The Chicago White Sox are leading the American League’s Central Division heading toward the month of August, with a seemingly comfortable 9 1/2 game lead. However, this year’s version of the Sox are winning differently than in 2020. That difference is most notable in the power department, where 106 home runs marks the 2nd-lowest in the American League for Chicago, ahead of just the 103 from the Kansas City Royals.
With Chicago in Kansas City on Tuesday night, facing a potential second-straight loss to the upstart Royals, Eloy Jimenez provided a power boost in the 8th inning for the White Sox, sending a Kyle Zimmer delivery 459 feet for a go-ahead three-run homer, in a 5-3 victory. The loss snapped a six-game winning streak for the Royals, with Zimmer saddled with the loss, dropping his record to 4-1.
The swing by Jimenez was big in more than one way for Chicago, as the 24-year old slugger had missed all of the 2021 season after tearing his pectoral muscle in spring training. Making his return to the lineup on Monday night, Jimenez had a quiet 0-for-4. The story was different on Tuesday, with Jimenez, starting in left field, cracking a single in his first at-bat, before hitting the go-ahead dinger in the 8th, immediately after the Royals intentionally walked reigning MVP Jose Abreu.
Reynaldo Lopez earned the win in relief, with Liam Henricks earning his 25th save. For Kansas City, the bullpen struggles cost Brad Keller an opportunity for a win, after the veteran right-hander sending seven strong innings, giving up one run on only four hits. For Chicago, starter Dylan Cease gave up two earned runs and six hits over six innings, walking one and striking out six.
On Sunday afternoon, the Royals announced the completion of signing all 21 selections made in the recent first-year player draft, inking 17th round catcher Luca Tresh of North Carolina State. Kansas City signed as undrafted free agents, left-handed pitchers Parker Harm (North Dakota State) and Leo Palacios (Central Arizona) and first baseman Dillan Shrum from the University of Nevada-Reno.
Here is the MLB Scoreboard for Tuesday, July 27, 2021:
Miami Marlins 7, Baltimore Orioles 3
St. Louis Cardinals 4, Cleveland Indians 2
Texas Rangers 5, Arizona Diamondbacks 4
Colorado Rockies 12, Los Angeles Angels 3
San Diego Padres 7, Oakland Athletics 4
Toronto Blue Jays at Boston Red Sox (PP – RAIN)
New York Yankees 4, Tampa Bay Rays 3
Detroit Tigers 6, Minnesota Twins 5 (11)
Houston Astros 8, Seattle Mariners 6
Washington Nationals 6, Philadelphia Phillies 4
Milwaukee Brewers 9, Pittsburgh Pirates 0
Atlanta Braves 12, New York Mets 5
Cincinnati Reds 7, Chicago Cubs 4
San Francisco Giants 2, Los Angeles Dodgers 1
