Royals swept by Sox on Mother’s Day

Well, new day, same story for the Royals as they fall to the White Sox 9-3.

On a chilly day for everyone to celebrate their moms, the Royals bats stay cold and Mike Minor could not limit the damage leading to another loss to their division foe.

After a quick first inning from Minor, Whit Merrifield jumped on the first pitch from White Sox ace Lucas Giolito with a drive to left for a lead off double. Andrew Benintendi then followed with a single leading to a runners on first and third situation with no outs with Salvador Perez up. Perez grounded into only his third double play of the year scoring Merrifield for the early lead.

However, that lead did not last long. The White Sox took advantage of a leadoff HBP, when Yermin Mercedes tripled in the second inning scoring Jose Abreu. The White Sox would ultimately score three in the inning giving them a lead they would hold onto for the remainder of the game. In the third, Mercedes would pick up two more RBI’s on a double to left.

Mike Minor exited the game after a scoreless fourth and fifth inning giving him a line of, 5 IP, 5 ER, 4 H, 7 K, 2 BB. Though he did a much better job of keeping the ball in the yard, he struggled with runners on base. He also allowed all three free bases he allowed to score.

Giolito shut down the Royals hitters after the first inning also going five innings allowing just the one run on four hits.

Royals hitters must have done something to the baseball Gods because they had lineouts all over the yard today. Besides Merrifield’s lead off double and Nicky Lopez’s triple in the 7th, most hard hit balls resulted in outs.

There was a big opportunity to make a comeback in the 6th inning. When with bases loaded and one out, Michael A. Taylor hit a hard ground ball that looked to find a hole but Yoan Moncada made a diving snag and getting a force out at second base. Resulting in the Royals only getting on in the sixth.

Thanks to Lopez’s leadoff triple (snapping a 0-17 streak), and a Whit Merrifield sac fly, the Royals added another run in the seventh inning.

White Sox scored in three of the four innings off of Royals’ relievers. Getting one off of Jakob Junis, two off of Greg Holland, and one in the ninth off of Josh Staumont. Scott Barlow produced a quick inning in the 8th inning.

Tomorrow is an off day which is much needed, and then the Royals will have a three game series in Detroit against the Tigers (10-24).

If the Royals have any hopes of making a run this year, the record against AL Central teams not named the Tigers is going to need to change.

One last Happy Mother’s Day to all of the amazing mothers out there, especially my own who spent way too much of her time driving across the country and watching my games!