Bobby Witt Jr.’s long walk-off single capped the Kansas City Royals’ two-run rally in the ninth inning as they earned their fourth straight win, 4-3, over the visiting Chicago White Sox on Tuesday.
Witt was 0-for-4 entering the ninth. With the bases loaded and one out in a 3-3 game, Witt sent a deep fly ball to center field that Luis Robert Jr. was unable to reach. Even if Robert had caught the ball, it was deep enough to drive in Drew Waters and give the Royals their ninth consecutive home win over the White Sox.
Earlier in the inning, Chicago’s Cam Booser (0-3) allowed a leadoff walk to Mark Canha. He advanced to second when Waters’ popup bounced off the cap of second baseman Chase Meidroth and right fielder Michael A. Taylor’s throw to force out Canha flew over shortstop Jacob Amaya’s head. Freddy Fermin then reached on a bunt single to load the bases.
After Booser induced an infield fly, Kansas City’s Jonathan India grounded a ball up the middle that Amaya gloved with a dive — but his backhand flip dribbled out of Meidroth’s reach at second. India’s single that was initially ruled an error enabled Canha to score the tying run. The Royals have won 13 of their last 15 games.
Kansas City starter Seth Lugo allowed two runs on seven hits and three walks with three strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings. He was outdueled by Chicago’s Sean Burke, who allowed four hits and three walks with two strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings. Kyle Isbel’s sixth-inning solo homer was the only run he allowed.
After being held without a run through the first 12 innings of this series, Chicago struck first in the fourth. Brooks Baldwin found the hole through the left side of the Royals’ infield for an RBI hit.
Chicago made it 2-0 in the sixth on Andrew Vaughn’s run-scoring single. However, Isbel cleared the right-field wall in the bottom of the frame.
The White Sox added a run in the eighth when Vaughn and Baldwin singled to set up Josh Rojas’ two-out RBI single.
Kansas City got a run back in the eighth on Salvador Perez’s two-out double over the head of left fielder Baldwin that scored Vinnie Pasquantino from first.
Taylor Clarke (1-0) pitched 1 1/3 innings.
–Field Level Media
