Brady Singer threw seven scoreless innings to help lead the Kansas City Royals to a 6-1 win over the visiting Chicago White Sox on Saturday.
Singer (6-6) allowed just five hits and two walks, while striking out seven en route to the Royals’ second win in as many nights and eighth in nine games against Chicago this year. Bobby Witt Jr. finished 3-for-4 with an RBI for Kansas City. Hunter Renfroe drove in two for the Royals.
Andrew Benintendi was 1-for-3 for the White Sox, driving in their lone run. Chicago has dropped six in a row and nine of its last 10.
After a scoreless top of the first, Kansas City’s offense struck in the home half of the inning. Witt and Vinnie Pasquantino each slashed one-out singles off Chicago starter Jonathan Cannon. Witt was caught attempting to steal third by catcher Chuckie Robinson, but Salvador Perez drove in Pasquantino with a single for the game’s first run.
Michael Massey then tripled, scoring Perez. Renfroe’s RBI double gave the Royals a 3-0 advantage.
Maikel Garcia led off the bottom of the second with a double for the Royals before scoring on Witt’s 26th double of the year, putting Kansas City up 4-0 after two innings.
The White Sox threatened in the top of the fourth, loading the bases with two outs for Brooks Baldwin. However, Singer escaped the jam, striking out Baldwin on four pitches.
Still trailing 4-0 in the seventh, Nicky Lopez and Paul DeJong tallied two-out singles before Singer retired Robinson for the final out.
Chicago reliever Steven Wilson replaced Cannon in the bottom of the seventh. In his ninth career start, Cannon (1-4) gave up four runs on eight hits. He struck out four and didn’t walk a batter.
Hunter Harvey came in to relieve Singer to start the eighth. Tommy Pham led off with a double, advancing to third on left fielder Drew Waters’ fielding error. Benintendi then gave Chicago its first run on a grounder to second. Luis Robert Jr. then doubled before Harvey struck out Andrew Vaughn. Eloy Jimenez walked, bringing the tying run to the plate in Baldwin, but Harvey struck out the rookie to end the frame.
Kansas City added two more runs in the bottom of the eighth as Renfroe and Garrett Hampson each worked bases loaded walks off Chicago’s Tanner Banks.
Kyle Bubic pitched a scoreless ninth for Kansas City, handing the White Sox their MLB-worst 73rd loss.
–Field Level Media
