Kyle Isbel’s two-run single in the 10th inning led the Kansas City Royals to a 5-2 victory over the host Chicago White Sox on Thursday afternoon, taking the rubber game of a three-game series.
The Royals loaded the bases with one out in the 10th. After Bobby Witt Jr. struck out, a passed ball scored the go-ahead run. Isbel then stroked an opposite-field single.
The White Sox walked 23 Royals in the three-game series, including eight in this game and two in the 10th.
Scott Barlow (2-0) got the win. Taylor Clarke earned his first save. Aaron Bummer (0-1) took the loss.
Royals right-hander Brad Keller allowed one run on three hits in seven innings. It was his third quality start of the season, but he has yet to get a win. Keller has retired the first batter in 23 of 24 innings he’s pitched this season. He had his streak stopped at 18 straight with a second-inning single by Jose Abreu.
Chicago starter Michael Kopech allowed two runs on three hits. He struck out three and walked four, needing 94 pitches to get through five innings.
The Royals were without shortstop Adalberto Mondesi, who was placed on the 10-day injured list with a torn left ACL. Mondesi is likely to miss the rest of the season.
The Royals got a run in the first on an RBI double by Andrew Benintendi. Nicky Lopez walked leading off the game. It was just the fourth first-inning run of the season for the Royals.
The Royals added a run in the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Benintendi. Cam Gallagher led off with a single and Lopez walked. Whit Merrifield hit into a fielder’s choice, sending Gallagher to third, where he scored on Benintendi’s flyball to left.
Leury Garcia, who came into the game with a .294 career batting average against the Royals, hit a two-out solo home run to put the White Sox on the board in the sixth inning.
The White Sox tied it in the eighth on a sacrifice fly by A.J. Pollock.
–Field Level Media