Chicago White Sox's Engel robs Yankees of another homer
When he joined the Chicago White Sox in late May of last season, Adam Engel was expected to be an offensive player.
Following the 2015 season, Engel was voted Arizona Fall League MVP after batting a sizzling .403.
He posted a solid .260/.341/.400 hitting line over five minor-league seasons, but Engle's bat has been noticeably quiet since he made it to the major leagues.
His defensive skills in center field have kept Engle in the majors.
"He's been a really good defender for us," Sox manager Rick Renteria said. "I think he's an elite defender. He reads balls really, really well and just gives you a lot of coverage."
While his batting average hasn't risen above .231 this season, Engel has managed to keep the White Sox in games with his defense.
The 26-year-old outfielder robbed the Yankees' Greg Bird of a 3-run homer Monday.
In Tuesday night's game against New York at Guaranteed Rate Field, Engel reached over the wall again and took a homer away from Kyle Higashioka.
Not only did the standout play in the fifth inning preserve the Sox's 1-0 lead, it kept starting pitcher Reynaldo Lopez's no-hit bid alive.
The White Sox trailed the Yankees 3-1 in the 10th inning before Jose Abreu's two-out, 2-run homer in the bottom half tied it.
The Yankees went on to win 4-3 in 13 innings. Miguel Andujar's single scored Didi Gregorius from second base with the game-winner off Sox reliever Luis Avilan (2-1).
Mixing a steady 97-mph fastball with an 84-mph changeup and biting curveball, Lopez New York held the Yankees hitless until Aaron Hicks led off the sixth with a double.
Abreu gave the White Sox the early lead with a sacrifice fly in the third inning off New York starter CC Sabathia. Rookie designated hitter Andujar led off the seventh with a home run off Lopez to tie the game.
Lopez had one of his better starts of the season, pitching 7 innings and allowing 1 run on 4 hits.
<h3 class="leadin">Robert returns:</h3>
After missing a month with a thumb injury, top prospect Luis Robert rejoined high Class A Winston-Salem on Tuesday night.
The 21-year-old center fielder led off for the Dash and was 2-for-4 with 2 stolen bases.
<h3 class="leadin">Pitching in:</h3>
There has been an outbreak of position players pitching mop-up relief this season, but Matt Davidson has been thriving in the role.
Davidson made his third straight scoreless less appearance in Monday's 7-0 loss to the Yankees.
While the overall plan is for Davidson to stick to hitting, he has a 92-mph fastball and effective curveball. Equally important, Davidson throws strikes.
"He's doing a really nice job in a difficult situation," manager Rick Renteria said. "He's a position player who's capable of minimizing the damage on the other side in certain situations. He gets us through the work that we need. but it would be premature to say that's where his career is headed."