The Royals’ offense finally broke out of a funk after being shut out last night and overcame a four-run deficit to win the second game of the series 5-4 over the White Sox.
Michael Lorenzen got the start for the Royals, his third since coming off the Injured List. He gave up a solo home run to Colson Montgomery, the 14th in 43 games for the rookie. Lorenzen tossed goose eggs in the next three innings, helped by a couple of double plays. But he ran into trouble in the sixth, giving up singles to Brooks Baldwin and Mike Tauchman. He walked Miguel Vargas to load the bases, then a run-scoring single by Kyle Teel to make it 2-0. Matt Quatraro finally pulled him for John Schreiber, who gave up another run on a single to Lenyn Sosa. Vargas scored on a wild pitch to make it 4-0 Chicago.
The Royals went 16 consecutive innings without a run to begin this series, and managed just one hit in seven innings against White Sox lefty Martin Pérez. But in the eighth, the offense finally woke up. With two outs and Jonathan India on first on a single, Adam Frazier singled and Kyle Isbel walked to load the bases. Maikel Garcia stayed hot with a two-run single to make it 4-2 White Sox. But Bobby Witt Jr. stuck out against reliever Grant Taylor to end the threat.
The White Sox have more blown saves (19) than saves (17) this season, and they added to that blown save total tonight. Vinnie Pasquantino led off with a single, and one-out singles by Mike Yastrzemski and Jonathan India loaded the bases. Tyler Alexander came on and promptly gave up a two-run game-tying single to Michael Massey.
After Alexander nicked Adam Frazier with a pitch, Kyle Isbel laced a single over the drawn-in infield to give the Royals a 5-4 lead. Witt again struck out with the bases loaded, taking a strike three and arguing with home plate umpire Malachi Moore.
Carlos Estévez pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to earn his MLB-leading 35th save of the year. The Royals improve to 68-65 and are currently 3.5 games back of the Mariners for a Wild Card spot. They’ll try to take the series tomorrow evening when Ryan Bergert takes on Aaron Civale.
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