Samardzija picked up his second consecutive victory, but the partnership between the right-hander and his favorite team growing up as a kid in Indiana did not end up being the feel-good story it was framed to be when the season began.
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“It was just a simple fix with my mechanics, with where my hands were, to tell you the truth”, Samardzija said.
“Um, you know, unsatisfied for me personally”, Samardzija said of his 11-13 record with a 4.96 ERA.
First baseman Jose Abreu went 2-for-4 with an RBI single, shortstop Alexei Ramirez was 2-for-4 with an RBI double, and center fielder Adam Eaton went 2-for-4 and hit a two-run homer to lead the White Sox (74-83). The two solo shots, which snapped a 17-inning scoreless drought for the Royals, were the only offense Kansas City could muster.
Though the Kansas City Royals proved last season they can succeed in the playoffs without home-field advantage, they sure wouldn’t mind having it this year.
The runs were the first the Royals scored in 17 innings during a three-game stretch that included Kansas City being shut out 1-0 in 11 innings by the Chicago Cubs on Monday night.
The Kansas City Royals announced plans to host a special “Take the Crown” postseason rally at Kauffman Stadium next week.
Game 1: Cueto pitched alright last time out, even if that’s the norm you can live ok with him allowing three runs per contest I suppose.
Runners left in scoring position: Kansas City 2 (A.Escobar, Moustakas); Chicago 4 (Me.Cabrera 2, Ge.Soto, Olt).
“They made two great plays that saved them the game”, Kansas City manager Ned Yost said.
Jeff Samardzija’s last start of the season is not only in the books, it is expected to be his last outing ever with the Chicago White Sox.
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Royals: Morales (bruised right ankle) returned to the starting lineup Tuesday as the DH. He thinks a mechanical issue was the biggest reason for his struggles in the season’s final two months, when he went 3-8 and dropped all six he started in August. He will face White Sox LHP Jose Quintana (9-10, 3.38 ERA) who has taken no-decisions in his last two starts and who has only surrendered three earned runs in September.
