Chicago White Sox fall 3-2 in series opener in Kansas City
By Brian Draus
The Chicago White Sox have now lost five of their last seven games, as the Kansas City Royals got the win Friday night. It may have been bad news on the injury front as well for the White Sox, as Adam Eaton left the game in the bottom of the fourth inning with a jammed shoulder.
He is currently listed as day-to-day, and assuming Eaton doesn’t magically heal overnight, Trayce Thompson will get his first MLB start Saturday night.
With the game scoreless in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Royals struck first.
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Mike Moustakas walked with one out, becoming the first Kansas City runner to reach since the first inning. After a Salvador Perez popout, former White Sox outfielder Alex Rios hit a double to left, scoring Moustakas. Omar Infante walked, but White Sox pitcher John Danks got out of the inning with no more damage.
Thompson led off the top of the sixth inning with an infield single, which was his first MLB base hit. After Tyler Saladino popped out, Jose Abreu doubled Thompson home all the way from first to tie the game.
Edinson Volquez then retired both Melky Cabrera and Avisail Garcia, stranding Abreu at second base to end the inning.
Danks would not be able to hold the Royals down in the bottom of the inning. Ben Zobrist started things off for the Royals with a single, bringing Lorenzo Cain to the plate. Cain followed up Zobrist’s single with a double, scoring Zobrist from first. With Cain on second and Eric Hosmer batting, Danks gave up his third hit in a row (single), and Cain raced home from second, putting the Royals up by two runs.
Kendrys Morales then walked, putting runners on first and second. Moustakas grounded into a 4-6-3 double-play, and Perez popped out ending the inning with no more damage.
Aug 7, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Chicago White Sox player Adam LaRoche (25) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Kansas City Royals during the ninth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
The White Sox may have cost themselves the game in the top of the eighth inning. With Luke Hochevar pitching, Tyler Flowers was able to work a leadoff walk. Thompson then hit a ground-rule double to left, putting runners on second and third with no one out.
Saladino was the next hitter, and with several good pitches to hit, he could not put the ball in play. That meant Abreu would bat with the chance to tie the game with a hit. Abreu also struck out, meaning Cabrera batted with two outs.
While Cabrera made solid contact, he lined out to deep right, something they needed Saladino and Abreu to do. Hochevar pitched his way out of a major jam, with some help from the White Sox hitters. No runs scored.
Adam LaRoche came through for the White Sox in the top of the ninth inning (solo home run), but it would not be enough. The White Sox are now 0-4 in Kansas City this year, and they are starting to fade in the AL Wild Card race. This stretch of games against quality opponents may end the White Sox playoff hopes, but the team’s awful start, not current stretch, will be the team’s downfall this season.
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