White Sox 9, Royals 7: Kid Keuchy Was Only Kidding

That was definitely a wild game, boys and girls, so let’s dive in.

BUT FIRST A RECAP ...

Dallas Keuchel was off to a rocky start in the top of the first. He managed to walk in a run, and the control just was not there for him. After three more runs scored off a defensive play by Eloy that should have been set to circus music, Keuchel was replaced by Danny Dopico. Calling it a long inning might be an overstatement, but the White Sox did manage to cycle through the entire Royals order once before getting three outs. An RBI by Jiménez in the bottom of the first narrowed the score to 4-1.

Keuchel was back on the mound at the top of the second, getting a mulligan and starting the second against K.C.’s top of the order. While it was less painful of an inning (he only gave up one run), there was some sloppy defense by Yoán Moncada, who bobbled a grounder. Adam Engel continues to have Kris Bubic’s number, and hit a double off him in the bottom of the second. Third wheel speedster Billy Hamilton followed with another double that scored Madrigal (who had reached first on a single to left) and Engel, creeping in on the Royals lead by bringing things to 5-3.

In the top of the third with two on and two out, Keuchel was replaced by Will Carter, who got out of the inning without damage. Michael Kopech came in during the fourth, and let’s just say again that it’s nice to see him back on the mound looking healthy post-TJ.

In the bottom half a wild pitch brought in Engel, while a passed ball brought in Hamilton, and just like that, it was as if Kid Keuchy was still on his engagement honeymoon with the game knotted at 5-5.

After that, it was shot for shot — José Abreu singled to bring in Tim Anderson, and the Royals answered with 2020’s guest star will every scene cut Jarrod Dyson hitting a sac fly to bring in Hunter Dozier in the fifth. The sixth brought Ryan McBroom with a line drive to right which scored Adalberto Mondesi, and Engel answering with a home run.

Fortunately, that’s where the shot-for-shot ended. Luis Robert singled to bring in Matt Reynolds in the seventh, and the eighth ended with a home run by Andrew Vaughn off of onetime aspiring White Sox No. 5 (4? ... 3?) starter Ervin Santana.

A 1-2-3 at the top of the ninth and that was the ballgame.

He plays for them now?

Carlos Santana and Andrew Benintendi join Santana and Dyson are on the Royals now. Possibly because the BBQ is (supposedly) good in Kansas City.

Bubba Starling still plays for the Royals, and I am told that he is not related to Jim Bob Cooter.

Whose line is it ...

Luckily it’s still spring training, and like Who’s Line is it Anyway, everything is made up and points don’t matter, but woof that was a rough start for Keuchel.

As we get closer to the end of spring training, this does not look like the team last year that slaughtered left-handed pitchers, so hopefully we’re just looking at a little rust and nothing that’s going to carry over in to the regular season.

The curse is lifted!

My curse of “lose or tie” is lifted with this 9-7 win, so I’ll be back tomorrow. I have a winning streak to maintain!