Royals rely on rookie sensation to carry load in Sunday’s victory over White Sox
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- Carter Jensen extended his hitting streak to 19 games and had three hits Sunday.
- Royals bullpen delivered five scoreless innings after starter Luinder Avila exited.
- Kansas City improved to 35-50 by rallying for a 5-4 win at Rate Field Sunday.
The Kansas City Royals found a way to salvage their seven-game road trip Sunday afternoon against the Chicago White Sox.
After two devastating losses, the Royals pulled out a 5-4 victory at Rate Field. And rookie catcher Carter Jensen led the way.
In the first inning, Jensen extended his hitting streak to 19 games. He laced an RBI single off White Sox starter Anthony Kay to give the Royals the lead.
Later, Jensen produced an RBI double. Both hits came in clutch situations as the Royals improved to 35-50.
“I know that if I stick to my plan and approach, the sky’s the limit for me,” Jensen told reporters in Chicago after the game. “So try to stay with that and not press with the bat. ... If I do everything right, I’m more likely to get a hit.”
Jensen is now hitting .351 (25-for-77) with 17 RBIs during the stretch. It’s the longest active hitting streak in the majors and the longest for a rookie in franchise history — eclipsing Maikel Garcia’s mark in 2023.
“It means a lot, for sure,” Jensen said of the franchise-high mark. “I think it’s a testament to my hard work. You know, the hitting coaches and a bunch of people have helped me along the way. It definitely means a lot to me. But I think just trying to get some wins across is the most important thing for me.”
In the ninth, Jensen added another single. He was the lone Royal to record three hits against the White Sox pitching staff.
However, KC did receive complementary offense. Royals trio Lane Thomas, Bobby Witt Jr. and Isaac Collins recorded RBIs. Thomas provided two hits in the leadoff spot against Kay — who is a tough left-handed starter.
“I think we’ve seen him a couple of times,” Royals outfielder Lane Thomas told reporters in Chicago. “He is in the zone and mixes well. We’re just trying to get something up the middle and try to swing the bat. He threw us some pitches to hit, and we got to him early, which is good.”
The Royals recorded 11 hits. As the offense carried the load, the Royals’ bullpen also picked up the slack.
KC relievers recorded five scoreless innings, while the White Sox recorded just one hit after the fifth. Five different players tossed a clean frame after Royals starter Luinder Avila allowed four earned runs in four innings.
“A huge day for the bullpen,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro told reporters postgame. “I think it was three runners on base in five innings. A double play turned in there. One hit in five innings.”
Avila didn’t have his best command. He issued six hits, three walks and struck out four batters while not qualifying for the win.
Miguel Vargas bested the Royals early with a two-run homer in the first inning. He added a double in his second at-bat to pace the Chicago offense.
White Sox catcher Kyle Teel recorded a two-run single in the second inning. However, that would be the extent of the club’s offense. The Royals limited Chicago to 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position.
“They have a good offense and have been on a roll,” Quatraro said. “It was our bullpen that did the job.”
KC finishes with a 3-4 road trip. The club split a four-game set against the Tampa Bay Rays and picked up a win on Sunday.
“I don’t think it’s a bad road trip considering the teams that we are playing,” Thomas said.
Chicago drops to 43-39. The White Sox have won seven of 10 games against the Royals this season.
What’s next: The Royals are off Monday before beginning a three-game home series against the Rays at Kauffman Stadium.
This story was originally published June 28, 2026 at 4:20 PM with the headline "Royals rely on rookie sensation to carry load in Sunday’s victory over White Sox."
