White Sox walk-off Royals in extras, 5-2

Following an offensive explosion in Saturday’s win against the White Sox, the Royals were walked-off in extras by Chicago, 5-2.

Kansas City faced off against rookie right-hander Dane Dunning, who was making his second career Major League start. However, the former Florida Gator pitcher more like a polished veteran than an inexperienced rookie. Dunning sat down the first three Royals hitters on strikes to start the game.

Dunning’s counterpart, Kris Bubic, finished a clean bottom of the first with two strikeouts of his own. But the left-hander was knocked around by the bottom of the order in the ensuing inning. After allowing a two-out single to Adam Engel, Bubic left a ball up to Nick Madrigal, who poked a fastball to right field to put the White Sox up 1-0.

Back on the mound for Chicago, Dunning continued his dominance over Royals hitters. The righty retired 15 of the first 16 batters he faced without allowing a hit. He worked five hitless innings and punched out seven Royals.

Chicago put Bubic in serious danger in the bottom of the third. With runners at first and second, James McCann smashed an RBI-double down the left field line to make it 2-0. Needing two more outs to escape the inning, Bubic buckled down and got Luis Robert to pop up and struck out Danny Mendick.

Kansas City finally broke into the hit column after Dunning was pulled prior to the sixth inning. With one out in the top of the sixth, Cam Gallagher smacked a double to the wall in left-center field and Whit Merrifield brought him home on an RBI-single to left field.

Bubic was pulled with one out in the bottom of the sixth at 106 pitches. He allowed two earned runs on six hits and collected a career-high eight strikeouts. Jake Newberry worked around a jam to keep it a one-run game heading into the final third of the game. Josh Staumont was nails in the bottom of the seventh, as well.

The Royals received late game heroics in the top of the eighth and it wasn’t from the league’s most-dangerous pinch-hitter in Ryan McBroom. This time, it was Merrifield, who pounded a fastball over the wall in left field to tie the game at two.

Kyle Zimmer and Greg Holland logged scoreless frames to push the game into extra innings. In the top of the 10th, Adalberto Mondesi was thrown out attempting to steal third with nobody out. Hunter Dozier had the chance to cash in with two on and two out, but struck out on three pitches.

Tyler Zuber came on in the bottom half in hopes of extending the game one more inning. However, Robert popped a three-run bomb to left field to walk off Kansas City, 5-2.

The Royals, now 13-21, will head home for a seven-game homestand beginning Monday. First up will be a matchup with Shane Bieber and the Indians. Brad Keller with throw for Kansas City. First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m. CDT on FSKC.