Royals Blank White Sox 2-0, Extend Dominance
In a dominant display, Seth Lugo led the Kansas City Royals to a 2-0 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Monday night. Lugo’s seven-inning performance was a masterclass in efficiency, allowing only four singles while striking out four and walking one.
The Royals’ offense was sparked by Vinnie Pasquantino’s solo home run in the fourth inning, a 421-foot blast off White Sox debutant Nick Nastrini. Kyle Isbel added an RBI single in the fifth to extend Kansas City’s lead.
Despite loading the bases with two outs in the fifth, the Royals failed to capitalize on their opportunity, with Bobby Witt Jr. flying out to the center field wall. However, the Royals’ stingy defense and Lugo’s dominance kept the White Sox at bay.
Nastrini, in his major league debut, pitched five innings for Chicago, allowing two runs on three hits. He struck out five and walked two, but the White Sox offense struggled to provide him with any support.
Andrew Benintendi had two of Chicago’s four hits, but the team was shut out for the sixth time in their dismal 2-14 start. The White Sox have scored a league-low 34 runs this season, while the Royals have allowed a league-low 48 runs.
The Royals’ victory marked their fifth straight win over the White Sox this season, improving their record to 11-6. The White Sox, meanwhile, extended their losing streak to five games and remain at the bottom of the American League Central standings.
