White Sox continue to flip script in 2026, defeating visiting Royals 6-5 — again
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- White Sox beat the Royals 6-5 for their fourth victory in six meetings this season.
- Royals dropped to 19-24 after their third straight loss and were 2-for-10 with RISP.
- Cole Ragans, sidelined with elbow impingement, keeps throwing bullpen sessions amid rehab.
These aren’t your older brother’s White Sox.
During the previous two seasons, the Royals won 22 of 26 games against the South Siders. But things have changed now.
The White Sox beat the Royals 6-5 on Wednesday night at Rate Field for Chicago’s fourth victory in six tries against KC this season. It was also the Royals’ third straight loss and they dropped to 19-24.
The Royals are just four games back of the Guardians in the American League Central, but Cleveland is the only team above .500. Chicago improved to 21-21. The Royals are in a three-way tie for third in the Central with the Twins and Tigers.
Royals manager Matt Quatraro was asked before the game if he expects a tight race in the division.
“I would think, but I hope not,” Quatraro said. “I hope we run away with it. That’s our plan, but we’ve got to play good baseball more consistently to do that.”
That didn’t happen Wednesday.
The Royals’ early season troubles with runners in scoring position (RISP) resurfaced Wednesday night. They were just 2 for 10 with RISP after batting .295 in that situation since April 22. The Royals left seven men on base.
Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino had the first RISP hit, a two-run single that tied the game 3-3 in the fourth inning. But the Royals ended up stranding two in the frame.
Jarred Kelenic’s two-run double in the bottom of the fifth put the White Sox up for good. The Royals had runners on the corners with no outs in the seventh, but the top three hitters struck out (third baseman Maikel Garcia, shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. and center fielder Lane Thomas).
Witt Jr. had another big moment in the ninth inning, launching a two-run homer that got the Royals within one. But they couldn’t complete the comeback.
‘The same games’
The Royals were facing a division opponent for the ninth straight time and fell to 4-5 in that stretch. Six of these games have been decided by three runs or fewer, including three by a single run.
“They all feel like the same games,” Pasquantino said. “I don’t know about you guys watching them, but they’re just close, competitive games. And I think that’s what this division is right now, and I think that’s why we’re not out of this thing by any stretch.
“So just got to play good baseball and keep moving forward, and we’ll see all these teams again. We’ve played them (Chicago), Detroit and Cleveland twice, so we got them two more times this season. We’ll be ready for those, for those opportunities when they come, but we’ve just got to worry about tomorrow. And, you know, get back at it.”
Seth Lugo’s night
Royals pitcher Seth Lugo struggled, allowing five runs on eight hits in five innings.
Lugo (1-3) struck out four, including one on a milestone punchout, and walked two.
After showing some early dominance in 2026, the Royals’ starting pitchers have just one quality start between them in the team’s last seven games.
KC injury update
Left-handed starting pitcher Cole Ragans, who is out with elbow impingement, played catch for a second straight day (and third time in four days).
“I think we’re trying to keep him as in as much of a normal routine as possible,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said, “so he’ll continue to build the distance and the intensity and then hopefully be off the mound here relatively soon.”
Up next: The Royals will wrap up their three-game series with the White Sox on Thursday — and both teams plan to start left-handers. Kris Bubic is scheduled to go for the Royals, while Anthony Kay gets the nod for Chicago in the 6:40 p.m. start.
This story was originally published May 13, 2026 at 9:25 PM with the headline "White Sox continue to flip script in 2026, defeating visiting Royals 6-5 — again."
