In some ways, it appeared to come from nowhere.
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Cain homered and Soria worked two scoreless innings in a 2-1 win over the scuffling Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field.
He retired 11 straight until Infante had the first of four straight one-out hits.
Ventura (4-3) gave up three runs and six hits, only the second quality start in his last five appearances.
Then came a crack.
When this season began, the Royals elected to send Duffy to the pen again, hoping his electric power stuff would turn him into a dominating reliever. Infante saw a 94 miles per hour fastball in the heart of the strike zone and ripped a double into the left-field corner.
Kansas City Royals starter Yordano Ventura points to the dugout as he walks back to the dugout after bottom of the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox on Sunday, May 22, 2016, in Chicago. His 4.73 ERA and 4.47 FIP are underwhelming, but he has struck out a hitter per inning.
After an encouraging past week, the Royals may finally be turning the corner and heading in the right direction for the long stretch of summer baseball. After Infante cut Quintana with a double to left, right fielder Paulo Orlando followed with a line drive double to right, leveling the score at 1-1. Alcides Escobar made another brilliant play at shortstop.
A day after hitting into two double plays, including one with the bases loaded and no one out in the seventh, Abreu’s name was absent from the starting lineup for the series finale against the Royals. “If we keep him in the rotation, he’s going to be very solid for us”. Speedy outfielder Adam Eaton has two hits in five at-bats against Duffy in his career with two walks and two RBI.
Struggling White Sox 1B Jose Abreu had the day off. Quintana dropped to 1-7 all-time against the Royals after allowing four earned runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings.
“We win on pitching and defense”, Royals manager Ned Yost said. The 2005 World Series champions were linked with Tim Lincecum, but he chose to stay on the west coast and sign with the Los Angeles Angels.
Ten years after Kentucky Derby victor Barbaro tragically broke down at the start of the Preakness, the owners of the popular colt watched another horse they bred die during a race on a rainy Saturday at Pimlico Race Course.
The Kansas City Royals responded with a vintage 2015 performance.
The White Sox announced RHP Erik Johnson will be recalled from Triple-A Charlotte and start the second game of Monday’s doubleheader against Cleveland.
Levin also noted that the White Sox may try to acquire James Shields from the San Diego Padres or improve their bullpen by pursuing either Andrew Miller or Aroldis Chapman from the New York Yankees. On Friday morning, they owned the best team ERA in the American League (3.19). In that outing, he gave up just one base hits while walking two batters and striking out five.
Gee, who took the injured Chris Young’s spot in the rotation, allowed four hits and struck out five. Matt Andriese (3-0) picked up the victory despite allowing four runs in 51/3 innings.
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Now, however, the Royals have won two straight series, including their latest against the “red hot” Boston Red Sox.
