In a Tuesday doubleheader, the Kansas City Royals beat the Chicago White Sox 11-10 in the second game after losing the opener 6-2. Dylan Cease won consecutive decisions for the third time in the first game, ending the White Sox’s run of losses when their pitchers struck out 14 or more this year.
Kansas City, with a 45-101 record, could break their team record of 106 losses set in 2005 with 16 games left.
In the second game, the Royals built a 9-0 lead with Logan Porter’s RBI single, Michael Massey’s three-run homer, and Salvador Perez’s second RBI single. Chicago mounted a comeback with an eight-run sixth inning, tying the score at 9-9.
Maikel García’s single in the seventh put the Royals ahead 10-9, and they won 11-10. Luis Robert’s run-scoring forceout in the ninth against Carlos Hernández wasn’t enough for the White Sox.
Touki Toussaint gave up eight runs in just three outs for the White Sox, while Jordan Lyles allowed seven runs in five innings. Dylan Cease (7-7) earned the win for the White Sox.
In the first game, Chicago took a 5-0 lead in the first inning against Brady Singer, who struggled with his command. Chicago’s offense prevailed with Jiménez, Moncada, Sheets, and Andrus contributing to the scoring.
Logan Porter made his major league debut for the Royals in the second game, going 2 for 4 with two RBIs.
On the injury front, Royals’ Austin Cox needs surgery for a torn left ACL and a damaged MCL, while C Freddy Fermin had season-ending surgery on his left middle finger. White Sox’s Luis Robert appeared to have a minor injury but continued to play.
In the upcoming series finale, Royals rookie Steven Cruz faces RHP Mike Clevinger.
Adam Wainwright moved closer to his 200th win for St. Louis, while John Means made a promising return for Baltimore after Tommy John surgery. The Cardinals defeated the Orioles 5-2, and both starting pitchers found positives in this matchup.
Wainwright pitched five solid innings, securing his 199th win, ending a seven-start losing streak. The 42-year-old right-hander allowed two runs and seven hits.
Means, making his first appearance since surgery last April, also went five innings, allowing a couple of homers but demonstrating potential for Baltimore’s rotation down the stretch.
Richie Palacios, who entered the game as a pinch runner for an injured Nolan Gorman, homered twice for the Cardinals. Wainwright credited his improved stuff for the win.
For the Orioles, it was a frustrating loss, but they maintained a three-game lead over second-place Tampa Bay in the AL East.
Paul Goldschmidt and Palacios hit homers off Means, and Jordan Walker added a sacrifice fly for the Cardinals. Baltimore scored two runs in the fifth, but their struggles with runners in scoring position (1 for 12) proved costly.
Wainwright walked the first two batters in the first inning but escaped the jam. In the fourth, he dodged another bases-loaded situation with a double play.
In the seventh, Palacios homered again, and Lars Nootbaar contributed an RBI single for the Cardinals. Despite loading the bases in the seventh, the Orioles couldn’t capitalize.
Injury-wise, Gorman left the game with right hamstring tightness, and Orioles’ catcher Willson Contreras exited with a right hand contusion.
Next, Baltimore’s RHP Kyle Gibson faces off against St. Louis’s LHP Drew Rom on Wednesday night. Rom, who was traded to the Cardinals in a deal involving RHP Jack Flaherty, has an opportunity to make an impact for his new team.
MLB scoreboard for Tuesday, September 12, 2023:
St. Louis 5, Baltimore 2
Cincinnati 6, Detroit 5 (10)
Cleveland 3, San Francisco 1
NY Yankees 3, Boston 2 (Game 1)
NY Yankees 4, Boston 1 (Game 2)
Texas 6, Toronto 3
Minnesota 3, Tampa Bay 2
Oakland 6, Houston 2
Chicago White Sox 6, Kansas City 2 (Game 1)
Kansas City 11, Chicago White Sox 10 (Game 2)
Seattle 8, Los Angeles Angels 0
Pittsburgh 5, Washington 1
Atlanta 7, Philadelphia 6 (10)
New York Mets 7, Arizona 4
Milwaukee 3, Miami 1
Colorado 6, Chicago Cubs 4
Los Angeles Dodgers 11, San Diego 2
