After a cold start at the plate, Luis Robert Jr. says he’s “getting closer” to his All-Star form.
A day after showing signs of emerging from his April doldrums with a 415-foot home run (his fourth of the season), Robert went 2-for-5 with two singles and two strikeouts. But he also grounded into a bases-loaded double play early and fanned in the ninth inning of the White Sox’ 6-4 loss to the Brewers on Wednesday.
“It’s just a work in progress; I think I’m getting closer,” Robert said after the game Tuesday.
While the bat has been lacking, Robert has made an impact with his legs and glove.
He had his American League-leading 12th stolen base against Milwaukee, and the 2020 Gold Glover also has played well in center field.
But Robert’s anemic .170 batting average and .288 on-base percentage have been a glaring disappointment made all the more apparent at the heart of a lineup severely lacking in power.
Robert chalked up the slow start to a steady stream of strong opposing pitchers and his own inability to exploit their mistakes. Warmer weather and a healthy dose of patience will help, he said.
“That’s the only explanation I can find right now,” he said. “Once I start punishing those pitches, my offense is going to be good.”
Meanwhile, Robert also has shown an uncharacteristically disciplined eye in the batter’s box early with 17 walks, more than half the free passes he racked up last season.
That’s added value for a runner who’s “calculated and fearless” on the basepaths, Sox manager Will Venable said.
‘‘I’m excited,’’ Venable said, ‘‘especially when he starts getting on base more and starts doing his thing offensively, what he can do as far as stealing bases and putting pressure on the defense. It’s been great to watch.”
Q comes home
A smile spread across Brewers left-hander Jose Quintana on Tuesday night as he looked out on the diamond where he made his second career start in 2012.
“When I see this field, all the memories I have here — that’s amazing,” said Quintana, who, a couple of rebuilds ago, was pegged for a Big Three rotation alongside Chris Sale and Carlos Rodon.
“I always remember [former Sox pitching coach] Don Cooper and such a great group around me.’’
It didn’t work out for that squad before the blockbuster trade that sent Quintana to the Cubs and Eloy Jimenez to the South Side.
Quintana is off to a red-hot 4-0 start with a 1.14 ERA that could soon put the 2016 All-Star back in the conversation to go to the Midsummer Classic as a 36-year-old.
“I think it would be a really big message for baseball,’’ he said. ‘‘Guys my age can be in an All-Star Game and continue to be good. I want to go.’’
Quintana won’t pitch against the Sox, but he’s likely to square off against the Cubs this weekend in Milwaukee.
Montgomery’s ward
A week of individual work at Camelback Ranch could be just what slumping shortstop prospect Colson Montgomery needs to shake off his extended funk at the plate, outfielder Andrew Benintendi said.
Montgomery, the White Sox’ top draft pick in 2021 and No. 4 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, was sent from Triple-A Charlotte to the desert Tuesday as a dismal start to the season has seen him slash .149/.223/.478.
“When I was back in Boston and I’d be going through a tough time, they’d sit me down for, like, four or five games in a row just to kind of breathe a little bit and reset,” said Benintendi, the Red Sox’ first-round pick in 2015. “I’m sure that’s what he needs. He’ll come back better for it.”
Three and out
After serving as the opener in three of the Sox’ last four games, lefty Tyler Gilbert was optioned to Charlotte to make room for Fraser Ellard, who returned from a 15-day stint on the injured list.
Gilbert was the first major-league pitcher since 2021 to open that many games in such a short time frame.
“Gilbert’s done a great job, and there’s going to be a time real soon that that changes and he’s going to be back here helping us out,” Venable said. “It was just kind of the odd guy out.”
Contributing: Kyle Williams, Steve Greenberg