In a stunning turn of events, Bobby Witt Jr. clinched a dramatic victory for the Kansas City Royals with a walk-off single, culminating a hilarious comeback that highlighted the Chicago White Sox's series of blunders. The final score stood at 4-3 in favor of the Royals, who have now secured 13 wins in their last 15 games, improving their season record to 21-16.
Despite not being at his sharpest, Seth Lugo delivered an effective quality start against the White Sox, lasting 6 2/3 innings while allowing only two runs—one of which was unearned. Lugo showcased his dominance over the White Sox in previous encounters, holding an impressive 0.92 ERA in four starts since last year. The White Sox managed to get on the scoreboard in the fourth inning when Matt Thaiss led off with a single, later scoring on a hit by Brooks Baldwin.
The White Sox extended their lead in the sixth inning, with Thaiss once again leading off with a single. He advanced to second on a wild pitch and to third on a groundout. A grounder from Andrew Vaughn found its way past Jonathan India, allowing Thaiss to score and putting the White Sox ahead 2-0. Later in the game, they added another run in the eighth when Josh Rojas singled home Jacob Amaya, increasing their lead to 3-1.
The Royals finally broke through in the sixth inning, with Kyle Isbel hitting a solo home run off White Sox starter Sean Burke, marking his third home run of the season. Despite drawing walks from Maikel Garcia and Drew Waters in the seventh, the Royals were unable to capitalize, stranding both runners.
The eighth inning was marked by a series of unfortunate events for the White Sox. After Vinnie Pasquantino walked, Salvador Perez hit a flyball that was mishandled by Baldwin, leading to an RBI double that brought the Royals within one run. The chaos continued as the White Sox's fielding errors became increasingly apparent.
The ninth inning showcased the White Sox’s defensive missteps at their peak. Reliever Cam Booser walked Mark Canha to start the inning, followed by a pop fly from Drew Waters that inadvertently hit Chase Meidroth on the head, leading to further chaos. A wild throw from right fielder Michael A. Taylor compounded the issues, allowing the Royals to load the bases.
With the bases loaded and one out, Bobby Witt Jr. stepped up to the plate. He connected with a fastball, sending it nearly 400 feet to center field for a “single,” as White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr. appeared to give up on the catch. This moment sealed the game for the Royals, who took full advantage of the White Sox's blunders.
The Royals now have a chance to take the series in the upcoming game against the White Sox, scheduled for tomorrow evening at 6:40 CT, where Michael Wacha will face off against Jonathan Cannon. With their current momentum and the White Sox’s ongoing struggles, the Royals are poised to continue their winning streak.
