By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
The Kansas City Royals battled back on Tuesday night at Kauffman Stadium to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat against the Chicago White Sox, as Bobby Witt Jr delivered a walk off hit in the ninth to push the win streak to four as Kansas City won 4-3.
The White Sox scored first in the fourth inning on a Brooks Baldwin single, driving in Matt Thaiss, before extending their lead in the sixth inning as Andrew Vaughn reached first base on a fielders choice, allowing Thaiss to score again. The Royals cut into the lead in the bottom of the sixth though on a leadoff home run by Kyle Isbel, but managed just that run to cut it to 2-1.
Chicago added one more run of insurance in the top of the eighth inning, Josh Rojas singling to score Jacob Amaya, but Kansas City again battled to keep the deficit to one run as Salvador Perez doubled in the bottom half of the inning, driving in Vinnie Pasquantino who was walked by White Sox reliever Steven Wilson
Cam Booser was called on in the bottom of the ninth inning for his first save opportunity by Chicago and immediately ran into trouble. Mark Cahna walked, Drew Waters reached base on a fielding error by the second baseman, and Freddy Fermin singled to load the bases before Booser ever recorded an out. Booser did get Isbel to pop out into the infield fly rule, for the first out following Fermin's single.
But after Isbel popped out, it was over as Jonathan India singled home Cahna, leaving the bases loaded, and bringing star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr to the plate who put the ball out into center field for the walk off hit, bringing Waters home to score.
Taylor Clarke earned the win in relief, moving to 1-0 on the season, pitching 1.1 clean innings. In a no decision, Seth Lugo pitched 6.2 innings giving up two runs, one earned, on seven hits while walking three and also striking out three. Pasquantino (2-3) and Fermin (2-4) led the way hitting at the plate.
The Royals will look to secure the series on Wednesday against the White Sox. Michael Wacha takes the mound for Kansas City against Jonathan Cannon for Chicago. First pitch is at 6:40pm, with pregame coverage starting at 6 on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.