{"id":2370453,"date":"2026-04-13T03:44:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-13T03:44:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2370453"},"modified":"2026-04-13T03:44:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T03:44:00","slug":"kc-royals-get-a-breakthrough-at-plate-but-lose-to-white-sox","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/kc-royals-get-a-breakthrough-at-plate-but-lose-to-white-sox\/","title":{"rendered":"KC Royals get a breakthrough at plate but lose to White Sox"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Two early season traits \u2014 good and bad \u2014 had been established for the Royals entering Sunday: great starting pitching<\/a> and trouble hitting with runners in scoring position.<\/p>\n

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The Royals improved on the latter Sunday against the White Sox, but starting pitcher Noah Cameron struggled in a 6-5 loss at Kauffman Stadium. The bullpen also had problems.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI think that\u2019s the biggest takeaway,\u201d Cameron said, \u201cis we\u2019re scoring runs, scoring five runs, you should win most of those ballgames, especially after we\u2019ve obviously been pitching really well, struggling a little bit (as a team).\u201d<\/p>\n

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First the positive news.<\/p>\n

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Entering the weekend, Royals rookie catcher Carter Jensen<\/a> was the only player in Major League Baseball with three home runs that had an exit velocity of 111 mph or faster.<\/p>\n

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That\u2019s according to MLB statistics guru<\/a> Sarah Langs. But Jensen did damage of a different sort Sunday.<\/p>\n

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The Royals had the bases loaded in the third inning when Jensen hit a squibber that was just 40.4 mph off the bat and traveled a charitable 4 feet. Jensen beat the throw to first as Maikel Garcia scored. And that\u2019s how the Royals snapped an ugly 0-for-33 stretch with runners in scoring position.<\/p>\n

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Carter Jensen ends the Royals’ ugly RISP drought with a bases-loaded squibber in front of the plate that scores Maikel Garcia. Royals had been zero for their last 33 with runners in scoring position. pic.twitter.com\/Dd1CFCcOKa<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Pete Grathoff (@pgrathoff) April 12, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n

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\u201cI wasn\u2019t hoping for it to be that kind of hit, but I\u2019m very glad that it happened,\u201d Jensen said. \u201cI was just a little early on one, end-capped it a little bit, and as soon as I knew I had to book it down to first, so it was good to break the streak.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The Royals collected two more hits with runners in scoring position and hope that sparks future success.<\/p>\n

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But Jensen lamented a missed opportunity in the seventh inning when he flied out to center with Bobby Witt Jr. on second.<\/p>\n

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\u201cKind of got jammed on a fastball. Especially with my mindset and how I approach at-bats, I shouldn\u2019t be missing fastballs like that,\u201d said Jensen, the former Park Hill High School star. \u201cSo I\u2019m frustrated with myself, kind of hard on myself about that. But like I said earlier, you live and you learn and come back stronger next time.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Noah Cameron struggled through start<\/h2>\n

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Now, the downside for the Royals, 7-9, who missed a chance to get back to .500.<\/p>\n

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The Royals entered Sunday tied for the major-league lead with eight quality starts and the second-lowest ERA among starting pitchers (2.56).<\/p>\n

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But starter Noah Cameron struggled following a three-hour rain delay as he was torched for five runs in 5 1\/3 innings, and the White Sox hit a pair of two-run homers.<\/p>\n

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The bullpen wasn\u2019t sharp either. Four pitchers gave up just a run in 3 2\/3 innings, but allowed the White Sox to score the tying and winning runs. One came on a bases-loaded walk, the other on a wild pitch.<\/p>\n

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Up next:<\/b> The Royals are off Monday, then open a three-game series Tuesday in Detroit. Cole Ragans, who left his last start after being hit in the pitching hand, will get the start for the Royals. The Tigers will start Framber Valdez.<\/p>\n

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This story was originally published April 12, 2026 at 7:14 PM.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Related Stories from Kansas City Star<\/h5>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Pete Grathoff<\/a><\/p>\n

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The Kansas City Star<\/span><\/p>\n

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From covering the World Series to the World Cup, Pete Grathoff has done a little bit of everything since joining The Kansas City Star in 1997. <\/span>\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n