Meidroth, Grichuk hit 3-run shots, White Sox beat Royals 14-11 to remain a game back in AL Central

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chase Meidroth hit a three-run homer and had a career-high five RBIs, Randal Grichuk added a three-run shot among his four hits, and the Chicago White Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 14-11 on Tuesday night to stay a game behind Cleveland in the AL Central.

The Guardians, who end the regular season with three games in Kansas City, beat the Red Sox 3-2 earlier Tuesday.

Brenton Doyle and Munetaka Murakami added home runs for the White Sox, who also helped their wild-card cause should they fail to catch Cleveland. They have two more games against the Royals before finishing with three against last-place Colorado.

Anthony Kay had a two-run lead before he even took the mound Tuesday night, and the Chicago left-hander ended up allowing four runs while pitching into the fifth. Noah Schultz (4-9) and the bullpen finished the game, though it wasn't pretty — White Sox relievers coughed up three runs in the eighth and allowed Vinnie Pasquantino's first career grand slam in the ninth.

Daniel Lynch IV wasn't exactly pretty, either. He allowed a career-worst nine earned runs in just four innings for Kansas City.

Lynch was shaky from the start, walking Tommy Pham in the first and giving up a single to Grichuk before hitting Murakami with a 94 mph sinker. Meidroth followed with a two-run single, extending his on-base streak to 13, and the White Sox were on their way.

Doyle made it 3-0 when he sent Lynch's first pitch of the second inning over the right-field wall. But the big blow came in the third, when Grichuk doubled and Murakami walked to set up Meidroth again. This time, the second-year second baseman hit changeup over the middle of the plate into the left-field seats to give the White Sox a 6-0 lead.

Grichuk's own 3-run shot in the fourth came after Miguel Vargas hit a two-out single and Pham drew his second straight walk, while Murakami added his two-run homer during a five-run seventh that effectively put the game away.

White Sox RHP Erick Fedde (8-9, 3.90 ERA) starts Wednesday night, trying to continue a September hot streak that includes a 1.57 ERA over his last six appearances. RHP Seth Lugo (7-9, 5.06) gets the start for Kansas City.

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Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Anthony Kay throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Daniel Lynch IV throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals left fielder Nick Loftin watches a three-run home run hit by Chase Meidroth during the third inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Chicago White Sox's Chase Meidroth hits a three-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Chicago White Sox's Chase Meidroth (10) celebrates with Randal Grichuk after hitting a three-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

BOSTON (AP) — Nathaniel Lowe had a tiebreaking sacrifice fly off reliever Erik Miller in the ninth inning, and the Cleveland Guardians maintained their slim first-place lead in the AL Central with a 3-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night.

Angel Martínez had three hits for the Guardians, who hold a one-game lead over the White Sox atop the Central and have won six straight. Chicago, which won 14-11 over Kansas City, owns the tiebreaker by winning the season series. Cleveland stranded a season-high for a nine-inning game of 15 baserunners.

The loss was Boston’s eighth in 12 games, spoiling Chad Tracy’s first game as manager after the club named him its 49th in team history.

Adley Rutschman added three hits for Boston, which clinched one of the AL’s wild-card spots Sunday.

Boston pinch hitter Mickey Gasper hit Hunter Gaddis’ first pitch, tying it at 2-2 leading off the eighth.

Gaddis (5-3) got the win and Cade Smith the final three outs for his 40th save.

Miller (4-2) hit a batter and gave up two hits in an inning.

A strong candidate for the AL Rookie of the Year, Cleveland left-hander Parker Messick gave up a run over five innings. He lowered his ERA to 2.55 and is on pace to become the fourth rookie starting pitcher in MLB history with an ERA under 2.60 and averaging 9.0 or more strikeouts per nine innings.

In his tune-up for a likely playoff start next week, Boston lefty Payton Tolle struggled with his control over 5 2/3 innings, giving up two runs on eight hits. In his previous start on Sept. 13, he had Boston’s second recorded immaculate inning that opened a game.

Guardians LHP Foster Griffin (15-5, 3.67 ERA) is set to face Red Sox RHP Sonny Gray (17-5, 2.82) on Wednesday in the middle game of the three-game series.

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Cleveland Guardians' Angel Martínez watches his single during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Red Sox manager Chad Tracy walks on the field during batting practice prior to a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Parker Messick delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Red Sox's Mickey Gasper watches the flight of his solo home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)