Mercedes' 431-foot HR gave Rod¨®n a cushion
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CHICAGO -- For the first time during the 2021 season, Yermín Mercedes was not the story of the night during an 8-0 White Sox victory over Cleveland on Wednesday at Guaranteed Rate Field.
That honor belonged to starting pitcher Carlos Rod¨®n, who retired the first 25 hitters he faced and ended with the 20th no-hitter in franchise history. So Mercedes' fifth multi-hit game in 10 played for the White Sox this season flew a little under the radar.
But Mercedes no longer is Major League Baseball¡¯s best kept secret after having reached base in all but one of his games played and all nine of his starts. The rookie designated hitter finished 3-for-5, including a three-run home run during a six-run first against Cleveland starter Zach Plesac, leaving his average at .500 for the season.
Offensive success for Mercedes almost has become commonplace.
¡°It¡¯s always been commonplace for me,¡± said White Sox catcher Zack Collins of Mercedes, after being behind the plate for his first no-hitter ever. ¡°When I played with him in [Triple-A] Charlotte, I knew he would always hit. What he¡¯s doing now is pretty cool, but I am not surprised at all.¡±
That first-inning homer had an exit velocity of 111.2 mph and traveled 431 feet, per Statcast. Mercedes is 19-for-38 overall, with three home runs, six runs scored, three doubles, 10 RBIs, only four strikeouts, a .548 on-base percentage and an .816 slugging percentage.
The White Sox as a group had seven hits in the first inning off Plesac. In three starts against the White Sox last season, Plesac allowed 12 hits and four earned runs over 20 2/3 innings.