How the Royals overcame the White Sox in a 4-3 comeback win (hello, Witt walk-off)
It took a while for the Kansas City Royals to get an accurate read on Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Sean Burke on Tuesday night.
Burke silenced the Royals early at Kauffman Stadium. He had a slight advantage, as no KC player had logged an official at-bat against him coming into the game.
For five innings, the Royals were limited to three baserunners. Salvador Perez was hit by a pitch, Freddy Fermin reached with a bunt single and Vinnie Pasquantino was thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double.
Yet the Royals found a way, besting the White Sox bullpen with a 4-3 comeback victory. Bobby Witt Jr. provided the game-winning walkoff single in front of an announced 15,968 fans.
“Everyone else did their job so I needed to do my part,” Witt said. “Just was kind of looking for a pitch up in the zone. Was able to get it up in the air and drive someone in.”
It took a little luck for the game to get to that point.
Burke allowed one run across 6 1/3 innings. Royals outfielder Kyle Isbel drilled a solo homer in the sixth inning to cut into a two-run deficit.
“He got late movement with his pitches,” Perez said. “He has a pretty good sinker. The curveball is slow 77-78 (mph), a slider and a changeup. The four-seam cut a little bit. He has some pretty good pitches.”
The Royals kept fighting from behind. In the eighth inning, Perez hit an RBI double. Next, Maikel Garcia nearly tied it with a line drive that was snared by White Sox shortstop Jacob Amaya.
“I felt like we missed some pitches and then we were attacking them,” Witt said. “I think we made some good swings, but yeah, it was just taking it one pitch at a time.”
Trailing 3-2, the Royals found what they needed in the ninth inning. White Sox reliever Cam Booser walked Mark Canha and Drew Waters hit a pop-up that was misjudged by infielder Chase Meidroth.
“It starts with a really quality at-bat from Canha to get us going,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “We have seen so few lefties and for him to be ready to hit right there against a really tough lefty was impressive.”
The Royals had two runners on base at that point. Fermin laid down a bunt single that loaded the bases, and KC took advantage of some defensive mistakes.
“You know obviously, we catch a break with the dropped popup,” Quatraro continued. “Freddy executed the perfect bunt, and I mean that was great. ... But getting the ball in play was key in that inning.”
It was Witt’s second-career walkoff victory.
“Just picking each other up,” Isbel said of the win. “I got a good opportunity in that last inning with the bases loaded and no outs. I wasn’t able to come through but that’s what teammates are for.
“India got my back and Bob came to the plate and I kind of knew the game was over. It’s just team camaraderie and we are all just pulling for each other.”
The Royals improved to 21-16 with their fourth straight win. The White Sox fell to 10-26.
Missed previous games Royals coverage?
Game 1 of the series: Cole Ragans lifts Royals past White Sox in return from injury
Rising star: Why the Royals haven’t called up Jac Caglianone (yet). And when they might
Here are more notable aspects of Tuesday’s game:
Seth Lugo earns no-decision
The late momentum took Royals starter Seth Lugo off the hook. He allowed two runs in 6 2/3 innings of work.
Lugo didn’t have his usual command as he scattered seven hits and walked three batters.
“I think all game I had to battle,” he said. “You know, I think from the first inning it was a lot of pressure applied on both sides. We kept battling, the guys kept at it and we came out with a win.”
Lugo did enough to keep the Royals in the game. He got a timely double play in the third inning, and he retired White Sox outfielder Brooks Baldwin to limit further damage in the sixth.
Lugo threw 58 of his 98 pitches for strikes. He earned a no-decision despite the quality start.
“I feel like I didn’t have a good feel on my breaking balls,” he said. “I wasn’t locating my fastball well. I was changing speeds, but not using the best pitches. I kept throwing strikes and didn’t give in. I kept trying to execute some of it. I just had to rely on pitch mixes to keep them off-balance.”
Baldwin hit an RBI single early in the game. The Royals also gifted the White Sox a second run following an error by third baseman Jonathan India.
What’s next: The Royals continue their series with the White Sox on Wednesday at The K. Michael Wacha (1-4, 3.52 ERA) draws the start for KC against fellow RHP Jonathan Cannon (2-3, 4.26 ERA).
This story was originally published May 6, 2025 at 9:23 PM with the headline "How the Royals overcame the White Sox in a 4-3 comeback win (hello, Witt walk-off)."
