KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Luis Robert hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning after Johnny Cueto’s impressive Chicago debut, and the White Sox defeated the Kansas City Royals 5-3 on Monday night in the opener of a five-game series.
Yasmani Grandal also had a two-run shot for the White Sox, who squandered a 3-0 lead in the eighth.
“It was an important win for us,” manager Tony La Russa said.
Robert connected off Scott Barlow (2-1) with two outs, scoring the automatic runner as well.
“I was just looking to make good contact and drive in that run,” Robert said. “The first pitch he threw me was a breaking ball. I was prepared for a fastball, but he threw me a breaking ball. I just hit it hard.”
The 36-year-old Cueto pitched six shutout innings in his first major league start this season after getting promoted from Triple-A Charlotte. He allowed just two hits and two walks, striking out seven. Only one runner reached second base against him.
“That’s the Johnny Cueto you’ve seen,” La Russa said. “He’s so deceptive. His fastball plays harder. He spots it. He’s down with a soft one and then he throws one by you. That shows you his talent. The number one thing we needed from him was to give us a chance to win. To go six shutout innings is more than you can (hope for). But you can’t be surprised. That’s what he has been his whole career.”
Cueto, a two-time All-Star, made his first appearance on the Kauffman Stadium mound since throwing a two-hitter for Kansas City against the New York Mets to win Game 2 of the 2015 World Series. He was acquired from Cincinnati just before the trade deadline that year and played a key role in the Royals’ championship.
“Throughout my career I have always put special emphasis on my first start of the season,” Cueto said. “I did it today. I was excited. I was facing a young team, a team that I used to play with. I knew this was a good team, too.”
Ryan Burr (1-1) worked a scoreless ninth and Liam Hendriks earned his 10th save in 13 tries.
Barlow got five outs without giving up a hit until Robert went deep.
Brad Keller also was solid for Kansas City. He allowed three runs and eight hits in seven innings — with many of the hits coming on soft contact.
The White Sox got their first run on a sacrifice fly by Andrew Vaughn in the third. Adam Engel led off with a fly ball that dropped between left fielder Andrew Benintendi and center fielder Michael A. Taylor. Engel then stole second and scored on Vaughn’s fly to right.
Grandal made it 3-0 when he lined an 0-2 pitch into the right-field bullpen. He drove in Robert, who extended his hitting streak to a career-high 14 games with an infield single.
The Royals tied it in the eighth against Kendall Graveman. Whit Merrifield lined a two-run double off the wall in left-center. He went to third on the throw home and scored on a single by Benintendi.