The bullpen is still bad, Royals lose 9-3

As we have seen many times this season, an early lead is no match for the Royals bullpen.

A rapid fire rally jump started the Royals but a really bad bullpen blew up the car in a 9-3 loss to the White Sox.

Chicago starter and Old Friend James Shields stayed out of trouble for the better half of seven innings but ran into an old-fashioned keep-the-line-moving Royals rally in the 3rd. Starting with Alcides Escobar, four of the next five Royals got hits, including a Whit Merrifield RBI double and a Salvador Perez RBI single.

The 5th Royal was Alex Gordon, who drove in a run with an sacrifice fly. Once the dust settled, Jakob Junis had a 3-0 lead to work with.

Junis pitched well, but it wasn’t easy, mostly because of Tim Anderson. After working his way around a one-out triple by Anderson in the 2nd, Anderson would have his revenge in the 4th, drawing a two-out walk, stealing second, and scoring on a Nicky Delmonico single.

The White Sox would threaten again in the 5th, putting runners at the corners with nobody out. However, Junis would strike out two and draw a pop out to keep the Royals up 3-1.

Junis continued his strong August, giving up less than three runs for the third straight outing. In June and July, he started eight games and had no such outings.

Anderson, however, continued to be a thorn in Junis’ side, doubling with one out in the 6th and forcing Ned Yost to go to the bullpen. Anderson proceeded to steal third off of Tim Hill and score on a Delmoncio groundout to bring the White Sox to within a run.

With Junis gone and the Royals bullpen attempting to prevent runs, the White Sox were immediately back for more in the 7th. Yoan Moncada led off the inning with a single and Yolmer Sanchez reaching on an Alcides Escobar error.

At this point, Yost had seen enough from Hill and decided to bring in Jason Adam to face Jose Abreu. It did not go well. Abreu took Adam deep over the left-center wall, putting Chicago up 5-3.

Adam would strike out Matt Davidson for the first out of the inning before giving up four more runs, capped off by a three-run home run by Delmoncio.

It was a 9-3 loss and just another day in the life of a 37-85 team.

Up Next: Kansas City Royals at Chicago White Sox, 6:10 PM CDT, Guaranteed Rate Field. RHP Brad Keller (5-5, 3.40 ERA) v. RHP Dylan Covey (4-9, 6.06 ERA)