Luis Robert kept the game alive Sunday when he was ruled safe after a review on a ninth-inning grounder, the fourth time a play at first was overturned. Beyond that odd footnote, it was an encouraging sign of Robert’s health for the White Sox.
“I feel good,” Robert said. “I think I can do all the stuff that I usually do on the field, but I know the team is a little bit concerned. They want to control my running game a little bit, so right now I’m a red light.”
When Robert first suffered the groin injury that cost him two series, he didn’t think it was serious and differentiated it from his torn hip flexor in 2021.
“I was able to walk out of the game,” Robert said. “Last year was different. I was able to walk this time, and it wasn’t the same pain that I had last year. I was not really concerned about it.”
Robert had two hits but is still hitting only .211. He has only taken one walk all year and swung at the first pitch in four of five plate appearances Sunday. But Robert said he feels pretty good at the plate.
“Even though the results are not there, I think I’m hitting the ball well,” Robert said. “Unfortunately, I’m hitting the ball where somebody is there to catch it. But, hey, I’m going to keep trying, and I’m going to try to figure out a way to get the hits.”
Health updates
Yoan Moncada (strained right oblique) was the designated hitter for Triple-A Charlotte and went 2-for-4 with a first-inning home run and a walk. Moncada also didn’t attempt a steal, unlike his debut Saturday.
Joe Kelly (right biceps nerve) began his rehab assignment with the Knights, throwing a scoreless 17-pitch inning with a strikeout.
Back in Chicago, Andrew Vaughn was not in the lineup for a second straight day, but manager Tony La Russa said he has been swinging a bat and is doing much better. There’s a good chance Vaughn will play Monday, La Russa said.
What’s the catch?
Reese McGuire made his 11th start behind the plate, one more than Yasmani Grandal has made. La Russa said Grandal is healthy and that the team wants to keep him fresh for the long haul.
“The fact that Reese has really been impressive, it just improves our chances to win when he plays,” La Russa said. “You can’t run [Grandal] into the ground. You’ll either pay now or pay later for that.”
Grandal, who had offseason surgery on his right knee, hasn’t caught consecutive days since April 8 and 9.
Two down . . .
On Monday, rosters will be reduced from 28 to 26 players, forcing the Sox to trim two players. La Russa said that means there will be “two guys who are very useful that won’t be here, one a pitcher, one a [position] player.”
“I don’t think we’re out of the ‘fingers crossed’ part of our schedule where you feel like guys are stretched out,” La Russa said. “But rules are rules, and as long as everybody has the same ones, [you] make the adjustment.”
