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KANSAS CITY, Mo. \u2014 The return of rookie second baseman and table-setter Chase Meidroth<\/b> to the White Sox<\/a>\u2019 lineup wasn\u2019t enough to wake up his team\u2019s bats Friday in Kansas City as the Sox fell 3-1 to the Royals. <\/p>\n As the Sox cool down from a hot 10-4 second-half start, it marked their ninth loss in 11 games \u2014 and their 12th straight defeat at Kauffman Stadium dating to September 2023. <\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Three straight singles from Bobby Witt Jr.<\/b>, Vinnie Pasquantino<\/b> and Maikel Garcia<\/b> staked the Royals to a 1-0 lead in the first inning over Sox starter Aaron Civale<\/b>.<\/p>\n Designated hitter Lenyn Sosa <\/b>tied it up for the Sox in the fourth, continuing his post-All-Star-break tear<\/a> with his team-leading 15th home run of the season, a solo shot off Kansas City starter Noah Cameron<\/b> that sailed 408 feet into the visitors\u2019 bullpen past left field.<\/p>\n But Royals catcher Salvador Perez<\/b> got it back in the bottom half of the inning with his own blast to the right-field stands.<\/p>\n 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<\/b>, who doubled Sox rookie Colson Montgomery<\/b> off second. They left five runners on base on the night. <\/p>\n \u201cJust couldn\u2019t string anything together,\u201d manager Will Venable<\/b> said. \u201cColson getting doubled off \u2014 got to be better there, that can\u2019t happen.\u201d<\/p>\n Perez struck again with a double off the left-field wall in the Royals\u2019 half of the inning, and Adam Frazier <\/b>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.<\/p>\n Meidroth, the Sox\u2019 24-year-old prize of the Garrett Crochet<\/b> trade, turned a nice double play to end the second inning on a hot grounder off the bat of Royals outfielder Kyle Isbel<\/b>.<\/p>\n 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<\/u><\/a> in a debut year that has seen Meidroth (.249\/.328\/.316) developing as a top-of-the-order bat. <\/p>\n \u201cWe need his defense. We need his offense, the energy he brings everyday,\u201d Venable said. \u201cHe\u2019s just brought our group to another level.\u201d<\/p>\n Infielder Jacob Amaya<\/b> was designated for assignment to make room for Meidroth\u2019s return to the active roster.<\/p>\n Righty Jonathan Cannon<\/b> struggled earlier this week in his first start at Triple-A Charlotte since being demoted following a string of rough outings for the Sox.<\/p>\n Cannon served up a leadoff homer Tuesday en route to surrendering five runs and seven hits over five innings, with four strikeouts.<\/p>\nCannon blasted<\/b><\/h3>\n