Anthony Kay struck out six to match a career high over 5 2/3 innings, and Colson Montgomery roped an RBI double as the Chicago White Sox snapped their 14-game road losing streak to the Kansas City Royals with Thursday night’s 2-0 victory.
Luisangel Acuna added a sacrifice fly for Chicago, which won for just the third time in the last 25 games at Kauffman Stadium, where its previous victory came on Sept. 6, 2003. Kay (1-0), who broke into the majors with Toronto in 2019, was making just his ninth career start but third this season for the White Sox. He never faced any real trouble while yielding three hits and two walks on a career-high 100 pitches.
Relievers Grant Taylor, Jordan Leasure and Seranthony Dominguez (two saves) combined to yield two hits and strike out five in helping Chicago snap a three-game skid.
Kansas City’s Seth Lugo (1-1) was charged with both runs while also giving up four hits and four walks over 6 1/3 innings. Maikel Garcia and Bobby Witt Jr each had two hits, but they struck out for the final two outs, respectively, for the Royals, who stranded 11 runners and went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
The Royals have gone 0-for-21 with runners in scoring position while totaling just three runs during their current three-game losing streak.
Chicago managed one hit through three innings against Lugo but opened the scoring in the fourth. Japanese rookie Munetaka Murakami drew a four-pitch walk to begin the frame, then scored on Montgomery’s one-out liner that got by Royals right fielder Lane Thomas.
The White Sox, who managed just five hits themselves and hit in three double plays on the evening, added a run in the seventh. After Lugo exited for issuing back-to-back one-out walks in the frame, Chicago loaded the bases against John Schreiber following a poor throw by first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino on a potential force out at second base. Acuna then lifted his sacrifice fly to right field.
Witt has hit safely in 22 straight games versus Chicago.
