Royals Drop Game Two in Chicago 4-1
Yikes...
Yesterday, the Royals played their first game in Chicago against the White Sox in a three-game series, coming away with a disappointing 7-2 loss. Today felt no different as missed opportunities on offense and some early struggles for Michael Wacha resulted in a 4-1 loss. Today's loss ensured a series loss for the Royals against the White Sox, who entered today with the second-worst record in the MLB.
It was a story many Royals fans have become accustomed to. The offense could not score despite having several chances, and a game that felt like it was going in the right direction quickly fell off the rails. Michael Wacha provided a quality start yet again, but the offense let him down, scoring only one run for the seventh time this year.
The Royals started the scoring after Vinnie Pasquantino poked one over the left field wall for a solo home run to give the Royals a 1-0 lead in the second inning. It was quite the sight as Vinnie seemed to think he just fouled the ball off and was looking around for a ball that went well over the fence in left. Jac Caglianone was able to get a single as well, but nothing came of it, and the Royals went into the bottom of the second up 1-0.
That is about it for the good news, and right when it seemed like Michael Wacha would keep a clean sheet through two innings, everything hit the fan. Josh Rojas was able to hit a two-out double up the right field line, and was immediately followed up by Tim Elko, who took a first pitch cutter 409 feet to right center for a two-run homer. Wacha got out of the inning but was immediately met by a leadoff home run by Chase Midroth to give the White Sox a 3-1 lead going into the fourth.
The Royals threatened to score a few times, the first of which came in the fourth inning. Maikel Garcia and Vinnie Pasquantino led off the inning with two singles and then were advanced on a wild pitch, giving the Royals runners on second and third with no outs. But a situation that yields a run almost 70% of the time stalled out. Salvador Perez came up first and struck out on a changeup in the dirt, and then a ground out by Jac Caglianone did not move the runners. Drew Waters came up and appeared to work a walk, but struck out looking at a sinker that appeared to be about three inches above the zone.
The next chance for the Royals came in the seventh, after Nick Loftin came in as a pinch hitter and put up a one-out single. Mark Canha pinch hit for Massey and flew out, and Kyle Isbel came up with the same result. This put an end to the inning, and the Royals remained down two with six outs to go.
In the eighth, the Royals threatened again, after a two-out rally got Maikel Garcia and Vinnie Pasquantino on base yet again. Maikel walked, and Vinnie singled again, putting the tying run on base with Salvador Perez coming to the plate. But unfortunately, Salvy struck out in four pitches on a sweeper, squandering yet another scoring opportunity for the Royals.
Trevor Richards came in for his first appearance as a Royal in the eighth, looking to keep the Royals within two runs heading into the ninth. After getting the first out, Richards gave up a single to Miguel Vargas, who advanced to second on a wild pitch with one out. An infield single by Kyle Teel and a sacrifice fly by Edgar Quero scored another White Sox run, putting the Royals down 4-1 going into the ninth.
Mark Canha was able to work a two-out walk, but Kyle Isbel popped out with Canha on second to end the game, and the Royals dropped their second game in a row. The Royals will lose their first series with the White Sox since May of 2023. They will look to salvage the series and avoid a sweep with a win tomorrow with Michael Lorenzen on the mound.
Winners
Vinnie Pasquantino - 3-3 with a walk and a home run
Nick Loftin - 1-2 with a pinch-hit single in the seventh
Steven Cruz - Three up, three down in the seventh, striking out the side
Losers
Salvador Perez - 0-4 with 4 strikeouts
Jonathan India - 0-4 with a strikeout
Trevor Richards - 1 ER in his first appearance for the Royals