The season-high 12 runs of offense were led by MJ Melendez Salvador Perez and Nick Pratto.
Bobby Whitt Jr. has hit in six straight games. After stealing second Vinnie Pasquantino hits a bloop into left field to put runners on the corners. Salvador Perez comes through with a sac fly and an RBI giving Kansas City a 1-0 lead. For the third consecutive game, the Royals have scored in the first inning. They were also able to extend their consecutive home run streak to six innings
Back-to-back bloop hits gave White Sox runners on first and second. Zack Greinke then got a fielder’s choice out to keep the double play in order. MJ Melendez had a phenomenal diving catch but the runner was able to score tying the game
The Royals and White Sox continue to go back and forth until the sixth inning when Kansas City blew the game wide open. Kansas City scored eight runs with only five hits. In the inning, the Royals faced three different pitchers.
The inning started with Edward Olivares signaling to the right. Pratto was given a free base after taking a pitch off his shoe. Maikel Garcia came up to bat with the intent of bunting to put both runners in scoring position. However, Dylan Cease could not find the strike zone and Garcia was able to load the bases on a walk. That would end Cease’s night.
Matt Quatraro specially called out the importance of taking that walk, calling it a “huge spot in the inning.”
Chicago turned to the left-handed reliever Aaron Bummer and he immediately gave Kansas City the lead. On a 1-1 count Michael Massey singled to left and scored Olivares and Garica. Jackie Bradley Jr. kept the line moving with a double to right. Whitt Jr. and Pasquantino both got out but the Royals were not done scoring. With two outs Chicago intentionally walked Perez to face Melendez.
Melendez hit an off-plate sinker to center driving in two more runs and ending Bummer’s night. Olivares would get his second at-bat of the inning and took a walk to laid the bases for the second time in the inning. Pratto cleared the bases with a hit to deep center field to give Kansas City an eight-run lead.
While Kansas City does have its more talented hitters taking charge of the offensive production, through this hot streak other players continue to step up. Today Bradley Jr. was that guy. With four at-bats he had two doubles and a single. He also drove in two runs.
Quatraro gave Bradley Jr. a lot of credit for his performance today and over the Royals’ hot streak.
“Really good, really good,” Quatraro said. “In fairness, in the last couple of days, he has swung the bat pretty well too. He has gotten some regular at-bats here. His timing again is probably getting better he’s seeing the ball better Jackie obviously has been a really good major league player for a long time so it’s not surprising but it is really nice to see.”
There were two injury updates given at the end of the meeting with the media. During the game, Amir Garrett vomited on the mound. Quatraro called it a general illness and he also updated the status of Ryan Yarbrough, who was hit in the head with a line drive yesterday. Yarbrough was released from the hospital and will undergo further testing tomorrow.
Quartaro said he is making great progress.
“Everything is trending in a really positive direction,” Quatraro said.
Game two of the four-game series continues tomorrow. First pitch is at 6:40.
