Goins, Reed go deep in sixth consecutive loss

Sometimes the final score makes a game look closer than it was. Unfortunately, that was the case in tonight’s 7-5 Chicago White Sox loss to Kansas City.

The White Sox dug themselves another early hole, as the Royals scored a pair in the first to take a 2-0 lead. After Royals third baseman Cheslor Cuthbert grounded into an unusual 5-3-6 double play, Kansas City had two outs with the bases empty, but still they rallied. The next four Royals reached base, and two of them scored. Jorge Soler drove in the first run with a single, and Nicky Lopez followed with an RBI single of his own.

The White Sox’s first opportunity with runners in scoring position came in the fourth, when they had runners on first and second with one out. James McCann hit a sharp line drive, but it was right at Whit Merrifield, and Leury García was doubled off second base to end the threat.

In the fifth, Welington Castillo broke the White Sox’s 15-inning extra-base hit drought when he doubled in his first game since returning to the majors. However, he was thrown out attempting to advance to third on a wild pitch, wiping out any threat.

After his first-inning struggles, Nova settled down and made a great recovery. With the bases empty and two outs in the fifth, Merrifield reached base on a Kansas City Special, and the Royals went on to load the bases. Naturally, Hunter Dozier drew a walk (the third in a row issued by Nova), and Soler hit a two-run single to expand the Royals lead to 5-0. Soler was the last batter Nova would face. After Jace Fry allowed one of the baserunners he inherited to score, Nova’s final line was the following: 4 ²⁄₃ innings, six runs (all earned), six hits, five walks, and two strikeouts.

One of the few highlights for the White Sox came in the sixth inning, when Ryan Goins went deep in his first major league game of the season.

This was the first major league home run for Goins since Sept. 25, 2017, when he played for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Trailing 7-2 with two outs in the ninth, A.J. Reed came on to pinch-hit for Ryan Cordell, and the move paid off. Reed crushed a 436-foot blast to drive in three runs, his first home run of the season.

Unfortunately, the rally came up short, and the Royals won, 7-5. After dropping their sixth straight game, the White Sox are now 42-50, while the Royals are 35-62.

The White Sox are back at it tomorrow for the final game of this series in Kansas City. That game will start at 12:15 CST, NBC Sports Chicago will televise it, and WGN 720 will have the radio coverage. As for your South Side Sox coverage, Ashley Sanders will have that, and if there’s anyone who can help push this woebegone team to end the series on a high note, it’s our spirit captain.