CHICAGO -- White Sox players dig the long ball, as do their entertained fans, especially since the All-Star break.
Their total of 42 homers leads the Majors during that time, with four of the next five teams at the top of that list being playoff contenders. But it wasn’t about clearing the fences during a five-run fifth against Detroit starter Jack Flaherty during a 9-6 victory Tuesday at Rate Field, which improved the South Siders to 12-11 since the Midsummer Classic.
Instead, they knocked out six singles and drew two walks to take control of this American League Central contest.
“When we make the little things happen, take good at-bats, play good defense, the game is gonna take care of itself,” said first baseman Miguel Vargas, who walked twice, including in the fifth, in his return from the 10-day injured list due to a left oblique strain. “The homers come when you get really good at-bats, and that’s what happened today.
“We got really good at-bats. Guys make mistakes and you take advantage of them.”
Stop us if you’ve heard this Colson Montgomery story before, but the White Sox shortstop once again played a key role in the team improving to 44-76 overall. With Chicago and the Tigers deadlocked in that eventual five-run fifth, the bases loaded and one out, Montgomery lined a single to right-center off Flaherty.
Montgomery was down 1-2 in the count but connected on a fourth straight knuckle curve offered up by Flaherty, hitting a bit of a hanger from the veteran after making the adjustment. The White Sox hope these stories continue to come for the team’s No. 3 prospect, per MLB Pipeline.
His 26 RBIs since the All-Star break are second to Kyle Schwarber at 28. Montgomery has driven in at least one run in 15 of 23 games after the All-Star break, while adding in solid defense overall up the middle.
“Great adjustment there,” White Sox manager Will Venable said of Montgomery’s game-altering at-bat. “He was able to get through that at-bat and get a pitch and not miss it. That’s what it’s going to take, those in-at-bat adjustments. Really nice job there and obviously a big knock.”
“I’m very happy for him that he’s doing well. But for me, I’m just glad and admire what they are doing here,” Vargas said of Montgomery and his fellow young teammates. “When I see all these guys come from the Minor Leagues, I expect them to be really good, so for me it’s no surprise.”
Edgar Quero’s seventh-inning home run off Codi Heuer, who began his career with the White Sox, was the only one of the team's 13 hits that went for extra bases. They have homered in nine straight games and 19 of their past 20.
This contest began with Quero using a torpedo bat, which Montgomery has used recently to great success. He broke that bat in his second trip to the plate, so he went deep with a return to his regular bat. But Quero doesn’t plan on giving up on the torpedo.
“I’ll come back with the torpedo tomorrow,” Quero said. “I feel more comfortable. It’s a bigger barrel. I have more chance to hit the ball. Especially [since] it’s a little heavy at the end. That’s what I need for my lefty swing.”
Yoendrys Gómez, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Charlotte earlier in the day, struck out a career-high seven over five innings in his first big league start, leading to Venable talking about another start for the right-hander. When that start will come is unknown, with the White Sox trying to manage innings for their young hurlers and not announcing their pitching plans beyond Shane Smith in Wednesday’s series finale.
Mike Vasil, Tyler Alexander, Gómez and maybe even Tyler Gilbert figure to be unavailable in relief, even with an off-day on the horizon Thursday. The White Sox are third in baseball with 130 runs scored since the All-Star break, helping to offset some of the pitching issues working behind the youthful fire and energy behind this developing talent.
“You guys can see after the All-Star break, we have been crushing the ball,” Quero said. “Hitting a lot of homers, extra bases, playing really good baseball.
“Like I said in Spring Training, and I remember when I talked to you in the offseason, I said young players coming in hungry. We are going to play hard and we are going to win,” added Quero, referring to a December offseason interview with MLB.com. “That’s what I see right now.”