ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 14: Pedro Grifol #5 of the Chicago White Sox looks on prior to a game against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on July 14, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Image Of Sport/Getty Images)
With two outs in the 6th, Royals starter Seth Lugo gave up a double to Korey Lee, putting the tying run on 2nd. Matt Quatraro ended his night, turning to a struggling Royals bullpen. This was a similar script to Kansas City’s series in Baltimore.
One White Sox out and two Royals outs later, a nervous 2-1 game had turned into a stress-free 10-1 game, as an eight-run 7th propelled Kansas City to its first series opening win of the season. Lugo earned his first win as a Royal and helped Kansas City improve to 3-4.
Despite the slow burn, the Royals scored first for the 4th straight game. MJ Melendez sent his 4th double of the season off the glove of Andrew Vaughn with one out in the 2nd and scored on Nelson Velazquez’s RBI single. Hunter Renfroe then singled to put runners on 1st and 2nd with one out but Nick Loftin grounded into an inning-ending double play to end the inning.
Chicago responded by getting Royals starter Seth Lugo into some trouble as well in the 3rd. Old friend Nicky Lopez started with a one out single, moving to 2nd on Korey Lee’s infield single. Another old friend Andrew Benintendi loaded up the bases thanks to Bobby Witt Jr’s first error of the season. He made up for it with an impressive inning-ending double play to help Lugo escape the jam.
Kansas City wasted a Witt Jr double in the 3rd but was picked up by Velazquez again in the 4th with a solo shot, his 2nd homer of the season, giving the Royals a 2-0 lead.
Meanwhile, Lugo cruised, neeing just over 50 pitches to get through his first five innings of work but found more problems in the 6th.
Moncada led off with a walk and moved to third on Gavin Sheets one out double. Vaughn followed the double with an RBI single, cutting the Royals’ lead in half to 2-1. The run snapped Lugo’s 11.1 inning scoreless streak to start the season and put runners on the corner with just one out. However, Kansas City’s defense came up big again, with Hunter Renfroe ending the inning by throwing out Sheets at home trying to score on a fly out.
