Newcomer Drew Romo’s first two career home runs power White Sox to 5-2 victory vs. Angels

The White Sox were hoping for an offensive jolt at a stagnant position when they designated catcher Reese McGuire for assignment last weekend and recalled Drew Romo, a 24-year-old offseason waiver claim who hit .298/.385/.561 in 17 games at Triple-A Charlotte.

But they couldn’t have expected what Romo delivered Tuesday against the Angels. He belted the first two home runs of his career — and the first two home runs by a Sox catcher this season.

The switch-hitting Romo smashed a two-run blast from the left side of the plate against Angels ace Jose Soriano in the fourth inning, then took reliever Brent Suter deep from the right side of the plate in the sixth.

Romo became the first Sox player to homer from both sides in a game since Leury Garcia did it against the Twins on July 25, 2020.

‘‘One of the best days of my life,’’ Romo said. ‘‘Everything it has taken to get here, all the ups and downs. Incredible ride, journey.’’

In the second, Soriano had yielded a homer to Colson Montgomery. It was only the second run he had allowed all season.

‘‘The guy is the best pitcher on the planet right now, and [Romo] put together some really good at-bats,’’ manager Will Venable said.

Sox right-hander Davis Martin turned in another solid start, giving up an RBI single to Jo Adell in the fourth and scattering six other hits in 5⅔ innings. He struck out seven and walked one.

The Sox had been saddled with a major-league-worst .443 OPS at catcher entering the game, more than 150 points behind the next-worst catching crew in that category. Romo’s breakout boosted that figure to .536.

‘‘The teammates have been great,’’ Romo said of his new clubhouse. ‘‘Everyone gets along super-well. I couldn’t ask for a better spot to be in.’’

More outfield pain

Right fielder Everson Pereira left the game with soreness in his right shoulder and is considered day-to-day.

Pereira, who spent a week on the injured list earlier this season with a sprained ankle, has provided some much-needed pop in the Sox’ outfield, hitting .250/.310/.453 with three homers. He’s also a team leader in fun facts as the only player in MLB history with the first name ‘‘Everson.’’

Pereira was replaced by Austin Hays, who saw his first action in three weeks after his own IL stint with a pulled hamstring. Hays, who rejoined the team after utility player Tanner Murray suffered an ugly shoulder injury Sunday, went 0-for-2.

Actual moonshot for Mune

The homer Munetaka Murakami golfed out of Rate Field at a 48-degree launch angle Monday was the steepest dinger on record at the ballpark in the Statcast era, which dates to 2015.

Only eight other homers ever have made it out of parks at higher angles, according to MLB stathead Sarah Langs.

Murakami’s moonshot sailed 101 feet high and 382 feet deep and came off the bat at about 96 mph. It was hardly the prettiest one he has cranked among his major-league-high 12 homers, but it was ‘‘well-timed, for sure,’’ Venable said, and a good example of his effortless power.

The ones ‘‘where he’s not getting his ‘A’ swing off and he’s still hitting the ball out of the park are maybe some of the most impressive,’’ Venable said. ‘‘But they’ve all been impressive.’’

Condolences for Cora

Venable was as surprised as anyone to see Phillies manager Rob Thomson fired three days after the Red Sox axed Alex Cora. Venable served as Cora’s bench coach with the Red Sox during the 2021-22 seasons.

‘‘Those guys are two really good guys,’’ Venable said. ‘‘I know Cora really well, having worked for him, and he’s as good a manager as I’ve been around and a special guy. It just kind of speaks to how sensitive these jobs are and these opportunities. It’s tough to see because you care about those guys and you know they’re good guys, but you understand that’s part of baseball.’’