Just enough to keep us on our toes on this Sunday finale!
The Chicago White Sox fell, 7-5, to the Kansas City Royals in what was ALMOST a comeback for the books. However encouraging, the fight from the team in the ninth wasn’t enough to get the win.
The White Sox got out to an early lead against Michael Lorenzen thanks to Miguel Vargas and his ninth home run of the season, a line-drive rocket to left field for a 2-0 lead. Shortly after followed Nancy Faust on the organ, and all was well.
Mike Vasil got out of an early second-inning jam after a strikeout and double play to erase a walk and a single. Unfortunately, the constant lingering shadow of Salvador Pérez continues into the year 2025, as if we haven’t dealt with him enough. He tied the game up at 2-2 with a two-run shot to left of his own. Vasil would be replaced after 3 ⅓ innings pitched with five hits, two runs, and one strikeout. Tyler Alexander, just acquired today, made his South Side debut in relief and was able to get out of the inning after allowing a walk and a steal.
A common theme for the Royals in this one was stranding runners, as they hit into four double plays through six innings.
After the first inning home run, Lorenzen settled in pretty nicely for the Royals, as he cut through the White Sox after that. He went six innings with one hit, two runs, and seven strikeouts to lower his ERA to 4.94.
Unfortunately, the 2-2 tie was broken by the Royals in the top of the seventh inning, as Mark Canha started the inning with a single and was moved over to second on a bold, two-strike bunt from Kyle Isbel. Drew Waters replaced Canha on the base paths, and Jordan Leasure relieved Alexander on the mound. Just like that, Jonathan India doubled in the go-ahead run, and made it around to home himself on a single by Maikel Garcia to give the Royals a 4-2 cushion.
But wait, there’s more. In the top of the ninth the Royals added an even bigger cushion. After Bryse Wilson tossed a dreaded leadoff walk to Waters, a steal and India single gave K.C. a 5-2 lead. Then of course immediately following, Bobby Witt Jr. had a two-run shot because he was just too quiet so far in the series.
A 7-2 deficit was too much to overcome in the bottom of the ninth inning … or was it? Trevor Richards was in the game for the Royals, and a leadoff walk to Mike Tauchman started the madness. Chase Meidroth and Andrew Benintendi had back-to-back singles, and a Vargas walk drove in the South Siders’ third run.
Shifting to panic mode, the Royals brought in closer Carlos Estévez to finish it off. But no matter, Edgar Quero got in on the fun with an RBI single to cut the Royals lead to 7-4:
With one out, down two, and the bases still loaded, Luis Robert Jr. grounded into a force out to score another run, as his speed in beating out a double-play ball kept the game alive:
Josh Rojas took a walk, loading them up for Tim Elko down two, and two outs. Unfortunately for the rookie, he struck out to end the game.
The good news is that Venable’s boys don’t quit … right? It was nice to see some fight in this team and this group, and scoring three runs in the bottom of the ninth is a start. The White Sox turned a weak offensive output into a hard-fought game to build off of.
The team will have a day off tomorrow before starting a series in Houston against the Astros on Tuesday night at 7:10 p.m. CT at Minute Maid Park. Everyone enjoy the day off, and see you back here Tuesday.
Futility Watch
White Sox 2025 Record: 22-44, the third-worst start in White Sox history and tied for the 99th-worst start in baseball history. A 22-44 record projects to 54-108 over a full season. A year ago, the record-breaking White Sox were 17-49.
All-Time White Sox Record (1901-2025, 19,272 games) 9,616-9,656 (.4990). It’s been 110 games since the White Sox had an all-time winning record.
Record Since the New Pope Was Revealed as a White Sox Fan 12-16
- Race to the Worst “Modern” 162-Game Record (2024 White Sox, 41-121)
- Race to the Worst “Modern” Record in a 162-Game Season (1962 Mets, 40-120-1, finished three percentage points worse than the 2024 White Sox)
- Race to the Most White Sox Losses (2024, 121)
- Race to the Worst White Sox Record (2024, 41-121)
13 games better, in all cases
Race to the Worst Post-1899 Record (1916 A’s, 38-124 adjusted to 162 games) 16 games better