Shane Smith and Tyler Gilbert combined on a two-hit shutout and Korey Lee and Brooks Baldwin smacked back-to-back home runs as the host Chicago White Sox blanked the Kansas City Royals 7-0 on Monday.
Chicago collected seven extra-base hits while securing its third winning streak of at least three games since the All-Star break.
An early barrage boosted the White Sox to just their third win against the Royals in 11 tries. Edgar Quero, Lenyn Sosa and Curtis Mead delivered RBI doubles in a four-hitter span to stake Chicago to a 3-0 lead in the first inning.
Smith (4-7) seized the support to win for the first time since June 10. The rookie right-hander pitched a career-best seven innings in his 24th start, allowing one hit with one walk and three strikeouts as the Royals were shut out for the first time this season.
Smith retired the first eight Royals he faced before Kyle Isbel reached on a fielding error. Mike Yastrzemski followed with a ground-rule double, but Smith escaped trouble by getting Bobby Witt Jr. to ground out to third to end the third.
Gilbert set down six of seven over the last two innings. Witt Jr.’s two-out double in the ninth was Kansas City’s only other hit.
Royals starter Noah Cameron (7-6) matched a career worst by allowing six earned runs and set a career high by yielding eight hits. The rookie lefty did not record a walk or strikeout.
Lee blasted a two-run home run with two outs in the fourth to extend Chicago’s lead to 5-0. Baldwin followed with a solo shot as the White Sox’s 8-9 hitters victimized Cameron. Recalled Friday from Triple-A Charlotte, Lee went 2-for-3 with a walk. Sosa had two hits and two RBIs, Mead also had two hits and Miguel Vargas doubled twice.
Kansas City left fielder Michael Massey went 0-for-2 in his return to the lineup. Massey missed 65 games with various injuries, including those to his left ankle, right wrist, and back. He hadn’t played since a June 7 road game against the White Sox.
Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino’s team record-tying streak of seven games with an extra-base hit ended as he went 0-for-4.
