Overview

After nine games on the road, the Royals returned to Kauffman Stadium this week for five games against the White Sox. The teams were initially slated to play a three-game series, but wound up combining it with the two games that were postponed between them earlier in the season. The Royals entered the series with a record of 12-20, and the White Sox held a season record of 16-17. 

The White Sox won the series 3-2. The Royals seem to have lapsed back into their path this season of losing series over and over again, and their record continues to plummet and be among the worst in the league. The Royals now fall to 14-23, and the White Sox get to the .500 mark at 19-19. 

Game 1 - Robert’s 10th-Inning HR Gives White Sox 5-3 Win

Starters: Johnny Cueto (CWS) vs. Brad Keller (KC)

The White Sox were the first team to finally get on the board in the top of the third when Adam Engel doubled and stole third, then Andrew Vaughn hit a sac fly. They added to their lead in the fourth, as Luis Robert hit an infield single and Yasmani Grandal homered to make it 3-0. The game was quiet until the eighth inning, when the Royals finally got on the board. Michael A. Taylor reached on an infield single and Ryan O’Hearn singled before Whit Merrifield doubled to score both and Andrew Benintendi singled him home to tie the game. It would remain tied through nine innings. In the 10th, Robert homered, also bringing home the extra-innings runner. Liam Hendriks came in in the bottom of the inning, slamming the door by striking out the side, and the White Sox won, 5-3. 

Ryan Burr recorded the win by pitching a scoreless ninth inning, but it was Johnny Cueto whose name was stamped all over this homecoming game, as he pitched 6.0 innings and allowed only two hits and no runs while striking out seven. Scott Barlow was charged with his first loss of the season, as he pitched the ninth and into the 10th before giving up the eventual game-winning home run. Liam Hendriks got the well-deserved save, striking out the side in a perfect 10th inning. 

Royals hitting coach Terry Bradshaw was released Monday after more than two decades with the team. The senior director of player development and hitting performance, Alec Zumwalt, was appointed as his replacement and is tasked with “overseeing all hitting efforts” going forward. 

Final: White Sox 5-3 Royals

Most Notable Player: Luis Robert (2-5, 2 R, 2 RBI, HR in 10th inning)

Game 2 - White Sox Win First Game of Doubleheader 3-0

Starters: Dylan Cease (CWS) vs. Jonathan Heasley (KC)

The game was scoreless and mostly hitless for the first four innings for both teams. The Royals generated the bigger opportunities of the two teams, putting two runners in scoring position in the third and getting a runner thrown out at home in the fourth. However, it was the White Sox who got on the scoreboard first in the fifth. Reese McGuire started the inning off with a double, and Josh Harrison walked before a wild pitch to advance the runners. Tim Anderson was hit by a pitch to load the bases, then AJ Pollock hit a sac fly. Jose Abreu then doubled to score two runners, giving the White Sox a 3-0 lead. Despite getting a hit in every inning but the eighth, the Royals couldn’t get on the scoreboard to cut into the lead, and the game ended 3-0. 

Dylan Cease pitched 5.2 innings, allowing no runs despite giving up seven hits and two walks, and struck out nine to get the win. Jon Heasley took the loss, despite a solid 5.0 inning performance where he allowed four hits, three walks, and three runs. Liam Hendriks recorded his 11th save of the year, good for fourth in the league, pitching a one-hit ninth inning. 

Final: White Sox 3-0 Royals 

Most Notable Player: Jose Abreu (2-3, 2B, BB, 2 RBI)

Game 3 - Brady Singer Shines in First Start, Royals Get 2-1 Win

Starters: Davis Martin (CWS) vs. Brady Singer (KC)

The Royals got into the scoring column first in the second inning via an Emmanuel Rivera double and a Michael A. Taylor RBI double. The game was again very defensive, with the next score coming in the sixth inning. MJ Melendez hit his first career home run, a 425-foot shot to right. The White Sox finally eliminated the “0” from the runs column in the top of the eighth, as AJ Pollock doubled and Josh Harrison singled him to third before Adam Engel grounded out and got Pollock across. Yoan Moncada hit a single to try to tie it, but Andrew Benintendi made a great throw to get Harrison out at the plate to retain the lead. The White Sox couldn’t muster any more hits in the ninth, and the Royals got a 2-1 win. 

In his first start of the season, Brady Singer pitched a stellar game to record the win. He went 7.0 innings while allowing four hits and no runs and struck out nine, showing why he belongs in the rotation easily over Kris Bubic. Davis Martin, also making his first start of the year and of his career, logged 5.0 innings while giving up five hits and a run while fanning seven to take the loss despite a strong and promising performance. Josh Staumont got his third save of the season, pitching a flawless ninth. 

