CHICAGO – Pinch-hitter Derek Hill provided the late-game magic on Tuesday night, launching a go-ahead home run in the eighth inning to secure a 6-5 victory for the Chicago White Sox over the Kansas City Royals. The win marks Chicago’s third consecutive victory and highlights a resilient squad that has now come from behind in nearly half of its wins this season.
A Rollercoaster in the Fifth
After falling behind early to solo blasts from Kansas City stars Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez in the first inning, the White Sox offense ignited in the fifth.
The five-run surge was powered by:
- Drew Romo: A solo shot that just cleared the reach of right fielder Jac Caglianone.
- Chase Meidroth: A towering three-run homer off Stephen Kolek that swung the momentum firmly in Chicago’s favor, establishing a 5-2 lead.
Royals Fight Back
The lead was short-lived, however, as the Royals chipped away in the sixth inning. Nick Loftin narrow the gap with an RBI double against Tyler Schweitzer, later crossing the plate on a Maikel Garcia single off Grant Taylor to knot the game at 5-5.
The Decisive Blow
With the game deadlocked in the bottom of the eighth, Derek Hill stepped to the plate for Tristan Peters. Hill sat on a low slider from Matt Strahm, driving it 417 feet into the left-center bleachers. It was Hill’s third career pinch-hit home run and his second of the season.
“Hill has a knack for these moments,” noted the Chicago broadcast after the 417-foot drive cleared the wall.
Closing the Door
The White Sox bullpen held firm to protect the slim margin:
- Seranthony Domínguez (3-3): Earned the win with a flawless eighth inning.
- Bryan Hudson: Retired three straight batters in the ninth to secure his second save of the year.
While White Sox starter Erick Fedde struggled early—extending a trend of 10 home runs allowed across eight appearances—the Chicago bats and relief corps did enough to keep the streak alive. The Royals, meanwhile, continue to search for consistency, having lost four of their last six games.
Up Next
The series continues Wednesday night with a compelling pitching matchup:
- Kansas City: RHP Seth Lugo (1-2, 3.21 ERA)
- Chicago: LHP Noah Schultz (2-2, 4.68 ERA)
