White Sox beat Royals 9-1 to clinch first playoff berth since 2021
Chicago is assured of at least an AL wild-card spot and still has a shot at the AL Central title.
What we know
- The Chicago White Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 9-1 on Thursday to improve to 82-77. [1]
- According to The Associated Press, the win guarantees Chicago no worse than one of the three AL wild-card spots and eliminated Baltimore from postseason contention. [2]
- Chicago scored six runs in the first two innings. Kyle Teel homered and reached base five times, according to AP. [1] [2]
- The White Sox began the day one game behind the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central, according to AP. [2]
The Chicago White Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 9-1 on Thursday at Kauffman Stadium and secured a place in the postseason, improving to 82-77. Kansas City fell to 68-91. [1]
According to The Associated Press, the White Sox are the first team to reach the playoffs right after consecutive 100-loss seasons. The win guarantees at least one of the three American League wild-card spots and eliminated Baltimore from postseason contention, the AP reported. It is Chicago's first playoff appearance since 2021. [2]
The White Sox can still win the AL Central. They started the day one game behind the Cleveland Guardians, the AP said. Chicago finishes the regular season with three home games against the Colorado Rockies. Cleveland finishes its series in Boston on Thursday night and then plays three games in Kansas City. [2]
Teel homered and reached base five times, and five different White Sox players drove in runs, according to the AP. David Sandlin (3-2) gave up one run on five hits over six innings. The AP noted that the Royals drafted Sandlin out of Oklahoma four years ago. [1][2]
Royals starter Randy Dobnak (3-5) allowed six runs, four of them earned. According to the AP, Dobnak made two errors and retired only four batters. [1][2]
The game turned in the first two innings, when Chicago scored three runs in each. The AP said the White Sox took advantage of Dobnak's misplays. Teel reached on a bunt after Dobnak's throw went wide of first base. Miguel Vargas had an RBI single, and Andrew Benintendi hit a sacrifice fly. Tristan Peters then singled home Vargas for a 3-0 lead. In the second, Dobnak threw to first base with no one covering it, and Braden Montgomery scored from second. Vargas added another RBI single. [1][2]
Salvador Perez homered for Kansas City, the AP said. It was his 20th of the season, a club-record 10th season with at least 20 homers. The Royals scored their only run in the fourth inning. [1][2]
RHP Sean Burke (10-7, 3.40 ERA) starts for Chicago on Friday night against Colorado. LHP Noah Cameron (9-8, 3.92) starts for Kansas City against Cleveland. [2]