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Lugo pitches 7 crisp innings as the Royals beat the White Sox

Seth Lugo pitched seven crisp innings, Vinnie Pasquantino homered and the Kansas City Royals beat the Chicago White Sox 2-0 on Monday night.

Lugo (3-0) allowed four hits — all singles — in his third straight win. The right-hander struck out four and walked one.

Kansas City improved to 5-0 against Chicago already this season. The surprising Royals have allowed a major league-low 48 runs during their 11-6 start, and the White Sox have scored 34 runs so far — also the lowest total in the big leagues.

Andrew Benintendi had two of Chicago's four hits in its fifth consecutive loss. The White Sox were shut out for the sixth time during their 2-14 start.

Braden Shewmake was the only Chicago runner to advance past first base. He singled and swiped second in the fifth, but was stranded there when Robbie Grossman flied out to the warning track in right.

Chris Stratton got three outs for Kansas City before James McArthur earned his third save.

Gavin Sheets was hit by a pitch with two down in the ninth, but McArthur struck out pinch-hitter Eloy Jiménez for the final out.

White Sox right-hander Nick Nastrini (0-1) permitted two runs and three hits over five innings in his major league debut. He struck out five and walked two.

Nastrini retired his first 11 batters before Pasquantino connected for his third homer in the fourth, a 421-foot drive to right on a 2-1 fastball.

Kyle Isbel hit a two-out RBI single in the fifth for Kansas City's second run. The Royals had a chance to break it open, but Bobby Witt Jr. flied out to the wall in center with the bases loaded.

Right-handers Brady Singer and Jonathan Cannon take the mound on Tuesday night. Singer (2-0, 0.98 ERA) pitched five innings of one-run ball in Kansas City's 13-3 victory over Houston on Thursday. Cannon will make his major league debut for Chicago.

Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Nick Nastrini throws against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, April 15, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley) (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Kansas City Royals' Nick Loftin, right, slides by Chicago White Sox catcher Martín Maldonado to score on a single from Kyle Isbel during the fifth inning of a baseball game Monday, April 15, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley) (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Chicago White Sox outfielder Dominic Fletcher catches a fly out from Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. during the fifth inning of a baseball game Monday, April 15, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley) (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
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