Luis Robert Jr.’s Standout Performance Helps Mets Overcome White Sox

In the third inning, Luis Robert Jr. faced an overturned call that initially seemed to end his at-bat. This decision provided Robert, now a New York Mets outfielder, another chance with a 2-2 count against Chicago White Sox starter Luis Castillo. On his second chance, Robert hit a two-run home run.

Mets left fielder Luis Robert Jr. rounded the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the White Sox on August 22, 2026, at Rate Field. “Good for him in that situation,” Castillo said through an interpreter, acknowledging Robert’s successful challenge.

Robert then homered again in the seventh inning. The Mets defeated the Sox 10-5 at a packed Rate Field, drawing a crowd of 30,705. “It feels good to hit homers against any team,” said Robert through an interpreter. The context added satisfaction given his past career with the Sox. After six years with Chicago, Robert was traded to the Mets during the offseason.

Robert’s performance included going 2-for-5, with two home runs and three RBIs. The Sox manager, Will Venable, recognized Robert’s impact. The loss left the Sox, first in the American League Central, leading the Cleveland Guardians by 3½ games. Chicago allowed five home runs, with Castillo giving up two. Castillo struggled, conceding four runs on eight hits over 2⅔ innings. “As an athlete, we have good days and bad days,” Castillo remarked, indicating his readiness to rebound.

The Mets took an early lead, with Bo Bichette hitting a solo home run in the third, bringing the score to 2-1. Robert’s two-run homer extended the lead to 4-1, which was followed by a walk and a single, forcing Castillo out of the game. “He threw strikes, just wasn’t able to finish guys,” Venable explained, pointing out Castillo’s difficulty in capitalizing on favorable counts.

The Sox narrowed the gap to 4-3 during a chaotic third inning. Tristan Peters hit a solo home run when Mets fielder Carson Benge, trying to make a catch, collided with the right-field fence, inadvertently allowing the ball to clear the wall. Later, Benge contributed in the fifth, homering as part of a three-run inning against reliever Tyler Schweitzer.

White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami struck out in the fifth. Despite efforts to close the gap, the Sox managed only one run each in the fifth and sixth innings, leaving the bases loaded both times. They finished with a disappointing 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position. “We did a good job getting traffic and base runners, but didn’t get that big hit,” Venable commented.

Colson Montgomery and Andrew Benintendi had near-miss opportunities that failed to change the outcome. The Sox ended with nine hits and seven walks, but stranded 11 runners. “Frustrating last few days,” Peters noted, referencing hard-hit balls caught by opposing players.

Adding to the Mets’ lead, Robert hit a solo home run in the seventh, followed by a two-run homer from Luis Torrens in the ninth off Trevor Richards. Robert’s last multihomer game had been two years earlier. “He’s really talented,” Venable mentioned, recognizing Robert’s capacity to capitalize on defensive mistakes.