KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Chicago White Sox emerged victorious in a high-scoring contest against the Kansas City Royals, winning 14-11 in a thrilling game at Kauffman Stadium attended by 15,785 fans. Second baseman Chase Meidroth played a pivotal role, collecting a career-high five RBIs. He initially hit a foul during his third-inning at-bat but followed up with a three-run homer to left-center field, continuing his streak of home runs across two consecutive games.
Meidroth’s performance helped keep the Sox one game behind the Cleveland Guardians in the American League Central. The Guardians secured a win over the Boston Red Sox, maintaining their first-place standing. Both teams have five games remaining in the regular season, with the Sox still controlling their position as the third AL wild-card team.
Chicago scored in each of the first four innings, solidifying their dominance early. They added five runs in the seventh inning, holding on to win the opener of the three-game series. Left fielder Randal Grichuk noted the importance of team contribution, emphasizing the impact of every player from 1-through-9 in the lineup.
“Any time you put up a good amount of runs, much less 14, that’s a great day,” Grichuk said.
The offensive streak began with Meidroth’s two-run single in the first inning, followed by Brenton Doyle’s home run in the second, marking the team’s 200th of the season. Meidroth extended the lead with his three-run homer in the third, bringing the score to 6-0.
Manager Will Venable praised Meidroth’s growth and versatility as a player, noting his ability to hit across different fields. Grichuk added to the lead with another three-run home run in the fourth, finishing the day close to hitting for the cycle.
Royals’ starter Daniel Lynch IV struggled, allowing nine runs on seven hits across four innings. Venable highlighted the Sox’s successful execution of their game plan against Lynch and the performances across the lineup.
Sox starter Anthony Kay allowed four runs in four-plus innings. Despite missing his spots, Kay felt positive about his delivery, attributing the Royals’ hits to their effective response to his pitches. Kay received crucial defensive support, including a noteworthy play from right fielder Braden Montgomery and a running catch by Grichuk.
After Kay’s exit, Noah Schultz delivered an impressive performance, retiring all six batters over two innings and securing the win. Offensive pressure continued from the Sox, with Munetaka Murakami’s two-run homer contributing to a five-run seventh inning. Murakami expressed satisfaction with his at-bat through an interpreter.
The Sox managed to withstand a late rally from the Royals, which featured a grand slam from Vinnie Pasquantino, concluding with a positive start to their final road series. Venable emphasized the team’s focus on maintaining performance in upcoming games as they near the end of the regular season.