KANSAS CITY, Mo. — — Eloy Jiménez logged his first big hit of the season, launching a go-ahead, three-run homer in the eighth inning that sent the Chicago White Sox over the Kansas City Royals 5-3 Tuesday night.
The 24-year-old slugger, who was the 2019 AL Rookie of the Year and then kept up his power surge during the pandemic-shortened season, tore a pectoral muscle in spring training. He hadn’t played in the majors until going 0 for 4 Monday night.
But Jiménez quickly made up for lost time in his second game. After hitting a single in his first at-bat, he came up in the eighth after a two-out intentional walk to Jose Abreu with Chicago trailing 3-2.
Jiménez connected for a 459-foot drive to left-center off Kyle Zimmer (4-1) to cap a four-run rally.
The Royals wasted a stellar effort by Brad Keller, who allowed one run on four hits over seven innings. He pitched on his birthday for the first time in his professional career as he turned 26.
The Royals will send LHP Kris Bubic (3-4, 4.72 ERA) to the mound Wednesday at 7:10.