White Sox 9, Royals 3: Get Out the Brooms!

The Chicago White Sox had another all-around solid performance to grab the 9-3 win against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium this afternoon.

In the Mother’s Day win, we even saw players sporting the pink bats, socks, hats, and other gear, as we can see from Yermín Mercedes pictured below.

Lucas Giolito struggled early on, allowing a leadoff double to Whit Merrifield and a single to Andrew Benintendi to put runners on third and first. Luckily, Salvador Perez helped Giolito out a little bit and grounded into a double play. The run did score from third, though, to make it 1-0. After a walk to Carlos Santana, Giolito got Jorge Soler to ground out to end the inning.

The South Siders came out looking for revenge in the top of the second, and it all started from José Abreu getting hit by a pitch. Mercedes then hit a triple — yes, you heard that right — to drive in Abreu from first. Wheels on all ends.

The inning continued with a walk to Andrew Vaughn, followed by a sacrifice fly by Leury García to drive in Mercedes and give the White Sox a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Danny Mendick, who continues to prove himself in emergency right field duty, singled to drive in Vaughn and make it 3-1.

Giolito seemed to get back on track in the bottom of the second and pitched a quick 1-2-3 inning. The White Sox came back out swinging in the top of the third after a Yoán Moncada single and a Yasmani Grandal walk. With two outs, the Yerminator produced again, with a double to score both Moncada and Grandal, making it 5-1.

Minor lasted five innings, giving up four hits and five runs. His record now sits at 2-2, with a 5.75 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. Righty Jakob Junis came in the game in the top of the sixth and received a little two-out rally from the White Sox. Vaughn hit a double that was close to a home run yet again, and García singled to drive him in for his second RBI of the game, making it 6-1.

Giolito was also pulled after five innings after allowing just four hits and one run. He did not have his sharpest stuff, but gutted it out to go to 2-3 with a 4.54 ERA and 1.29 WHIP. Evan Marshall came in to relieve him and caused some stress with one out, walking Santana and Soler. Codi Heuer poured some gasoline on the fire with a walk to Hunter Dozier to load the bases. But luckily, Michael Taylor grounded into a force out after a terrific play by Moncada, and only one run scored to make it 6-2. Hanser Alberto then lined out to end the inning.

Greg Holland replaced Junis in the top of the seventh inning, and allowed a single to both Tim Anderson and Nick Madrigal. After Moncada advanced the runners to second and third, MVPITO came in the clutch with an RBI single to score both of the runners and make it an 8-2 ballgame.

Heuer came back out in the bottom of the seventh inning, allowing a leadoff triple to Nicky Lopez, followed by a sacrifice fly by Merrifield to make it 8-3. This wasn’t just any ordinary sacrifice fly, though, it came on a spectacular play by Vaughn to take away the hit from Merrifield.

Aaron Bummer came in to replace Heuer and proceeded to get a strikeout and ground out to end the inning. He also recorded two strikeouts and a ground out in the next inning. Safe to say, Bummer’s back as well.

Josh Stautmont came in for the Royals in the ninth, allowing a walk to Moncada and yet another hit by Abreu to drive him in, as Pito smashed a RBI double to make it 9-3.

José Ruiz ended the ballgame on the mound with a 1-2-3 inning as the White Sox extended their win streak to three and improved their record to 19-13. Still standing at first place in the American League Central, the team will have an off-day tomorrow as they head home to start a series against the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday.

This will be the first meeting between the two teams this season, and Dylan Cease will go up against Kenta Maeda. Everyone have a great rest of your Mother’s Day, enjoy an off-day tomorrow, and let’s look to beat the division rivals on Tuesday!