Abreu ties Kittle for Sox' rookie home run record
Jose Abreu keeps piling up the records.
The White Sox' first baseman is only the fourth player in major-league history to have 30 or more doubles and home runs and 100 or more RBI as a rookie.
Abreu is trying to become the first rookie ever to finish in the Top 5 in the Triple Crown categories - batting average, homers and RBI.
He was also voted the American League Player and Rookie of the Month in April and July and the Rookie of the Month in June.
In Sunday's 6-4 loss to the Twins at U.S. Cellular Field, Abreu hit his 35th home run, tying Ron Kittle for the franchise rookie record. Kittle hit 35 homers in 1983.
"I'm happy and proud of what has happened, how I've played this season," Abreu said through an interpreter. "I'm thankful to God that I've been able to play and work the way I have and accomplish some of the things I have this season."
Abreu homered in Game 2 of a doubleheader against Minnesota Saturday night, the first time he went deep since Aug. 22.
It's safe to assume his power stroke has returned.
"He's a good hitter, so this isn't a surprise that he hit a home run today," manager Robin Ventura said. "He's been pretty consistent just as a hitter. The power's going to be there. He went through a little stretch where he wasn't hitting many home runs, but it's there. That's part of him learning to go through a full season. Right now, he's as good as anybody in the league."
Twins manager Ron Gardenhire did not disagree.
"He's a good one," Gardenhire said. "That ball he hit today was unbelievable. It was like on a tee, a golf ball sitting on a tee down on the ground, down on his feet. He still got the barrel to it. The kid can really hit. He's got a great set of hands, very quick at the plate and very strong."
Finishing kick:
Even though they are close to being mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, the White Sox were 5-2 on their homestand against Oakland and Minnesota.
"It was great," Adam Eaton said. "Guys came to the park with enthusiasm, taking the out of four from Oakland and taking two (Saturday). We could have easily won this game today, it just didn't fall our way. But the overall enthusiasm in here and the overall drive to finish strong is here."