KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The return of rookie second baseman and table-setter Chase Meidroth to the White Sox’ lineup wasn’t enough to wake up his team’s bats Friday in Kansas City as the Sox fell 3-1 to the Royals.
As the Sox cool down from a hot 10-4 second-half start, it marked their ninth loss in 11 games — and their 12th straight defeat at Kauffman Stadium dating to September 2023.
Meidroth, starting for the first time in two weeks following a nagging injury from being hit in the hand by a pitch July 30, went hitless in three trips to the plate.
Three straight singles from Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino and Maikel Garcia staked the Royals to a 1-0 lead in the first inning over Sox starter Aaron Civale.
Designated hitter Lenyn Sosa tied it up for the Sox in the fourth, continuing his post-All-Star-break tear with his team-leading 15th home run of the season, a solo shot off Kansas City starter Noah Cameron that sailed 408 feet into the visitors’ bullpen past left field.
But Royals catcher Salvador Perez got it back in the bottom half of the inning with his own blast to the right-field stands.
The Sox loaded the bases with one out in the sixth but walked away empty-handed after Sosa lined out to Royals second baseman Jonathan India, who doubled Sox rookie Colson Montgomery off second. They left five runners on base on the night.
“Just couldn’t string anything together,” manager Will Venable said. “Colson getting doubled off — got to be better there, that can’t happen.”
Perez struck again with a double off the left-field wall in the Royals’ half of the inning, and Adam Frazier scored him with a double of his own. Civale got out of the frame, ending his day after six innings of three-run ball on eight hits with a walk and three strikeouts.
Meidroth, the Sox’ 24-year-old prize of the Garrett Crochet trade, turned a nice double play to end the second inning on a hot grounder off the bat of Royals outfielder Kyle Isbel.
Meidroth said he was able to swing a bat comfortably Friday for the first time since being plunked. It was the second stint on the injured list in a debut year that has seen Meidroth (.249/.328/.316) developing as a top-of-the-order bat.
“We need his defense. We need his offense, the energy he brings everyday,” Venable said. “He’s just brought our group to another level.”
Infielder Jacob Amaya was designated for assignment to make room for Meidroth’s return to the active roster.
Cannon blasted
Righty Jonathan Cannon struggled earlier this week in his first start at Triple-A Charlotte since being demoted following a string of rough outings for the Sox.
Cannon served up a leadoff homer Tuesday en route to surrendering five runs and seven hits over five innings, with four strikeouts.
The 25-year-old was sent down last week after giving up seven runs and failing to escape the second inning at Seattle, a third straight rocky start in a 13.50-ERA stretch. Cannon (4-9, 5.34) said he feels OK physically as he approaches a career high in innings pitched.
“We know there’s a better version of Jonathan Cannon than what we’ve seen here recently,” general manager Chris Getz said.
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