Prized rookie Luis Robert hit his first game-ending homer, a three-run drive in the 10th inning that gave the Chicago White Sox a 5-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday.
Dane Dunning threw five no-hit innings before being pulled from his second major league start, and the surging White Sox won for the 11th time in 13 games to move into a first-place tie with Cleveland in the AL Central.
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Prized rookie Luis Robert hit his first game-ending homer, a three-run drive in the 10th inning that gave the Chicago White Sox a 5-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday.
Five days after Chicago ace Lucas Giolito tossed the first no-hitter of this pandemic-shortened season, Dunning put on quite a performance of his own.
Alex Colome worked around two singles and a walk in the ninth, retiring Adalberto Mondesi on a liner to first with two on to escape the jam. The Royals also had runners on first and second with two outs in the 10th after Jace Fry walked Nicky Lopez and Merrifield. Matt Foster (3-0) struck out Hunter Dozier to end the threat.
The Royals wasted a solid start by rookie Kris Bubic and lost for the sixth time in eight games.
The Royals called up hard-throwing prospect Carlos Hernandez from their alternate site to boost their short-handed bullpen. The 23-year-old right-hander had never pitched above Class A. But with reliever Ian Kennedy (calf) hurt and Trevor Rosenthal traded to San Diego on Saturday, Kansas City needed help.
White Sox: 3B Yoán Moncada was held out of the lineup after he irritated the back of his left leg running the bases in the ninth on Saturday. ... LHP Gio González (strained right groin) was placed on the 10-day injured list.
White Sox: Coming off a no-hitter against Pittsburgh, Giolito (3-2, 3.09) gets the ball as the White Sox open a three-game series at Minnesota. LHP Rich Hill (1-1, 3.55) pitches for the Twins.
Chicago White Sox's James McCann celebrates after hitting a one-run double during the third inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals in Chicago, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2020. (AP PhotoNam Y. Huh)
Kansas City Royals' Whit Merrifield, center, celebrates with Hunter Dozier, left, after hitting a solo home run as Chicago White Sox catcher James McCann looks to the field during the eighth inning of a baseball game in Chicago, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2020. (AP PhotoNam Y. Huh)
Kansas City reliever Tyler Zuber (1-2) intentionally walked José Abreu to start the 10th, putting runners on first and second. James McCann struck out, but Robert drove the next pitch to left field for his ninth home run — tops among big league rookies.
Kansas City Royals' Cam Gallagher, right, celebrates with Hunter Dozier after scoring on a one-run single by Whit Merrifield as Chicago White Sox relief pitcher Jimmy Cordero, top, looks to the field during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Chicago, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2020. (AP PhotoNam Y. Huh)
Five days after Chicago ace Lucas Giolito tossed the first no-hitter of this pandemic-shortened season, Dunning put on quite a performance of his own.
The 25-year-old right-hander struck out seven and allowed just one runner, when he walked Maikel Franco on a 3-2 count with one out in the third. Dunning threw 79 pitches, 45 for strikes, after being recalled from Chicago’s alternate site.
The White Sox were rolling along with a 2-0 lead in the sixth when Cam Gallagher broke up the no-hit bid with a one-out double against Jimmy Cordero. Whit Merrifield drove in Gallagher with a single and tied it in the eighth with a solo homer against Steve Cishek.
Kansas City Royals' Whit Merrifield runs to first after hitting a one-run single against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning of a baseball game in Chicago, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2020. (AP PhotoNam Y. Huh)
Alex Colome worked around two singles and a walk in the ninth, retiring Adalberto Mondesi on a liner to first with two on to escape the jam. The Royals also had runners on first and second with two outs in the 10th after Jace Fry walked Nicky Lopez and Merrifield. Matt Foster (3-0) struck out Hunter Dozier to end the threat.
Chicago’s James McCann walked and scored in the second and smacked an RBI double in the third. Nick Madrigal had three singles and an RBI.
Abreu extended his hitting streak to 13 games, and the White Sox bounced back from a loss to take two of three from the AL Central’s last-place team.
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Kris Bubic reacts as he walks to the dugout after the third inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox in Chicago, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2020. (AP PhotoNam Y. Huh)
The Royals wasted a solid start by rookie Kris Bubic and lost for the sixth time in eight games.
Bubic gave up two runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings. The 23-year-old lefty struck out eight and walked two.
ROYALS CALL UP HERNANDEZ
Kansas City Royals shortstop Adalberto Mondesi catches a fly ball hit by Chicago White Sox's Luis Robert during the third inning of a baseball game in Chicago, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2020. (AP PhotoNam Y. Huh)
The Royals called up hard-throwing prospect Carlos Hernandez from their alternate site to boost their short-handed bullpen. The 23-year-old right-hander had never pitched above Class A. But with reliever Ian Kennedy (calf) hurt and Trevor Rosenthal traded to San Diego on Saturday, Kansas City needed help.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Royals: Manager Mike Matheny said C Salvador Perez continues to experience the discoloration in his vision that landed him on the injured list Aug. 21. ... Matheny had no update on Kennedy, saying trainers were “still taking a look at everything” and “seeing how it looks this morning.” Kennedy was hurt fielding a grounder on Saturday, and Matheny said after that game a trip to the injured list was a possibility.
Chicago White Sox's Jose Abreu hits a single against the Kansas City Royals during the third inning of a baseball game in Chicago, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2020. (AP PhotoNam Y. Huh)
White Sox: 3B Yoán Moncada was held out of the lineup after he irritated the back of his left leg running the bases in the ninth on Saturday. ... LHP Gio González (strained right groin) was placed on the 10-day injured list.
UP NEXT
Royals: RHP Brad Keller (3-1, 2.08 ERA) looks to bounce back from his first loss as Kansas City hosts RHP Shane Bieber (6-0, 1.35) and the Cleveland Indians. Keller got tagged for five runs in four innings against St. Louis last week.
Chicago White Sox's Jose Abreu, left, is safe at third after James McCann hit a one-run double as Kansas City Royals third baseman Maikel Franco misses the catch during the third inning of a baseball game in Chicago, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2020. (AP PhotoNam Y. Huh)
White Sox: Coming off a no-hitter against Pittsburgh, Giolito (3-2, 3.09) gets the ball as the White Sox open a three-game series at Minnesota. LHP Rich Hill (1-1, 3.55) pitches for the Twins.
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Chicago White Sox's Yasmani Grandal hits a single against the Kansas City Royals during the third inning of a baseball game in Chicago, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2020. (AP PhotoNam Y. Huh)
Chicago White Sox's James McCann celebrates after hitting a one-run double during the third inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals in Chicago, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2020. (AP PhotoNam Y. Huh)
Kansas City Royals' Whit Merrifield, center, celebrates with Hunter Dozier, left, after hitting a solo home run as Chicago White Sox catcher James McCann looks to the field during the eighth inning of a baseball game in Chicago, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2020. (AP PhotoNam Y. Huh)