Seth Lugo delivered a stellar pitching performance, tossing seven scoreless innings, while Vinnie Pasquantino’s home run powered the Kansas City Royals to a 2-0 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Monday night.
Lugo (3-0) was dominant on the mound, limiting the White Sox to four singles while striking out four batters and issuing just one walk. It marked his third consecutive win, further solidifying his role as a key contributor for the Royals.
Kansas City continued its dominance over Chicago, extending its unbeaten streak to 5-0 against the White Sox this season. The Royals’ impressive start to the season has been highlighted by their outstanding pitching, as they’ve allowed the fewest runs in the majors with just 48 during their 11-6 record.
Despite the efforts of Andrew Benintendi, who collected two of Chicago’s four hits, the White Sox struggled to generate offense once again. Monday’s loss marked their fifth consecutive defeat, as they fell to 2-14 on the season, with the team being shut out for the sixth time.
The only White Sox player to advance past first base was Braden Shewmake, who singled and stole second in the fifth inning. However, the Royals’ defense held firm, preventing Chicago from capitalizing on scoring opportunities.
In the ninth inning, Royals reliever James McArthur secured the victory by recording his third save of the season. Although Gavin Sheets was hit by a pitch with two outs, McArthur struck out pinch-hitter Eloy Jiménez to seal the win for Kansas City.
On the mound for the White Sox, Nick Nastrini (0-1) made his major league debut, allowing two runs and three hits over five innings. Despite his solid performance, Nastrini was outdueled by Lugo and suffered the loss.
The Royals’ offense was sparked by Pasquantino’s fourth-inning home run, a 421-foot blast to right field. Kyle Isbel added to Kansas City’s lead with an RBI single in the fifth inning, providing the necessary run support for Lugo’s pitching gem.
In the upcoming matchup, right-handers Brady Singer and Jonathan Cannon are set to take the mound on Tuesday night. Singer, boasting a 2-0 record and a stellar 0.98 ERA, will look to continue his strong start for Kansas City, while Cannon will make his major league debut for Chicago, adding intrigue to the contest.
Sonny Gray delivered a standout performance on the mound, pitching six scoreless innings against his former team to secure his 100th career win as the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Oakland Athletics 3-1 on Monday night. Willson Contreras contributed with two doubles and an RBI to bolster the Cardinals’ offense.
Gray, who had been slated to be the Cardinals’ opening day starter before sustaining a right hamstring strain during spring training, returned to top form against the Athletics. He allowed just four hits while striking out six batters and walking none in an impressive display.
Nolan Arenado provided early run support for Gray with an RBI single in the first inning, setting the tone for the Cardinals’ victory. Despite facing an Oakland team that had won three of its last four games, Gray remained composed and efficient throughout the contest.
Esteury Ruiz, called up by the Athletics from Triple-A Las Vegas shortly before the game, provided a late spark for Oakland with a pinch-hit home run in the eighth inning.
Manager Oli Marmol praised Gray’s milestone win, highlighting the significance of earning both his first and 100th career victories at the Oakland Coliseum. Gray’s solid performance was underscored by his ability to limit the Athletics’ offense and secure the win for the Cardinals.
Closer Ryan Helsley closed out the game with a flawless ninth inning, striking out two batters to earn his sixth save of the season. The efficient performance capped off a brisk contest that lasted just 2 hours and 19 minutes.
On the mound for the Athletics, Ross Stripling took the loss after surrendering an RBI single to Jordan Walker in the sixth inning. Stripling, acquired by Oakland in a trade from the Giants, has struggled in his initial four starts with the team, allowing 32 hits.
Despite the loss, the Athletics continue to show signs of improvement, having won three straight series for the first time since 2021. However, they were unable to overcome the Cardinals’ pitching and timely hitting in Monday’s matchup.
The interleague clash marked the first meeting between the Cardinals and Athletics in Oakland since 2019, with the Athletics aiming to build on their recent success in the series.
In the upcoming game, Lance Lynn is set to start for the Cardinals, while JP Sears will take the mound for the Athletics, adding anticipation to the middle game of the series.
MLB scoreboard for Monday, April 15, 2024;
Cleveland 6, Boston 0
Baltimore 7, Minnesota 4
San Francisco 4, Miami 3
Los Angeles (AL) 7, Tampa Bay 3
Toronto 3, New York (AL) 1
New York (NL) 6, Pittsburgh 3
San Diego 7, Milwaukee 3
Atlanta 6, Houston 1
Chicago (NL) 3, Arizona 2
Seattle 9, Cincinnati 3
Washington 6, Los Angeles (NL) 4
Kansas City 2, Chicago (AL) 0
St. Louis 3, Oakland 1
