Royals vs. White Sox Final Score: Kansas City Offense Stalls Again in 5-2 Loss

For about four weeks in late July and early August, baseball was as fun as it has been in a decade, if not more. Those days are seemingly behind us as the Kansas City Royals (64-61) went through the motions in another lackluster loss to the last place Chicago White Sox (51-74). The 5-2 loss kept them mired deep in the wild standings, 6.5 games out of the second wild card slot, and 4 games behind the 5th place team, the New York Yankees.

Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

On the Mound

If only Jeremy Guthrie could throw out his worst inning. He allowed 5 hits and all 5 runs in a brutal 4th inning last night, capped off by a Dayan Viciedo grand slam. In Guthrie’s other 5 innings – 0 runs, 4 hits. The bullpen pitched 3 scoreless innings in relief.

At the Plate

The offense sleep walked through the the night once again, pushing just 2 runs across on 6 hits. Alex Gordon did get two hits, which, considering his recent slump, is a good sign. Otherwise, the the bats were dormant again.

This and That

The Royals are 2-7 over their last 9 games and have only scored 18 runs in that stretch.

Chris Getz led off the game and went 0-5 on the night. He is now hitting .230. His average while in the first spot in the batting order is .176. Keep writing in Getz and Jamey Carroll in that lead-off spot, Ned Yost. We all see how it is working out for you. Look at a stat sometime; maybe you will learn something.

The Royals’ season has basically come down to the fact that they need to win at least 12 of the next 15, and 8 of the 12 games after that, all of which are against the Indians and Tigers. It does not look promising.

KC Kingdom Player of the Game

Sorry, nobody stood out enough to be awarded our POG last night.

Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

• James Shields – 10
• Alex Gordon – 14
  
• Wade Davis – 5
• Lorenzo Cain – 8
• Luis Mendoza – 3
• Billy Butler – 10
• Ervin Santana – 10
• Miguel Tejada – 5
  
• Jeremy Guthrie -5
• Eric Hosmer – 12
• Chris Getz – 3
• Mike Moustakas – 6
  
• Aaron Crow
• Jarrod Dyson – 3
  
• David Lough – 8
• Alcides Escobar – 5
• J.C. Gutierrez
• Jeff Francoeur
• Bruce Chen – 4
• Salvador Perez – 5
• Will Smith – 1
  
• George Kottaras
• Louis Coleman – 2
  
• Bruce Chen – 2
  
• Justin Maxwell – 2
• Greg Holland -2
  
• Danny Duffy

The White Sox

Dayan Viciedo did most of the damage last night, going 3-4 with that grand slam. Conor Gillaspie added 3 hits of his own.

The Royals made Andre Rienzo look like an All-Star, just like they do so many other young, mediocre pitchers. He yielded 2 runs on just 5 hits over 6 innings. He walked 3 and struck out 5.

Up Next

James Shields (8-8, 3.19 ERA) will try to avoid the sweep, if he can get any support whatsoever from his anemic offense. Jose Quintana (7-4, 3.66 ERA) gets to start for the White Sox.

AL Central Notes

Detroit Tigers (74-52): Detroit scored 7 runs in their last two at bats to strike down the Twins, 7-1. Austin Jackson had 3 hits and 2 runs, while Torii Hunter went 2-4 with 2 runs scored and 2 batted in. Anibal Sanchez pitched 6.2 innings, giving up 1 run on 6 hits.

Cleveland Indians (69-58): Justin Masterson surrendered 10 base runners but only 1 run in a 3-1 victory against the Angels. Michael Bourn had 3 hits, and Nick Swisher homered in the win.

Minnesota Twins (55-70): Kevin Correia looked good for 6 innings before finally running into trouble in the 7th against the Tigers. He surrendered 4 runs (2 unearned) in that fateful 7th. The Twins produced just 6 hits in the loss.