Photo Credit: Nick Wass, AP
Final Score: CWS 0 | KC 3
Overall Record: 5-4
Winning/Losing Pitcher:
W: Michael Wacha (1-0 | 2.25 ERA)
L: Chris Flexen (0-2 | 5.91 ERA)
S: Chris Stratton (1 | 4.50 ERA)
Royals Player of the Game:
Michael Wacha
7 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 8 K, 1 BB
Michael Wacha joins the quality start club the Royals have formed early this year. He was efficient the first time through the order having thrown 25 pitches entering the fourth inning. During the first half of the game, Wacha wasn’t getting a ton of strikeouts but had four K’s in the last three innings. On a night that saw the offense get stifled by Chris Flexen for most of the night, Wacha shut the door on the White Sox.
Key Highlights
After getting seven strong innings from Wacha the Royals offense made sure to get him the win. In the bottom of the 7th, Salvador Perez singled and then MJ Melendez continues his hot start with a 2-run home run. That sealed the fate of the White Sox, the Royals had more opportunities to get more runs. After a Nick Loftin walk and a Garret Hampson single Maikel Garcia drops a ball in-between the second baseman and right fielder for an RBI single.
For once, the Royals didn’t have an issue in the ninth inning which saw Chris Stratton close it out. Nick Anderson gave us a scare in the eighth but got out of his jam to setup the ninth for Stratton. The Royals look to still be operating on the closer by committee after seeing James McArthur close out last nights game.
Summary of the Next Game:
In the series finale against the White Sox, the Royals look to complete a 4-game sweep. The Royals will be sending out Alec Marsh (1-0, 1.29 ERA) after a dominant showing against the Baltimore Orioles. The White Sox get their ace on the bump in Garrett Crochet (1-1, 1.39 ERA) looking to take one game from the Royals.
