CHICAGO -- Eloy Jiménez had 39 home runs and 98 RBIs over 146 career games entering Friday’s series opener against the Cubs.

But none have been more significant for the White Sox left fielder than the two-run shot in the top of the ninth inning he connected for at Wrigley Field on June 18 of last season. The broken-bat drive came off Pedro Strop, broke a 1-1 tie and marked the first career homer hit by Jiménez on the North Side.

Having been originally signed by the Cubs, Jiménez always thought that long ball would be coming for the home team, until he was moved to the White Sox as part of the 2017 José Quintana deal.

“You know it’s special,” said Jiménez during a Friday Zoom. “My first game at Wrigley Field. I was dreaming of that, hit a home run here.

“Not against them, but after they traded me, I said, ‘Oh, yeah. I want to hit it against them.’ First game homer. It was a really good experience. It’s going to be a really good memory for me for the rest of my life.”

Jiménez wasn't about to be left out when the White Sox mashed six home runs during a 10-1 rout Friday night. He hit his 40th career homer on a solo shot in the seventh -- and it resonated, traveling 466 feet.

Jiménez and his White Sox teammates are the up-and-comers in this rivalry, but they find themselves in a great position to take that next step forward. That step will come with future big moments produced by the 23-year-old, who still frequently gets asked or sees video of last season’s homer.

When asked Friday about keeping mementos from that night, Jiménez briefly lowered his mask and flashed his trademark smile.

“What can you see on my face?” Jiménez said. “I have everything. I have the ball. I have the bat.

“I saved the batting gloves. I have pretty much everything that I used that game. So I hear about it a lot, but that’s in the past. Today is another page. We are just going to play hard and see what happens.”

Moncada gets a night of rest
It might not have been a popular decision among the White Sox fan base, but third baseman Yoán Moncada did not start Friday’s contest against the Cubs. Moncada has nine RBIs over his last eight games, but he also is 5-for-27 in those last eight and 12-for-57 with one double, three homers, 10 RBIs and seven walks in his last 15.

Moncada had a positive COVID-19 test as part of the intake process, and the White Sox continue to manage his workload.

“Absolutely, we're constantly keeping our eye on how he's moving around the bases and how he's reacting,” White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. “Just in having conversations, it was probably a good idea right now to give him a little break today.

“He's still available to us, but we want to manage those legs. These guys are very strong, and they can push themselves, and maybe I can just help them kind of calm it down a little bit, let those legs cool off a little bit and be ready for some big moment, maybe today or tomorrow.”

Robert returns with a bang
After missing the final two games of Chicago's four-game sweep of Detroit at home, Luis Robert returned to the White Sox lineup Friday. He wasted no time making his presence felt, blasting a two-run home run in the second inning.

Robert injured his right wrist diving for a fly ball in left-center during Tuesday’s victory. Robert has dealt with thumb and wrist issues previously during his time with the White Sox.

“When I landed on my right hand, my wrist kind of stuck below my body,” said Robert through interpreter Billy Russo. “I was a little sore there, but it was just because of the impact that I took with my right hand.

“I was worried about my hand, especially about how my hand would react the next day, because I experienced that before. The next day it was fine, and I was very happy, because I didn't feel any pain. That was good.”

Third to first
• The White Sox have recorded multiple five-plus-game winning streaks in one season for the first time since 2016 (three).

• In 19 games played against the American League Central, the White Sox have a 12-7 record.

• Reynaldo López, who threw a side session Monday for the White Sox, is in line to make Saturday’s start. No confirmation was given prior to Friday’s game.

They said it
“It is very important to have a good pitch selection. If you are able to recognize and select a good pitch, you're going to be able to create more damage and be more productive. That's the mindset we have right now as a team.” -- Robert, on his offense and cutting down on chasing pitches out of the zone

“I got ice in my veins.” -- Jiménez, on why he points to his arm after hitting home runs

"Well, victories. At the end of the day, on a daily basis, we've got to worry about today, but victories are the ultimate measure of where you're at and what you're doing.” -- Renteria, on what beating the Cubs would mean