White Sox Drop Third Straight as Royals Take Series

The Chicago White Sox dropped their third straight game, allowing the Kansas City Royals to clinch the weekend four-game series. Chicago notched only three hits and went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position in Saturday's defeat. Chris Flexen improved in his second White Sox start, but a two-run homer by MJ Melendez was all Kansas City needed in the win.

Flexen's day began with two Royals singles, but the righty retired the next 12 hitters he faced. He lasted 6.1 innings, his longest outing since July 4, 2022, surrendering six hits and two walks.

Jordan Leasure relieved Flexen in the sixth with Nick Loftin on base. Dairon Blanco pinch-ran and reached third after back-to-back singles from Garrett Hampson and Kyle Isbel. Maikel Garcia drove in the third and final run on an infield single.

The Blunder

Melendez's homer occurred oddly when Dominic Fletcher, filling in for the injured Luis Robert Jr., lept for the ball, which bounced off the wall and his glove before clearing the fence. White Sox skipper Pedro Grifol admitted postgame he should've asked for a review, which could have overturned the homer into a ground-rule double due to the ball hitting the wall first.