Johnny Cueto pitched several big games at Kauffman Stadium, topped by a World Series start for the Kansas City Royals in 2015.
The right-hander was back at the ballpark — and back in the majors — Monday with the Chicago White Sox.
He was terrific in his Sox debut, allowing two hits with seven strikeouts and two walks in six scoreless innings.
“Throughout my career, I always have put a special emphasis on my first start of the season,” Cueto said through an interpreter. “I was facing a young team, a team that I used to play with, and I was excited.”
Cueto didn’t figure in the decision after the Royals tied the game with three runs off Kendall Graveman in the eighth. But Luis Robert hit a two-run homer in the 10th and Liam Hendriks struck out the side for a 5-3 Sox victory.
It was the second time in three games Robert delivered the clutch hit. He drove in the game-winning run Saturday against the New York Yankees with a single in the ninth.
He hit an 0-1 Scott Barlow slider Monday over the center-field wall to put the Sox ahead.
“I was just trying to make good contact to drive in that run and I was able to do it,” Robert said through an interpreter.
Robert’s blast made sure Cueto’s effort wasn’t wasted.
“That’s the Johnny Cueto you’ve seen,” Sox manager Tony La Russa said. “He’s so deceptive and whatever the fastball is, it plays harder and he spots it. He’s down and soft, and then all of a sudden he throws one by you.
“To be that sharp just shows you his talent and the work that he did to get ready.”
Cueto signed with the Sox as a minor-league free agent April 8.
“It’s a young team with a lot of talent,” he said. “You can see they have a very good chemistry here.”
After he made four starts with Triple-A Charlotte, the Sox purchased his contract.
It didn’t take long for Cueto to impress as he struck out the side in the first. He retired the first nine batters — striking out five — before surrendering a single to Whit Merrifield to begin the fourth.
He wrapped up his outing by striking out Salvador Perez with two on to end the sixth.
“That’s what I work for,” Cueto said. “I know that I need to save energy through my outing. And then once I know that my last balls are going to be thrown, then I just go for more.”
His 81-pitch outing (55 strikes) was just what the Sox needed as they began a five-game, four-day series against the Royals.
“You can’t be surprised because that’s what he has been his whole career,” La Russa said.
The 36-year-old Cueto went 0-1 with a 5.17 ERA and 17 strikeouts with Charlotte.
“It was good,” he said of the Charlotte experience. “I just took it like spring training. I didn’t have a regular spring training. … I just built up my strength and my pitches and the last time I threw (82 pitches). I was ready.”
Cueto is 135-97 with a 3.45 ERA in 330 appearances (329 starts) during a 14-year career with the Cincinnati Reds (2008-15), Royals (2015) and San Francisco Giants (2016-21).
He is a two-time All-Star (2014, 2016), finished second in National League Cy Young Award voting in 2014 and is 2-4 with a 4.54 ERA in eight career postseason starts. He made four starts in the 2015 postseason with the World Series champion Royals.
“I said hello to him and then I told him I still feel the effects of Game 5 in the 2015 (American League) Division Series,” Sox starter Dallas Keuchel said before Monday’s game. “He stuck it to us pretty good (when I was) with the (Houston) Astros and he got traded over to the Royals.”
Cueto allowed two runs on two hits and struck out eight in that playoff game on Oct. 14, 2015, a 7-2 Royals win.
“He’s one of the best to do it for over a decade,” Keuchel said, “and it’ll be nice to watch him on (our) side now.”
Cueto went 7-7 with a 4.08 ERA in 22 outings (21 starts) for the Giants in 2021.
Lucas Giolito was originally scheduled to pitch Monday, but he was placed on the COVID-19-related injured list Friday. Giolito began experiencing symptoms Wednesday.
“The good part of it is all the signs are looking up on (Giolito),” La Russa said. “He’ll pitch in the series, whether it’s (Tuesday) or make an adjustment for Wednesday. That’s the good news. We’re going to wait and see.”
La Russa said Dylan Cease will start the first game of Tuesday’s doubleheader. Game 2 is to be determined. Vince Velasquez and Keuchel are the probable Sox starters Wednesday and Thursday.
Cueto is expected to be a factor in the rotation going forward.
“We would be disappointed if he’s not,” La Russa said before the game. “And we don’t expect to be disappointed. He’s done enough since he’s reported to Arizona (for extended spring training) and what he’s shown in Charlotte (that) we expect him to be helpful.”
Cueto is ready to aid on and off the field.
“Just keep working hard and try to help the team,” he said. “Try to help the young guys here and see what little things are waiting for us.”
In Monday’s corresponding roster move, the Sox optioned infielder Danny Mendick to Charlotte. Mendick is 5-for-23 (.217) with two doubles, one home run and three RBIs in 11 games during two stints with the Sox this season.