Final: Royals 2-1 White Sox

Most Notable Player: Brady Singer (7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 9 K)

Game 4 - Royals Even Up Series With 6-2 Win

Starters: Lucas Giolito (CWS) vs. Zack Greinke (KC)

The White Sox got on the board pretty quickly, as Jose Abreu doubled and Leury Garcia singled to take a 1-0 lead in the second. The Royals got the game tied again quickly in the bottom of the second via a Nicky Lopez single and stolen base, then a Whit Merrifield RBI single. Bobby Witt, Jr. added to it in the next inning with a 436-foot solo shot. In the top of the fourth, the White Sox again tied the game up when Adam Engel walked and Andrew Vaughn singled, then Tim Anderson singled Engel home. The Royals broke the tie in the sixth on an MJ Melendez single, then an Emmanuel Rivera triple and a sac fly from Kyle Isbel. They struck again in the eighth when Hunter Dozier doubled and MJ Melendez homered in his second straight game to close out the game 6-2. 

In an abnormal decision, Collin Snider picked up the win in this game, recording a single out in the sixth inning while giving up a hit. Zack Greinke gave the Royals a solid 5.2 innings, allowing seven hits and two runs. Reynaldo Lopez was charged with the loss, pitching the sixth and seventh innings and giving up two hits and two runs. 

Final: Royals 6-2 White Sox

Most Notable Player: MJ Melendez (2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, HR)

Game 5 - White Sox Take 5th-Game Rubber Match 7-4

Starters: Vince Velasquez (CWS) vs. Carlos Hernandez (KC)

The Royals wasted no time getting on the board, as Andrew Benintendi singled and Bobby Witt, Jr. grounded into a fielder’s choice before Hunter Dozier hit a two-run homer. They added to it in the bottom of the second when Kyle Isbel reached on an infield single and stole second, and Nicky Lopez doubled him home. The White Sox began to chip away in the third on a Tim Anderson walk, two steals, and a Luis Robert single, but the Royals matched it with a run of their own through a double from Witt, Jr. and single from Hunter Dozier to make it 4-1. In the top of the fourth, the White Sox mostly washed that lead away, as Andrew Vaughn reached on an infield single, then Reese McGuire and Josh Harrison singled to load the bases. Tim Anderson singled to center to score Vaughn and McGuire and make it 4-3. In the sixth, they tied it up when Harrison and Anderson singled before Robert hit an RBI single. They took the lead in the seventh via singles from AJ Pollock, Vaughn, and Adam Engel, then put two more runs on the board in the eighth inning with a Yoan Moncada single and two-run home run from Robert. The Royals put two runners on base in the ninth, but couldn’t bring them home, and the White Sox won, 7-4. 

Bennett Sousa got the win for the White Sox after pitching the sixth inning and allowing one hit. Vince Velasquez was saved by his offense in the late innings, as he gave up four runs on six hits through 5.0 innings. Carlos Hernandez turned in a poor performance, going only 3.0 innings and allowing five hits and three runs along with five walks, but Gabe Speier was handed the loss as he recorded only one out while allowing three hits and one run in the seventh. Liam Hendriks got his third save in this five-game series, allowing two hits but no runs in the ninth inning. 

Final: White Sox 7-4 Royals 

Most Notable Player: Luis Robert (3-4, 4 RBI, HR, HBP)

Takeaways

Despite losing the series, the Royals have lots of positives to look back on over this series. They faced a solid White Sox team that has been plagued by injuries this season, but is back to virtually full strength. Brady Singer showed massive promise in his first start of the season, and Zack Greinke and Jon Heasley turned in solid performances as well. The offense performed pretty well, but remains streaky and underwhelming. It’s too early to tell the effect that the release of hitting coach Terry Bradshaw is having. A series loss always means there is something a team can improve on. Carlos Hernandez turned in another bad performance and looks to be destined for the same relocation as Kris Bubic. Michael A. Taylor was unfortunately sent to the CoViD-19 list, but it will give Dairon Franco, who was called up at the end of the series, a chance to prove himself at the highest level. 

Looking Ahead

The Royals will finish out their short home stand this weekend with a three-game series against the Twins. They are slated to utilize the pitchers that are performing the best in the rotation, as Daniel Lynch will open up the series, and be followed by Brad Keller and Brady Singer. They will have pretty tough matchups against Devin Smeltzer, Joe Ryan, and Bailey Ober, respectively. The Royals will come into the series with a record of 14-23, and the Twins with an AL-Central-leading record of 22-16.