Kyle Teel Arrives, Royals Self-Destruct, White Sox Win Again

Robert Returns, Martin Settles, Teel Delivers

Robert Jr. looked sharp in his return after missing the last two games while reportedly working with director of hitting Ryan Fuller and hitting coach Marcus Thames.

In the second inning, he dumped an RBI single into center to score Joshua Palacios, who singled with Teel, who walked in his first career plate appearance, on first.

The lead didn’t last long. Davis Martin gave up back-to-back two-out solo shots to Maikel Garcia and Vinnie Pasquantino in the top of the third, giving the Royals a brief 2–1 lead. But that was about all Kansas City would get.

Martin locked in after that, retiring 12 of the next 13 hitters. The lone baserunner, Drew Waters, was promptly erased by Teel, who gunned him down trying to swipe second.

Martin finished with six innings pitched, allowing five hits, two earned runs, no walks, and striking out seven on 92 pitches (57 strikes, 13 swinging).

Mike Tauchman tied it in the fifth with a solo homer to right, reminding everyone why he’s still affectionately known as the Palatine Pounder.

White Sox Break It Open, Royals Lend a Hand

Things got dicey (as they do) when Jordan Leasure entered in the eighth. He walked Jonathan India and surrendered a single to Bobby Witt Jr., setting up full Royals chaos potential.

But he wiggled out of it, nabbing India at third on a bunt attempt, getting a force at second on a grounder, and inducing a popup to end the threat.

In the bottom of the eighth, the White Sox offense—and the Royals defense—blew the game open. After Andrew Benintendi’s leadoff double and a groundout moved pinch runner Michael A. Taylor to third, Austin Slater worked a nine-pitch walk after falling behind 0–2. Teel followed with a four-pitch walk to load the bases.

Then came Robert Jr.’s go-ahead oppo bloop single to make it 4–2. 

A wild pitch allowed Teel to score. 

Then Kansas City kicked the ball around on a fielding gaffe and an errant pickoff attempt, handing the Sox three more runs. It was a textbook case of “getting White Sox’d,” but in reverse. You hate to see it.

Bryse Wilson pitched a 1-2-3 ninth, which isn’t always easy with a five-run lead, but he’s built different.

Teel Time in Full Effect

Teel finished 1-for-2 with two walks, a caught stealing, a heads-up run scored on a wild pitch, and vibes. A hell of a debut. The moment didn’t seem too big for him—if anything, it looked like he was loving every second.

Excluding the bullpen game against the Detroit Tigers, starters Shane Smith, Sean Burke, and Davis Martin have combined for just three walks in 18.1 innings this week. That feels worth mentioning.

And after a rocky start, Brandon Eisert continues to trend upward. In his last seven outings, he’s thrown 7.2 innings with just one earned run, four hits, one walk, and 10 strikeouts.

What’s On Tap Next?

The South Siders will try to clinch the weekend series Saturday when veteran Adrian Houser makes his fourth start with the club. He tossed 6.1 innings of three-run ball last time out against the Mets.

Michael Wacha gets the ball for Kansas City. He held the White Sox scoreless over seven innings in a 2–1 Royals win last month.

First pitch is at 3:10 PM CT on CHSN.