PITTSBURGH — Edgar Quero and Luis Robert Jr. helped the Chicago White Sox return from the All-Star break with a bang.
Quero hit a solo home run as part of a three-run first inning. Robert had an RBI single in the first, made a spectacular diving catching in the third inning and hit a solo home run in the fourth.
Quero, Robert and starter Jonathan Cannon made key contributions in a 10-1 rout of the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday in front of 28,899 at PNC Park.
“We’ve talked about coming in here (offensively) and getting on the fastball, controlling the zone — I thought we did a tremendous job of that,” manager Will Venable said.
“And then Jonathan was great on the mound. (Against the Pirates), it’s about controlling the strike zone as well and pounding the zone — they’ve got a bunch of guys who do a really good job controlling the zone. (Cannon) did a great job filling it up and throwing strikes.”
Cannon allowed one run on five hits with two strikeouts and no walks in seven innings.
“I think me and (Quero) did a good job of game planning,” Cannon said. “We knew that we were going to use the sinker a lot today. And so to be able to execute those and get some quick outs, get some early outs was definitely huge.
“Feels like I’ve been kind of battling through five (innings) the last couple starts with some elevated pitch counts and long innings. So to go out there and trust myself, trust my fastball and really just trust the defense. The defense played unbelievable behind me tonight. Really focusing on throwing that first-pitch strike and getting ahead of guys.”
Cannon received run support early.
Quero homered to left field with two outs in the first.
“Three-one count and I know (Pirates starter Bailey Falter is) coming with a fastball,” Quero said. “First inning, just trying to be on time with the fastball and make a good swing.”
Miguel Vargas walked and then scored on a Andrew Benintendi double. Robert drove in Benintendi with a single, extending the lead to 3-0.
The Pirates threatened in the second after back-to-back one-out singles gave them runners on the corners. Left fielder Michael A. Taylor then made a sliding catch to rob Spencer Horwitz of an RBI single. Oneil Cruz remained at third on the play. Ke’Bryan Hayes then grounded out to third baseman Colson Montgomery.
White Sox starter Jonathan Cannon tips his hat toward Luis Robert Jr. after the center fielder made a nice catch in the third inning against the Pirates on July 18, 2025, in Pittsburgh. (Justin Berl/Getty Images)
Robert made his diving catch to take away a potential extra-base hit from Isiah Kiner-Falefa leading off the third.
“I knew it was a very difficult ball, but every time I go after a ball I think I have a chance,” Robert said through an interpreter. “In this case, I was able to make that catch.”
White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr. high-fives teammates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run in the fourth inning against the Pirates on July 18, 2025, in Pittsburgh. (Justin Berl/Getty Images)
Robert then led off the fourth with his 10th home run of the season, giving the Sox a 4-0 lead.
“The homer I think it was a pitcher’s mistake, it was a pitch in the middle of the zone,” Robert said. “I was able to take advantage of that. The (first-inning single), I just was able to barrel on the ball and that’s what you want to do.”
Added Venable: “That’s Luis right there, that’s how we envision him on a daily basis. We understand the impact that he can have, how dynamic he is. He just put himself in a really good position at the plate to be on time. Got really good swings on some good pitches to hit, didn’t miss them.
“And the defense was outstanding too. Back to running, had a stolen base. Good to see Luis running around out there.”
A two-run double from Montgomery in the sixth inning made it 6-1. The Sox added four more runs in the seventh. Taylor had a three-run double in the inning.
Taylor (three), Robert (two), Andrew Benintendi (two) and Montgomery (two) led the way in terms of RBIs. Montgomery, Robert, Benintendi and Quero each had two hits.
“That’s what you like to see — in every phase, I thought we did a great job,” Venable said.
Originally Published: July 18, 2025 at 10:17 PM CDT