, 215 pounds.
Leury García, the smallest of the trio at 5-foot-8, did the damage. He kept the White Sox close by driving in all three runs.
"I feel pretty good," said Garcia, who produced his first career multi-homer game. "Like I said before, when you play, you get more at-bats. Just try to put the ball in play and swing at strikes and see what happens."
"He did a nice job and had some really good at-bats, very productive at-bats," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. "We're very happy to see that, and hopefully it continues."
With Tim Anderson gone for the weekend to attend his close friend's funeral in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Leury moved to shortstop Friday. His eyes light up when talking about a return to his natural position, although he certainly didn't want to return under such tragic circumstances.
And it didn't take long for Garcia to show a proficiency at the spot, throwing out Hunter Renfroe trying to go from second to third with one out in the second on Allen Córdoba's grounder.
"I know the guy that was hitting, he can run a little bit," Garcia said. "When I saw the runner coming, I just went to third. Wherever they put me in the lineup, I just play."
"It's the same role," Renteria said. "He's going to play in center or short or we're trying to find spots that he's going to field. Obviously he's very talented and can play multiple positions."
Friday's three-hit effort extended Leury's hitting streak to five games, with a .400 average during that stretch. His two-run shot to right in the third -- with an exit velocity of 100.9 mph and a launch angle of 28 degrees, per Statcast™ -- and his solo blast in the seventh were Garcia's most impressive feats. But he's thriving in 2017 with a regular chance to play.