For an offense that scored only two runs in the first three games in Kansas City, the White Sox sure could have used a fast start against Royals starter Alec Marsh.
They were on track for one in the first inning after Yoán Moncada and Gavin Sheets flipped shallow flares into left field. With runners in scoring position and just one out, it was a prime opportunity for Andrew Vaughn to post a positive result. Instead, Vaughn struck out looking, and Andrew Benintendi couldn't muster a two-out hit. Again, the White Sox were left pulling out empty pockets.
With Garrett Crochet on the bump, it was still a scoreless game entering the fourth inning. Benintendi drew a leadoff walk; a baby step in the right direction offensively. Dominic Fletcher followed by pulling a line drive into the right field corner. Slowing down as he approached third base, Benintendi was waved home. The aggressive send by White Sox third base coach Eddie Rodríguez paid off, as Benintendi slid head-first into home underneath the tag. After 17-straight scoreless innings, the White Sox were finally on the board.
Fletcher smartly advanced to third base on the relay throw to home and would later score off Braden Shewmake's sacrifice fly. It was the first White Sox multi-run inning since Luis Robert's two-home run game against Detroit back on March 30, 2024.
In the sixth inning, Vaughn and Benintendi redeemed themselves from their first-inning failure. With two outs, the White Sox strung together three straight singles off Marsh. Vaughn attacked a first-pitch sinker with the best swing he's had in a while, and Benintendi followed by poking a single to shallow center field to score Sheets. Benintendi's first RBI of the season pushed the White Sox ahead, 3-0.
Through four innings, Crochet was business as usual, even without his best fastball command. Even though the season is young and the sample size is very small, Crochet the Starter appears to be a thing. In the fifth inning, the Royals figured out Crochet's tendencies on an afternoon where he had to lean on his slider.
Nelson Velazquez started the rally with a single to center and would later score when Hunter Renfroe barreled up Crochet's slider for a two-run homer. Now a 3-2 game, Crochet's troubles continued as Freddy Fermin doubled to maintain the pressure. After a mound visit from pitching coach Ethan Katz, Crochet got back on track, getting the next two outs without problems and stranding Fermin in scoring position.
"All in all it was really one mistake to Renfroe but I felt like I was battling myself all game," Crochet said postgame. "Fastball command wasn't there so relied on the slider a lot. It was doing a lot for me and I felt it was the right pitch to Renfroe. Threw it with conviction, just missed."
At 77 pitches, that was enough for Grifol, who called on Steven Wilson in the sixth inning. Crochet's final line was 5 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, as he threw 51 strikes on 77 pitches. Wilson was very efficient in the sixth inning, getting a quick 1-2-3 inning on five pitches. With a light workload, Grifol could have rolled the dice for another inning from Wilson but later said he was hesitant to stretch the right-hander after a four-out appearance from him on Friday.
"We just can’t throw him out there multi-innings every time out, every other day," Grifol said of Wilson. "That wouldn’t be wise of us. The other guys have to step up and do the job as well."
The White Sox had another excellent scoring opportunity in the seventh inning. Moncada doubled and reached third when second baseman Adam Frazier robbed Sheets of a single with a nice diving stop. The game found Vaughn and Benintendi again with a runner on third and one out. Vaughn didn't get anything to hit this time as he walked on four pitches. But Benintendi struck out on a foul tip, and Fletcher flew out to center field to end the threat.
Not scoring in that situation came back to bite the White Sox. Grifol kept Wilson on the bench as he went with Deivi Garcia, who walked the leadoff hitter. Dairon Blanco again came in to pinch run and stole second base after Garcia made two failed pickoff attempts. Next was MJ Melendez, and the young lefty again came through with a big home run in the series. His two-run shot was reviewed for fan interference, but the call was confirmed. For the second time in early 2024, the White Sox blew a three-run lead.
Dominic Leone entered the game to put out the fire Garcia left behind, but lighter fluid was used instead of water. Leone just dropped the throw while covering at first, after inducing a one-out grounder to Nicky Lopez, allowing another run across to make it a 5-3 deficit. Another Royals stolen base and Leone walking Garcia put the White Sox in Danger Zone territory with Bobby Witt Jr. batting.
Amid an inning of poor defensive play, Moncada made the highlight reel by fielding Witt's grounder and trusted himself to turn the 5-3 double play. Enough damage was done though, and the White Sox had six outs to score at least two runs.
No damage was done in the eighth inning, but Sheets drew a walk in the ninth to bring the game-tying run to the plate. Again, the game found Vaughn and Benintendi.
Like in the first inning, Vaughn struck out looking at a sharp curveball from Royals reliever James McArthur. Benintendi had a better result, as he singled to left field to keep hope alive. Then McArthur stuck with his curveball, as Fletcher struck out to end the game.
"Overall, that was a game that got away from us," Grifol said. "We should have brought that game home."
Despite having twice the number of hits as the Royals (12 to 6), the White Sox's struggles to cash in with runners on are a big reason why they got swept in Kansas City and are staring at a 1-8 record in 2024.
Game Notes:
- White Sox are 0-7 vs. AL Central
- Gavin Sheets went 2-for-4 with a walk. His season OPS is 1.111
- Andrew Vaughn went 1-for-4 with a walk and three strikeouts. His season OPS is .480
- White Sox were 1-for-10 with RISP and now 6-for-58 for the season (.103 AVG)
