Royals blow lead, get it back to clip White Sox

[September 13, 2023]  Maikel Garcia had three hits, including a go-ahead RBI single in the seventh inning, and Michael Massey belted a three-run home run as the Kansas City Royals edged the host Chicago White Sox 11-10 on Tuesday to earn a split of a doubleheader. 

Chicago trailed 9-0 before getting on the scoreboard in the fifth inning, then erupted for eight runs in the sixth to tie the game. 

Sep 12, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr. (88) hits the wall after catching a fly ball hit by Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (13) during the first inning at Guaranteed Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sport

Garcia gave the Royals (45-101) a 10-9 lead in the seventh with his run-scoring single. Bobby Witt Jr.'s sacrifice fly in the ninth put the Royals ahead 11-9. The team needed that run, as Carlos Hernandez navigated a shaky ninth to earn his fourth save of the season and help Kansas City stop a five-game losing streak.

After watching Chicago (56-89) send nine men to the plate in the first inning of its Game 1 victory, Kansas City followed suit. Logan Porter, who worked at the Royals' spring training facility in high school, delivered a two-run single in his first major league at-bat to highlight a four-run first.

Seven more Royals batted in the second inning. Salvador Perez's RBI single preceded Massey's three-run shot to right field.

Chicago starter Touki Toussaint surrendered eight runs and six hits in one-plus inning with two walks and a strikeout before his teammates rallied to get him off the hook.

After managing just one hit in the first five innings -- an Eloy Jimenez solo homer -- Chicago collected seven hits in the sixth. Gavin Sheets provided a key blow with the bases loaded, hitting a two-run double off the wall in right-center. An error allowed a third run to score, drawing the White Sox to within 9-8.

Sheets advanced to third on the play and scored on Lenyn Sosa's game-tying sacrifice fly one batter later.

Royals starter Jordan Lyles allowed seven runs and seven hits in five-plus innings with three strikeouts and no walks.

Perez and Porter each had two hits and two RBIs, while Kyle Isbel had two hits.

Sheets drove in three runs for Chicago. Andrew Vaughn and Jimenez had two hits apiece.

Taylor Clarke (3-5) picked up the win despite allowing two runs (one earned) and one hit in one inning of relief. He walked one and struck out two.

Deivi Garcia (0-1) was the losing pitcher, yielding one run and one hit in one inning.

--Field Level Media

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