Final Score: CWS 1 | KC 7

Overall Record: 53-45

Winning/Losing Pitcher

• W: Michael Wacha (7-6 | 3.55 ERA)
• L:  Chris Flexen (2-9| 5.22 ERA)

Royals Player of the Game

Bobby Witt Jr.

3-3, HR (17), 2 RBI, BB, 2 R

How rude of Bob. Michael Wacha goes out there and pitches seven runs of scoreless baseball and he can’t even get the player of the game nod because Bobby was being Bobby. Bobby Baseball some would say. Bob reached base in all four at-bats tonight. He started off the second half with a bang, with a home run in the first. Who says the derby slows people down? Then an RBI single to seal it in the third, followed by a walk that continued a rally, and then another base hit. To make it a perfect night for him at the plate. What else do we have to say about this man? I was talking to a fellow writer for Farm to Fountains tonight, and I said: Bobby Witt Jr. is the best Royal I’ve ever seen play with my own eyes. I was not alive for George, and I love Salvy, don’t get me wrong. But I think a lot of you would agree with me. It’s magical what he is able to do on a baseball field. I mean, even look at the homer he hit tonight. Inside, had to pull his hands in to not get on top of it, and stay strong with his wrists, and he hit it OVER the left field bullpen. Then followed that up with a situational masterpiece and a rocket single in the sixth. He can do it all, and make it look easy. He is simply the best to quote the late, great Tina Turner. 

Key Highlights

As mentioned before, Michael Wacha was spectacular tonight. He had some trouble in the first, but after that, he was all nails. It didn’t even look like a competition for him out there, as he fired seven scoreless innings striking out seven, and only walking one. Remarkable stuff from Wacha all night. He surprisingly, has been the starter that has flown under the radar for the Royals this year. Not because he’s not been great, just because the other performances in the first half were better by his rotation mates. I bet it gets to him a bit that people are talking about the greatness of the rest of the rotation. Not in a bad way, just wants to keep proving that his is still at the top of his game, and my lord was he amazing on Friday. A true pitching masterclass, even if it was against the White Sox. 

We mentioned the first two runs that happened tonight with Bobby Witt Jr.’s 17th homer of the year, followed by an RBI single in the third, but what came in the fifth is what was really special. The Royals were able to jump all over Chris Flexen, starting the inning with a couple leadoff walks and a sacrifice by Adam Frazier to get them over. Bob walked, and then Vinnie Pasquantino got in on the scoring, with a sac fly to right. Giving him another productive out on the season, proving that he is really one of the best situational hitters in the game right now, I’ll say it. Imagine what can happen when he figures out how to hit with no one on. And this sac fly was almost a grand slam. Out of 24 major league ballparks but not Kauffman. But thankfully the Royals kept adding on. After a Salvador Perez intentional walk. The White Sox gifted the Royals another run but hitting Hunter Renfroe on the hand, scoring another one. Which got Michael Massey to the plate. And he hits a two-run single to completely blow it open in this one, giving Chris Flexen a parting gift in the process. 

The inning even continued, with Freddy Fermin joining the party, singling in another run. Giving the Royals a 7-0 lead, and a five run bottom of the fifth. I think Michael Massey really is a key contributor for this team moving forward. If he can figure it out from the 5-6 spot, this team gets an even deeper lineup that fills the nooks and crannies with scrumptious little bits. Getting us closer to the top of the lineup, which has been insane all year long. The White Sox tack one on Chris Stratton, but it’s all for naught. As Alec Marsh closes the game out in this one. An odd appearance for him, since he’s been starting all year. It might be notable moving forward, it also could just be them keeping his arm fresh, since it has been a while since he started. But all in all, this one was all Royals, as they get the second half started hot. Cheers to this continuing through the end of the season, the division is still attainable… right?

Summary of the Next Game

On Saturday, the Royals will turn to right hander Brady Singer to try to continue the dominance over the White Sox in 2024. Kansas City is now 7-1 against the White Sox this year, outscoring them 34-10 in those games. The White Sox will send young righty Jonathan Cannon to the mound, who has been fine based on how Chicago’s year has gone so far. Showing some promise with a 4.41 ERA in ten starts. Hopefully the offensive explosion continues, and the Royals can take another win against this team they’ve done so well against this year.