Chicago White Sox rough up rookie with four consecutive home runs
Taking advantage of a pitcher making his major league debut, the Chicago White Sox hit back-to-back-to-back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Third baseman Yoan Moncada started Sunday's uprising against rookie Roel Ramirez with a three-run home run to right center. Catcher Yasmani Grandal, first baseman Jose Abreu and outfielder Eloy Jimenez followed up with solo blasts to give the White Sox a 7-0 lead.
It's just the second time in franchise history the White Sox had four consecutive batters hit home runs. The other instance came on Aug. 14, 2008, when Jim Thome, Paul Konerko, Alexei Ramírez and Juan Uribe did it against the Kansas City Royals.
The Cardinals roster has been severely depleted by a COVID-19 outbreak that kept the team from playing any games for more than two weeks.
Ramirez, 25, was promoted last week from the Cards' alternate training site as the team finally played Saturday for the first time since July 29. The right-hander had a 4.78 ERA over 75 1/3 innings last year at Class AA and AAA.
The last time any team hit four consecutive home runs came last August, when the Washington Nationals did it in San Diego.