Kansas City, MO – Bobby Witt Jr.’s two-run blast in the fifth inning proved to be the difference-maker as the Kansas City Royals edged out the Chicago White Sox 2-1 on a damp Wednesday night at Kauffman Stadium. The victory marks the Royals’ 14th in their last 16 games, continuing their impressive run of form.
Michael Wacha (2-4) delivered another stellar performance for the Royals, earning his third consecutive quality start. The right-hander pitched seven strong innings, allowing just three hits and one walk while striking out five. His dominance on the mound provided the foundation for the Royals’ win.
The Royals continue to showcase their pitching prowess, leading the major leagues with 18 quality starts this season.
The White Sox finally broke through in the top of the ninth against Royals closer Carlos Estévez. Luis Robert’s single brought home a run, but Estévez held his nerve, stranding the tying run at third by striking out Josh Rojas to secure his 11th save of the season. While Estévez allowed one run and three hits in the inning, his two strikeouts, including the final out, preserved the Royals’ narrow lead.
Jonathan Cannon (2-4) took the loss for the White Sox. The right-hander pitched six innings, surrendering two runs on nine hits. Despite a decent outing, he couldn’t overcome Witt Jr.’s timely home run.
The loss extends the White Sox’s woes against the Royals. They have now lost nine straight games to Kansas City and an astounding ten consecutive contests at Kauffman Stadium. Both streaks represent franchise records for the White Sox against the Royals and in Kansas City.
Both starting pitchers were effective in the early innings, navigating the cool and misty conditions. With temperatures in the low 60s and a persistent mist falling, neither Wacha nor Cannon allowed a run through the first four frames.
However, the scoreless deadlock was broken in the bottom of the fifth. After Luke Maile led off with a single, Witt Jr. stepped up with two outs and launched his fifth home run of the season to left field, giving the Royals the decisive 2-0 advantage.
The White Sox threatened briefly in the second inning, putting runners on first and second with two outs. But Wacha remained composed, inducing a lineout to right field from Lenyn Sosa to end the inning. That was the only frame in which Chicago managed to get two runners on base against the Royals’ starter.
Despite their recent success, the Royals have relied on tight, low-scoring affairs for the majority of their games. They have scored four runs or fewer in 32 of their 38 games this season, posting a 16-16 record in those contests.
The Kansas City Royals and the Chicago White Sox will conclude their four-game series with an afternoon matchup on Thursday. Right-hander Davis Martin (1-3, 3.52 ERA) is slated to start for the White Sox, while the Royals will counter with left-hander Kris Bubic (3-2, 1.98 ERA). Pregame coverage will begin at 12:30 p.m. on Superstar Country 102.5 FM & 1530 AM KQNK, with the first pitch from Kauffman Stadium scheduled for 1:10 p.m.
