Mondesi, Royals end six-game skid with win over White Sox

[June 08, 2019]  The Kansas City Royals snapped a six-game losing streak with a 6-4 victory over the visiting Chicago White Sox on Friday behind Adalberto Mondesi's third straight hit.

Mondesi's RBI single with two outs in the seventh drove in Whit Merrifield for the go-ahead run. The three straight hits followed an 0-for-11 stretch. Mondesi then scored on Jorge Soler's RBI double.

The White Sox grabbed the lead in the top of the third inning. James McCann hit a two-out, two-run double to left center, scoring Leury Garcia and Jose Abreu.

The Royals got one back in the bottom of the third as Merrifield singled home Nicky Lopez. Lopez, who snapped an 0-for-11 skid on Thursday with a 2-for-4 day, led off with a double.

Kansas City took the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Merrifield led off with an infield single, followed by Alex Gordon beating the shift through the hole at short. Mondesi then doubled to right, scoring Merrifield and sending Gordon to third.

After he struck out Jorge Soler and walked Ryan O'Hearn to load the bases, White Sox starter Ivan Nova was removed from the game. Cheslor Cuthbert then delivered a two-run single to right, scoring Gordon and Mondesi. Cuthbert has hit safely in all seven games since his recall on May 31.

The White Sox tied the score in the top of the seventh. Tim Anderson led off with a double. Yolmer Sanchez singled, advancing Anderson to third. With two outs, Garcia grounded into a run-scoring fielder's choice. Originally ruled a double play, the reversal proved costly for Kansas City as Yoan Moncada lined a double down the left-field line, tying the score.

White Sox starting pitcher Ivan Nova (46) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Nova allowed four runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings, striking out six and walking one. Jace Fry (1-2) took the loss after allowing the rally in the bottom of the seventh.

Homer Bailey allowed three runs on seven hits over six innings before being relieved by Brad Boxberger (1-3), who was credited with the win despite blowing the lead in the top of the seventh.
 

Jake Diekman and Ian Kennedy each pitched a scoreless inning of relief to preserve the win, with Kennedy getting his fourth save.

--Field Level Media

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