The White Sox started their series looking to keep their three-game winning streak against the Royals alive. Reynaldo Lopez got the start, still searching for his first victory of the season. Lopez (4IP 6H 2ER 2BB 4K 70PC) pitched ok but did give up the lead that the offense had provided. This is only his second start since coming off the DL, so hopefully, he will be able to log some better innings in his next start.
The offense again led the team to its 6-5 victory. Eloy Jimenez, Yoan Moncada, Yasmani Grandal, and Luis Robert all chipped in with two hits. This group also accounted for three home runs and 5RBIs. Yasmani Grandal made the game-winning home run in the bottom of the 9th, his biggest hit on the White Sox, but only after a botched play helped the Royals tie the game 5-5.
The White Sox had the lead heading into the 9th inning. Alex Colome, the White Sox star closer, headed to the mound to close out the Royals for his 7th save. Instead, he blew his first save of the year. Colome was able to get the first and hardest out, OF Jorge Soler, a line out to SS Tim Anderson. Soler was the inning’s most significant threat as he hit a two-run home run earlier in the game to tie it at 4-4. Next, Colome walked the Royals 1B O’hearn, who got a pinch-run for Bubba Starling.
At the top of the 9th with one out and a man on first, 3B Maikel Franco stepped up to the plate. He blasted a double out to the OF. The White Sox were able to get Franco in a run down to get him out at second but Abreu just missed the tag. Realizing that Starling might try to run home, Abreu made a nice throw to C Yasmani Grandal. Grandal, on the other hand, thought they had stopped the play to review the action at second base. He looked away as the ball flew right by him, and Staling scored easily. They did end up reviewing the play at second, and Franco was ruled safe.
Starling’s run tied the game 5-5. The Royals still had a runner on second with one out. The pressure was back on Colome to keep this game tied. Colome managed to get a pop out and then a strikeout to strand Franco on second base.
Colome had his first blown save of the season, and the bullpen wasn’t it’s usual self on Friday either. Matt Foster, who hadn’t given up any runs this season, gave up a two-run home run to Soler. It is near impossible to go the whole season without giving up any runs, but on Friday, it was a big blow. The White Sox had just taken the lead, 4-2, and Foster gave it right back.
The White Sox never give up and never count themselves out of any game. Colome brushed off the field’s mistakes to lock it down, and Grandal came back to the plate to win the game he had just blown at the top of the 9th. This type of resilience is essential because some games do not go your way.
The White Sox now have a winning streak of three games overall and four games against the Royals. Dylan Cease will take the mound for the White Sox, and rookie SP Brady Singer will be the opposing pitcher. Cease has taken the next step this season, and hopefully, the bullpen who used a good amount of pitchers on Friday will have a light workload on Saturday afternoon.