After Jonathan India clubbed a game-tying, two-run homer in the seventh inning, Maikel Garcia broke the deadlock with a two-out, RBI single during a four-run eighth as the Kansas City Royals swept their three-game series with a 14th consecutive home win over the Chicago White Sox 6-2 on Sunday.
Chicago’s Davis Martin retired the first nine batters he faced and didn’t allow a hit until Kansas City’s Mike Yastrzemski blooped a double near the left-field line with one out in the sixth. It was Martin’s final frame of the day, with Martin giving up the lone hit while striking out four.
However, with Chicago ahead 2-0 and Steven Wilson on the mound in the seventh, the Royals’ Adam Frazier doubled, and India sent a drive that landed in the left-field fountains to even the score.
In the eighth inning, Bobby Witt Jr. singled to extend his hitting streak against Chicago to 18 games, eventually stole second and scored on Garcia’s single into right field off Grant Taylor (0-3) for a 3-2 Kansas City lead.
Salvador Perez followed with a long RBI single off the center-field wall, and Frazier hit a two-run homer to right for the Royals, who have outscored the White Sox 71-17 during the franchise’s longest home winning streak against a single opponent.
Rookie Ryan Bergert allowed six hits and two runs (one earned) while striking out seven in 5 1/3 innings for the Royals, who are amid a 13-5 home stretch.
The White Sox wasted no time getting to Bergert, who delivered a pitch that Lenyn Sosa sent well over the wall in left-center field for a 1-0 lead just two batters into the contest.
Chicago’s chance at adding a run in the second ended when Edgar Quero was thrown out at the plate by India’s relay throw off Chase Meidroth’s two-out double to right.
Martin, meanwhile, didn’t allow a runner until back-to-back walks opened the Royals’ fourth. But, he got out of the jam thanks to Vinnie Pasquantino’s 4-6-3 double play.
Chicago eventually made it 2-0 in the sixth. After left fielder Frazier misplayed and dropped Andrew Benintendi’s fly ball, Quero followed with an RBI single.
Lucas Erceg (5-3) allowed one hit in one inning for the win.
The White Sox have lost four straight and 11 of 13.
–Field Level Media
