White Sox in Crisis: Royals' Sweep Exposes Chicago's Defensive Woes, Bullpen Struggles

Stringing It Together

The White Sox pieced together three runs for their starter, with two runs coming in the fourth inning. Dominic Fletcher doubled home Andrew Benintendi and advanced to third on the throw home.

Braden Shewmake's sacrifice fly made it 2-0. In the fifth, the Sox rallied for another run when three consecutive singles by Gavin Sheets, Andrew Vaughn, and Benintendi expanded the lead to 3-0.

All three White Sox runs were allowed by Kansas City starter Alec Marsh, who was relieved by Angela Zerpa. Zerpa inherited the base runners and allowed the single to Benintendi.

Crochet completed the fifth inning, but not before Hunter Renfroe launched a two-run homer to cut the White Sox' lead to one. The left-hander allowed a double to Freddy Fermin in the next at-bat but left him stranded. The Royals' three fifth-inning hits are all Crochet allowed in the abbreviated start. He fanned five and issued no walks.

The Unraveling

The one-run advantage slipped away late as the White Sox bullpen failed to hold yet another lead. Pedro Grifol gave the seventh to Deivi Garcia, who walked the leadoff hitter before MJ Melendez belted a two-run homer, his second of the series, to put the Royals ahead. 

Fermin singled and reached second on Fletcher's fielding error. Dominic Leone relieved Garcia and committed a fielding error on Kyle Isbel's infield single, which allowed Fermin to score the fifth and Royals' run.

The South Siders failed to score on the Royals bullpen and were shut out by their relief crew in the four-game series. Chicago threatened in the seventh when Yoan Moncada doubled to lead off the inning. He advanced to third on Sheets' groundout before Vaughn walked, but both runners were left stranded.

The White Sox put two on in the ninth, but Fletcher, representing the go-ahead run, struck out on three pitches.

News and Notes

Pedro Grifol reiterated that Eloy Jimenez is day-to-day.

The White Sox reviewed Melendez's two-run homer for fan interference, but the umpiring crew upheld the call on the field.

The White Sox are off to their second-worst start since 1968 when they began the season 0-10.

What's On Tap Next?

The White Sox travel to Cleveland for a three-game series against the Guardians. The White Sox have not named a starter for Monday's game but will face Guardians' righty Triston McKenzie. First pitch is at 4:10 PM CT and the game will air on NBC Sports Chicago.