Nothing to celebrate as Chicago White Sox fall to Royals in 13
The Chicago White Sox seemingly always had an answer.
Every time the Royals took the lead, the Sox came right back and tied it up.
Except in the 13th inning.
Melky Cabrera hit into a 5-3 double play to end the game as the White Sox fell 7-6 to the Royals at U.S. Cellular Field.
"For these guys we haven't scored a ton, but they battled the whole time there," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "We were behind all day and we seemed to just chip away."
In the top of the 13th, Lorenzo Cain ripped a solo home run to left field off Sox reliever Dan Jennings to give the Royals the 7-6 lead.
"I was just hoping for anybody on this team to hit a home run at that point," Cain said. "I ended up doing it and helping everybody get out of here and move on to tomorrow."
The best chance for the Sox (42-47) to win came in the 12th. With two outs, Geovany Soto laced a double off the wall in right center field, but the Sox couldn't bring him around to score.
"In your mind, you are begging (for it to go out)," Soto said. "It would have been awesome."
The Sox battled back in the ninth inning. Trailing 6-4 with two outs and runners on first and second, J.B. Shuck laced a double off Royals closer Greg Holland to left field that scored Gordon Beckham and Alexei Ramirez.
It was the third time this month that Shuck had hit a tying or game-winning RBI. On July 10, Shuck had the go-ahead sacrifice fly as the Sox beat the Cubs 1-0. Then on July 4, Shuck had the eventual game-winning single in the eighth inning against the Orioles.
"Shucky with a big one at the end," Ventura said. "Guys battled."
They had to battle back from another first inning deficit. Sox starter Jose Quintana surrendered 4 straight hits to start the game as the Royals opened up a 3-0 lead.
"I think the first inning was slow," Quintana said. "First inning marked my game. I gave up 3 runs and it's hard."
The White Sox have given up an MLB-worst 71 runs in the first inning and have been outscored 71-27 in the first inning.
"These guys have battled, it's not anything new," Ventura said. "It's happened and they've found a way to fight back we just couldn't get the one that put us ahead."
The Sox battled back and tied the game at three. The Royals (54-35) took a 4-3 lead, but Ramirez hit a solo home run in the seventh to tie it.
In extras, Jennings shouldered the load for the Sox. The lefty pitched a career high 3 2/3 innings.
After Jennings, the Sox only had closer David Robertson in the bullpen.
"Once I went out there, tie game, I kind of had that mindset that I'm going to keep pitching until they pull the ball out of my hand," Jennings said.
As to whether the Sox will have to add another arm for Sunday's game?
"We'll be all right," Jennings said. "Sale's pitching tomorrow, right? I think we'll be all right."