CHICAGO -- The White Sox didn't take long to score against Cleveland starter Adam Plutko on Tuesday night at Guaranteed Rate Field with Yoan Moncada and Yolmer Sanchez hitting back-to-back home runs to start the game. The early run support set the tone, as the White Sox went on to a 5-1 win.
Moncada connected on a 2-1 fastball for his ninth home run of the season and fourth career leadoff blast, all of which have come this season. Sanchez followed with another home run on the next pitch, his fourth, marking the fourth time the White Sox have gone back to back this season, and first since June 3 against the Brewers when Daniel Palka and Adam Engel did the damage.
"I went into that at-bat with an aggressive mentality, to be more aggressive in that at-bat," said Moncada, through interpreter Billy Russo, of his leadoff drive. "As I said before, everything is part of the process.
"I've been working hard, and I'm going step by step. I have plenty of confidence in my approach. I'm pretty sure and pretty confident that things are going to turn out and going to be in my favor now."
It was the first time the White Sox hit back-to-back home runs to open the first since Alen Hanson and Sanchez against Tampa Bay on Sept. 2, 2017. It was the fourth time in franchise history with Ray Durham and Jose Valentin connecting on July 4, 2000, vs. the Royals and Boze Berger and Mike Kreevich doing the same on Sept. 2, 1937, against Boston.
According to Statcast™, Moncada's 429-foot drive to center had an exit velocity of 102.7 mph. Sanchez's 427-foot homer had an exit velocity of 105.9 mph.