The White Sox lost their series finale against the Royals 5-4, unable to produce a walk-off moment after Anthony Kay struggled. Still, the team had already clinched a franchise-record 10th straight home series win and now turns to a seven-game East Coast road
For a moment on Sunday, it looked like the White Sox might do what they’d been doing so well at home all season—turn late tension into a highlight. They couldn’t find a walk-off hero.
Instead. Kansas City took the series finale 5-4. handing Chicago a second consecutive loss in a game that had swings built into it from the first inning onward. Yet the stakes didn’t collapse with the defeat. The White Sox had already clinched a franchise-record 10th straight home series win before the day ended. and they’re now set to leave Chicago for another long. pressure-filled stretch.
They’re heading to the East Coast for a seven-game road trip that starts with the Wild Card-contending Orioles. After that comes a pivotal four-game set against division rivals in Cleveland—an assignment that feels even heavier after a run that has Chicago climbing to the top of the American League Central.
Sunday’s game began with trouble for starter Anthony Kay. In the first inning. he found himself in a 1-0 hole when Kansas City catcher Carter Jensen delivered an RBI single. Miguel Vargas answered immediately in the bottom half, launching his 19th home run of the season. The two-run shot came off K.C. starter Luinder Avila and scored Sam Antonacci, pulling the Sox ahead.
But the Royals didn’t stay down. Kay hit a batter. and Colson Montgomery misplayed an easy grounder to short. setting the stage for Royals center fielder Lane Thomas’ game-tying single in the top of the second. A wild pitch pushed two runners forward, and Bobby Witt Jr.’s sacrifice fly put Kansas City back in front.
Chicago reclaimed the lead in the second. Antonacci started a two-out rally with a single, moved on a double from Vargas, and both runners scored when Kyle Teel struck with a broken-bat single to left.
The back-and-forth returned in the third. Braden Montgomery’s dive came up short as Isaac Collins hit a two-out bloop RBI-double to right field, tying the game again.
By the fourth, the Royals had another answer. Jensen’s two-out double scored Witt Jr., and that was enough for manager Will Venable to make a pitching change. Kay was pulled after giving Kansas City a total of five runs on seven hits and a walk over 3 ⅔ innings, finishing with two strikeouts.
The Sox stayed within reach later thanks to a growing connection between Starling Marte and the Montgomery in the outfield. In the seventh, Marte tried to stretch a single into a double. Right fielder Braden Montgomery fired a laser throw to Colson Montgomery for the out at second. cutting off what could have been the next momentum shift.
In the ninth, a late chance nearly turned into a different ending. Jacob Gonzalez—who had walked off the Royals a day earlier—nearly beat out an infield single, but he couldn’t outrun the play, and Alex Lange’s throw was in time.
The Sox will now carry their recent success out of town, even with Sunday’s final score fading into the rearview.
On deck, the schedule begins Monday when Sean Burke (5-4, 3.71 ERA) starts against Shane Baz (4-8, 4.31) at 5:35 p.m. CHSN and 1000-AM. Tuesday’s matchup features Erick Fedde (2-6, 4.34) against Trey Gibson (1-2, 5.64) at 5:35 p.m. CHSN and 1000-AM. Wednesday’s game is set for 11:35 a.m. on CHSN, with opponents still listed as TBA.
White Sox Kansas City Royals Anthony Kay Miguel Vargas Carter Jensen Lane Thomas Will Venable franchise-record home series win Orioles Cleveland Guardians American League Central
So they lost 5-4 but it’s still a good season?? Confusing.
Anthony Kay always has that one inning where everything falls apart. Like why can’t he just not give up the big swing early, you know?
Wait the Sox “clinch” the home series win thing but then they still lose the finale… so are they even good or is it just home cooking? Also the Orioles part felt random in the article like they jumped topics.
I don’t get it, they said the Royals took it 5-4 after the Sox had already clinched like 10 straight home series wins. That usually means you win the game too, right? Then it’s like they’re going on a road trip to the Orioles and Cleveland like that fixes it lol. Also the part about the catcher Jensen and the misplay by Montgomery… idk sounds like one of those games where one blooper decides everything.