Derek Hill’s pinch-hit homer in the 8th lifts the Chicago White Sox to a 6-5 win: ‘That’s what I’m here for’
· Yahoo Sports
The third pinch hitter was the charm Tuesday for the Chicago White Sox.
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The Sox entered the eighth inning tied with the Kansas City Royals. They had a string of left-handed hitters due up against left-handed reliever Matt Strahm.
So began the parade of right-handed pinch hitters. Switch hitter Edgar Quero was first, subbing for Andrew Benintendi. Strahm got Quero to fly out to left field.
Randal Grichuk was called on next to hit for Jarred Kelenic. Grichuk hit a hard grounder to shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., who made a nice diving stop and throw for the second out.
Photos: Chicago White Sox beat Kansas City Royals 6-5 in series opener
Derek Hill then hit for Tristan Peters — and Hill made the most of the opportunity, hitting a 1-1 low slider over the left-center-field wall for a home run. That served as the difference as the Sox held on for a 6-5 victory in front of 13,256 at Rate Field.
“It’s a blessing,” Hill said. “That’s kind of my role over here and a lot of guys’ roles over here. They are able to put us in the right spot to succeed, and tonight was one of those nights.
“It’s my job. That’s what I’m here for. So it would be an insult to my teammates and the staff if I wasn’t ready.”
Hill said of manager Will Venable’s late-game maneuvering: “He always plays chess. I feel like he’s been making incredible moves all year. You see it play out in our favor more often than not. Tip my cap to him as always.”
Venable credited Hill for being prepared for the situation.
“That’s the really tough part of the job,” Venable said. “You don’t know when these opportunities are going to come, and sometimes there’s a lot of space between opportunities and you’ve just got to stay ready.
“Derek does a great job making sure that he’s prepared, the things he does before the game and then during the game to put himself in a position to take advantage of opportunities.”
It was Hill’s second pinch-hit homer this season — the first came against the San Diego Padres on May 3 at Petco Park — and the third of his career.
“I’ve got a really good game plan the training staff and strength coaches have given me to prepare my mind and body to go out and succeed,” Hill said. “I just think of it as next man up. If not me, then the next guy behind me. That’s how we roll over here.
“I was just glad God was able to put me in that spot and help me come through and give all glory to him.”
Hill didn’t just shine the plate. He remained in the game at right field and made a diving catch on a sinking liner by Witt for the first out of the ninth.
He said his mindset on the play was: “Don’t let it get by you. … That’s an inside-the-parker (if it gets by) because he flies.”
Hill then tracked down Salvador Perez’s fly ball in foul territory to end the game.
“I can’t say enough good stuff about Derek,” second baseman Chase Meidroth said. “He’s the man. Talk to him every day about at-bats. That was unbelievable, what he does. That guy prepares with the best of them every day. He’s one of the most professional guys I’ve ever played with.
“He’s a dog. You saw that today in what he can do on the field. As cool as that home run was, I love that diving catch.”
Hill’s home run was one of three for the Sox. Drew Romo hit a solo shot to begin a five-run fifth. Meidroth capped the inning with a three-run homer, giving the Sox a 5-2 lead.
The Royals responded with three in the sixth against reliever Tyler Schweitzer to tie the score. Hill broke the tie in the eighth, and the Sox (20-21) went on to collect their third straight victory.
“Oh, my God, it’s the most fun I’ve ever had playing baseball,” Hill said of this season with the Sox. “It’s incredible. Every guy is pulling from the same side, whoever gets called up, traded over here, it doesn’t matter. Everybody is pulling from the same side in this clubhouse.”