Robert after 2 HR: 'Results have been there'

CHICAGO -- What a difference a player makes.

Or in the case of the 2021 White Sox, make that a player or two. But in talking about their 7-1 victory over the Reds Tuesday night at Guaranteed Rate Field, that player in focus is Luis Robert, who suffered a right hip flexor tear while legging out an infield hit against the Indians on May 2 and was gone until Aug. 9.

Robert hit 860 feet of home runs for the American League Central champs, per Statcast, launching a 415-foot drive in the first and a 445-foot blast in the eighth. Factor in the return of Eloy Jiménez, who suffered a rupture of the left pectoral tendon at the end of Spring Training and didn’t join the White Sox until July 26th, and it’s easy to see a couple of big reasons why the White Sox are optimistic going into their second straight postseason.

“You understand how much we missed him and Eloy in the first half,” White Sox manager Tony La Russa said. “Can’t give our club enough credit for hanging in there. Having those two guys back, it’s a different looking team.”

“There are times which make me feel like you can do everything on the field, and you can dominate. But there are other times where there are things that look harder for you,” said Robert through interpreter Billy Russo. “Sometimes, you can do things very easily and then sometimes, you can't find a way to make things happen. I'm glad that this year, the results have been there for me and I've been consistent with those results."

Yoán Moncada and Gavin Sheets also went deep, with all four home runs clearing the 400-foot mark. This power outburst came in support of Reynaldo López (4-3), who started the AL Central-clinching victory last Thursday in Cleveland.

López allowed one Eugenio Suárez home run over six innings, striking out four, yielding two hits and not issuing a walk. The right-hander is another player who didn’t open the season with the White Sox but has been a key cog since coming from Triple-A Charlotte in mid-July.

The White Sox coaching staff will meet with general manager Rick Hahn on Friday to discuss playoff roster makeup and other playoff topics, per La Russa. López figures to be part of that group, especially with the uncertainty surrounding Carlos Rodón and his sore shoulder.

“That’s something that is not in my hands,” said López through Russo, adding he felt as if he’s done enough to make the playoff roster. “I’m doing all that they are asking me to do and my mindset right now, all I want to do right now is help this team win games.”

After allowing 19 earned runs over 26 1/3 innings last season, López has given up 19 earned runs over 57 1/3 innings this season for a 2.98 ERA. Part of that change has been corrective surgery done on his eyes, but there’s more to his improvement beyond better vision.

“There are too many things that can factor into that success, my eyes and all the learning that I gained, the stuff that’s been passed through,” López said. “It’s that experience and you learn and you’re able to make adjustments.

“I feel much better than before. Much better than in 2018, more confidence in myself, more conviction and of course more experience. That’s the key and I feel like I’m a way better pitcher right now.”

Tuesday’s victory improved the White Sox to 90-68 overall and 50-27 at home. They remained 2 1/2 games behind the Astros for home field advantage in the Division Series of the playoffs, with the Astros literally walking their way to victory against the Rays.

But with a player such as Robert continuing at the top of his game, it might not matter ultimately where the White Sox play in October. Robert is slashing.367/.403/.645 with 13 doubles, 11 home runs, 33 RBIs and 29 runs scored in 39 games since returning from the injured list on Aug. 9.

“I'm trying to just carry this moment to the postseason,” Robert said. “And honestly, that's what everybody in the clubhouse is trying to do, just get there, [do] our best and have a good performance there."

“One of the nice things for Luis is he looks around at the hitters in front of him and behind him, the deeper the lineup, he can just be himself,” La Russa said. “He doesn’t feel like he has to carry anything. That applies to all the guys. Just take their best at-bats.”