Jorge Soler continues HR barrage as Royals edge White Sox

[July 27, 2021]    Jorge Soler hit two home runs for the second day in a row and Mike Minor had another quality start as the Kansas City Royals defeated the Chicago White Sox 4-3 Monday night.

Kansas City Royals left fielder Andrew Benintendi (16) hits a solo home run in the sixth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

By claiming the opener of a four-game series, the Royals earned their sixth straight win.

The White Sox, who were held to five hits, lost for the fourth time in five games.

Minor (8-8) gave the Royals their fifth quality start in the past six games. He allowed two runs on three hits over six innings. Minor walked two and struck out seven.

Minor's victory in Milwaukee on July 20 started the Royals' winning streak.

Scott Barlow worked two innings for his sixth save in nine chances.

Dallas Keuchel (7-4) took the loss. He gave up four runs on six hits -- including three solo home runs -- in six innings. The left-hander walked one and struck out three.

Leading off the bottom of the second inning, Soler hit the first pitch he saw 449 feet over the batter's eye in straightaway center.

Soler then backed that up with a 413-foot home run to left in the fourth inning. It was Soler's 13th home run, his fourth in two games and sixth in six games.

It was the ninth time in his career -- and the second straight game -- that he has hit multiple home runs in a game.

The Royals added another run in the fifth but could have had more. Michael A. Taylor had a one-out single but got caught stealing. Jarrod Dyson followed with a double and scored on Whit Merrifield's double.

The White Sox drew within a run with a two-run sixth. Minor walked Seby Zavala leading off the inning. Tim Anderson's double to the wall in left sent Zavala to third, and both runners scored on Andrew Vaughn's single down the right field line.

The Royals got one of the runs back in the bottom of the sixth. Andrew Benintendi snapped an 0-for-13 skid with an opposite-field homer to left-center field, his 11th long ball of the year.

The White Sox drew within 4-3 in the ninth when Adam Engel's single drove home Yoan Moncada, who had doubled. Barlow then got pinch hitter Brian Goodwin to line into a game-ending double play.

--Field Level Media

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