Royals 5, White Sox 2: Offensive struggles continue
Down by three runs late, the White Sox had a chance to pull a win out of the grasps of defeat. With one out and runners on first and second base, Jon Jay hit a chopper in the hole that Kansas City Royals shortstop Adalberto Mondesi could reach, but his throw was late and wide of first base. Yoan Moncada scored from second base, and suddenly the White Sox had the go-ahead run at the plate with James McCann and Eloy Jimenez coming to bat.
Both hitters couldn’t convert, the White Sox would end the inning with the bases loaded with Yolmer Sanchez striking out, and the offense continues to be non-existent as Kansas City ran away late to win 5-2.
Lucas Giolito was in a groove heading into the fourth inning. Scoreless after three innings which included an impressive escape job in the third stranding Nicky Lopez 90 feet from home plate. It appeared that Giolito was back to his All-Star form against an opponent he’s had great success.
That changed after Giolito gave up back-to-back doubles to Alex Gordon and Hunter Dozier, followed later by a single through the infield by Cheslor Cuthbert, and the Royals dinged Giolito for two runs in the fourth inning.
James McCann hit a solo home run in the sixth inning to make it a one-run game, his tenth of the season.
430 feet later, James McCann has his 10th home run of the season. pic.twitter.com/qp024msMmf
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) July 16, 2019
Jon Jay would keep hopes up for the Sox to tie the game splitting the gap in left field for his second double of the night, but just like the second inning, he ended up being stranded at second base. Sox hitters had a terrible time against Jakob Junis who struck out ten batters in seven innings.
Royals would make it a two-run lead again as Giolito gave up another two-out hit with runners in scoring position, this time it was Lopez singling in a run. After six innings of work, Giolito’s night was done as he gave up three earned runs on seven hits while walking just one with five strikeouts. A quality start by Giolito but paired with a punchless offense he needed to be almost perfect for the Sox to win.
Then again it didn’t matter as Josh Osich and Jose Ruiz couldn’t pitch clean innings with both giving up a run. It was a 5-2 lead into the ninth inning as the Sox offense faced closer Ian Kennedy for their last rally. Leury Garcia drew his third walk of the night, a new game-high for him, and Moncada singled to once again have the tying run at the plate.
Abreu fouled off several pitches to work a full count, but didn’t make good contact on Kennedy’s outside corner fastball. A weak grounder hit directly to Lopez who started the game-ending 4-6-3 double play.
Game Notes:
- Jon Jay had a great night going 4-for-4.
- AJ Reed, James McCann, and Yolmer Sanchez struck out three times
- White Sox hitters went 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position.
Record: 42-48 | Box Score | Highlights
OMG anyone else watch this on MLB Extra Innings where all of a sudden, instead of local commercials, it’s the WGN sports logo with the same driving, grating music every single commercial break. I can no longer watch games live.
Bring back BEN UTECHT!
Royals also had a mid-game hug watch for Maldonado who got pulled so he could be sent to the other Chicago team for Montgomery.