CHICAGO -- It was an exciting moment worthy of framing for the White Sox in the midst of a season featuring very few high points.
The Cubs and White Sox were tied in the seventh before 40,389 at a raucous Wrigley Field Tuesday night when Luis Robert Jr. connected on a 422-foot blast to left for his 32nd home run and the game-winning shot in a 5-3 victory. When Robert Jr. made contact on a hanging slider from Julian Merryweather, he paused for dramatic effect, spun toward the crowd, and put one finger up to his lips.
Still photos of the moment show at least one Cubs fan returning that one finger to Robert from the stands, albeit in a different position. Such is life in this crosstown rivalry, with the White Sox (48-72) winning their sixth straight on the North Side.
“That was passion right there,” said White Sox shortstop Elvis Andrus of the reaction from Robert. “The fans were saying something funny. That was a way from him to show who’s the boss today.”
“You enjoy playing in this crowd and a full stadium, full house,” said Robert, through interpreter Billy Russo. “The atmosphere in this rivalry is always going to be there.”
This at-bat with Merryweather lasted eight pitches, with Robert chasing a slider well out of the zone to fall behind at 0-2. His reaction upon connection was an answer to those who got on him a little bit after that wild swing.
“The pitch that I swung and missed, the fans started making jokes and booing,” Robert said. “I didn’t like that. That’s why when I hit the ball, I did what I did.”
“He makes adjustments quick,” White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said. “He’ll swing at a pitch like that in the dirt and chase a pitch like that, and he’ll make the adjustment and look for that same pitch up in the zone. He’s pretty damn good when he stays in the strike zone.”
Robert doesn’t consider himself a leader in the classic sense of the word, as he’s not the individual who wants any part of delivering a ‘Win one for the Gipper’ clubhouse speech. In fact, after having already met with the media pregame, he wasn’t exactly rushing to talk again after the South Siders ended a three-game losing streak and handed the Cubs (61-58) a second straight defeat.
But Robert doesn’t need to say much in the clubhouse or the dugout when his actions speak with great volume. He also was playing with ongoing pain in his right pinky, which he sprained stealing third against the Yankees and caused him to miss the Brewers’ weekend sweep at Guaranteed Rate Field.
“I'm going to do everything in my power to play every day and have a strong finish to the season,” Robert said. “That's my goal, to try to be able to finish this season strong and if I have to get extra treatment before the game to be able to play, I'll do it because that's my goal. I try to do my job and be on the field and do the things that we should all push to do and maybe be an example for others. But I don't see myself as a leader.”
If Robert was the star of Tuesday’s show -- marking the White Sox first win in three games against the Cubs this season -- then the bullpen provides a great supporting cast. Four hurlers in relief of Touki Toussaint held the Cubs scoreless over five innings, with rookie Lane Ramsey picking up his first career victory and fellow rookie Gregory Santos showing lights-out dominance in picking up a five-out save.
“We pick each other up. You saw it today,” Toussaint said. “I didn’t go the length. Bullpen came in and picked me up. The atmosphere is more togetherness and going out there and trying to win a ballgame every night. The atmosphere has changed.”
Robert has not changed, aside from the fact he’s getting better by the day.
“He’s very underrated and it’s really not fair to him,” said Toussaint of Robert. “He’s one of the best in the game.”
“I always love seeing passion from players,” Andrus said. “Sometimes people don’t like it, but I love it. It’s part of the game and in the right moment. I have nothing but good things. That’s pimp.”