3-run home run by Tim Elko lifts the White Sox to 4-2 victory -- and series win -- against Marlins

LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune on May 11, 2025

Published in Baseball

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CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox called up Tim Elko on Saturday for a power boost.

It didn’t take long for the designated hitter to deliver.

Elko connected for a go-ahead three-run home run in the sixth inning — the first hit of his major-league career — to lead the Sox to a 4-2 victory against the Miami Marlins on Sunday in front of 16,805 at Rate Field.

“It was a great feeling,” Elko said. “I want to come here and help us win games and do whatever I can to do that and I was able to contribute today and check a few other boxes too, which felt great.”

Elko went 1 for 3 in his second big-league game. He batted with the score tied at 1 and runners on first and third with one out in the sixth. Facing 2022 National League Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcantara, Elko crushed a 1-0 curveball well over the left-field wall.

“He’s a great pitcher and he made some good pitches,” Elko said. “That’s baseball sometimes. I just was trying to be on time for a fastball that third at-bat, felt like I had been a little late and I was just able to stay back on that curveball.”

Elko became the first Sox player to have a home run serve as the first hit of his MLB career since Braden Shewmake on March 30, 2024, against the Detroit Tigers.

“That was a good one, I’m happy that he was able to come through there,” manager Will Venable said. “That was awesome. Great moment for him. Obviously a huge hit. Big moment in the game. Nice way to end the series.”

The Sox (12-29) took two of three from the Marlins despite missing center fielder Luis Robert Jr. and third baseman Miguel Vargas for the second straight game. Robert has been dealing with right knee soreness, while the right calf area has bothered Vargas.

The Sox also concluded Sunday’s game without Venable and hitting coach Marcus Thames, who were both ejected by home plate umpire Bill Miller after arguing a called strike on a 1-1 pitch to Chase Meidroth in the fifth inning. According to MLB Statcast, the pitch was low and out of the zone.

“It was just one of those things where the frustration was building for some of the guys on some of the calls,” Venable said. “It was an emotional moment for a second. It happens.

“In that moment, just give Chase the opportunity to get back in the box and compete and just wanted to do what we can to win a game.”

Meidroth eventually doubled, but was stranded at second base.

Elko made sure the Sox brought the runners home an inning later. Matt Thaiss began the sixth with a single. He advanced to third on a one-out single by Joshua Palacios.

That brought Elko to the plate.

“I was just trying to get a ball in the air and score that run from third,” Elko said, “and (I) hit it well enough to get it out of the park.”

After tearing up Triple-A with 10 home runs in 31 games this season, Elko had a “pretty good feeling” the ball was gone off the bat.

“I saw the left fielder drifting back, so I got a little bit nervous,” Elko said, “but then, yeah, I saw it go out.”

Elko enjoyed the reception upon returning to the dugout.

“They tried to give me the silent treatment at the very beginning of it, and then they mobbed me, which was pretty cool,” he said.

He planned on giving the baseball to his mother, making for a special gift on Mother’s Day.

“It’s a cool moment for sure,” Elko said.

Pitcher Yoendrys Gómez added to the 26-man roster

The Sox added pitcher Yoendrys Gómez to the 26-man roster before Sunday’s game while optioning reliever Caleb Freeman to Charlotte.

The Sox claimed Gómez, 25, off waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday.

He is 1-1 with a 6.28 ERA, one save and 11 strikeouts in nine combined relief appearances between the New York Yankees and Dodgers this season. He was designated for assignment by the Dodgers on May 6 after being claimed off waivers from the Yankees on April 25.

“Moving around hasn’t been easy,” Gómez said through an interpreter before Sunday’s game. “But you also understand that this is a business and you have to be grateful for every opportunity that each team is giving you.

“I’ve had ups and downs. I think there’s still room to improve. I just need to keep working and just going out there and doing my job.”

During parts of three major-league seasons with the Yankees and Dodgers, Gómez is 1-1 with a 4.88 ERA, one save and 25 strikeouts in 15 career relief outings.

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