White Sox rookie shortstop Colson Montgomery can’t stop hitting home runs.
If only he got to face Twins pitching every day.
Montgomery blasted his third homer in as many days Sunday, following a two-run shot Friday and a grand slam Saturday with a mashed two-run dinger as part of the Sox’ 8-0 blowout.
Montgomery talked all about his power after the Sox’ victory Saturday, perhaps creating a catchphrase by saying ‘‘and then you go boom.’’
He went boom again Sunday, smoking his 13th homer of the season at 112.5 mph.
‘‘When he [squares up] a ball, it goes over the fence,’’ manager Will Venable said after the game. ‘‘When he’s getting the meat of the bat to the ball, it’s going out of the ballpark.’’
Montgomery’s bat came back to life this weekend, and he finished the series with five hits and three homers after a stretch of 14 games that saw him hit .143. All told, has 13 homers in his last 28 games.
But the offensive vibes are high throughout the Sox’ lineup. The South Siders have scored at least seven runs in five of their last six games, including in each game of the series against the Twins. They’ve scored 45 runs in their last six games overall.
At the start of the season, the Sox’ long-term group of position players was somewhat difficult to envision. But a promising young core is starting to emerge at the big-league level, led by Montgomery, who has impressed in his first taste of the majors.
The Sox’ young catching tandem also delivered in the series finale, with Kyle Teel (serving as the designated hitter) and Edgar Quero combining for five singles and five RBI. Infielder Miguel Vargas was on base twice and scored a couple of runs.
‘‘When those guys are playing well, we’re going to have a chance to win some games, and they’re going to be right there in the thick of it,’’ Venable said. ‘‘Obviously, they’re a big part of our future and also give us the best chance to win on a daily basis.
‘‘Those guys, as they’ve continued to make their adjustments throughout the season, have done a really nice job being consistent for us.’’
‘Hit it wherever you want’
Center fielder Luis Robert Jr. has bounced back from a rough start at the plate to have more offensive success since the start of July.
But something that has remained constant has been his high-quality defense, and he showed off the skills that earned him a Gold Glove in 2020 with a pair of spectacular diving catches Sunday.
‘‘Every time that I get done [warming up before an] inning and I turn around and see Luis in center,’’ starter Davis Martin said, ‘‘I’m like, ‘Hit it wherever you want. I know he’s going to go grab it.’ ’’
‘‘I’m just enjoying the moment,’’ Robert said through an interpreter. ‘‘I don’t know for how long I’m going to be here; what matters is today. Today I’m enjoying the moment and enjoying being with these guys.’’