*Photo from Fox News*
The Kansas City Royals probably won't make the playoffs this season. However, they have some very intriguing young prospects that will help the team make noise when they are ready to compete. Edward Olivares homered, Emmanuel Rivera drove in two runs, and the Royals defeated the Chicago White Sox 3-2 on Thursday.
One of those intriguing players is Whit Merrifield, although not a prospect. His ability to hit for contact as well as run is a deadly weapon for the Royals. In the 7th inning, Merrifield stole his league leading 29th base, which is also 29 successful attempts in a row. He was thrown out on his first try of the season, and has now stolen 29 bases in a row. It's the 4th highest stolen base streak in team history.
Rivera was able to get the Royals going quickly in the first inning, hitting a double to center field, which sent Hunter Dozier and Salvador Perez across home plate to give the Royals a 2-0 lead to get the game going. They did not score again until the 7th inning, when Olivares hit a solo homer to center field, which made it a 3-1 lead for the Royals.
After Rivera got the Royals on the board in the top of the first, Jose Abreu got the White Sox going in the bottom of the first, cranking a solo homer to center field, cutting the deficit to 2-1. In the 8th inning, they trimmed it to a 3-2 game, when Eloy Jimenez hit an RBI double, but that was all the White Sox could manage.
One of those young prospects, rookie Daniel Lynch, got the victory for the Royals, improving to 2-3 in his rookie season. Lynch allowed one run on 4 hits and two walks, recording 7 strikeouts in 5 innings pitched. Josh Staumont, Greg Holland, and Scott Barlow each picked up holds in relief of Lynch, and Jake Brentz got his first save in the 9th inning.
Lynch said of his start that "I sort of tried to frame it that way and go, ‘This is an opportunity to come back and get these guys back.' I think I really proved myself: That doesn’t define who I am as a player. But I also didn’t want to give it too much power. I just tried going with the same approach. Executing the pitches, having a good plan."
Dallas Keuchel had a very solid start for the White Sox, taking the loss despite that, falling to 7-5 on the season. In his start, Keuchel allowed two runs on 3 hits and 3 walks, striking out 5 hitters in 6 innings pitched. Reynaldo Lopez was responsible for the Olivares solo homer, but Ryan Tepera and Garrett Crochet each pitched a scoreless inning.
Keuchel said of the loss that "This one will stay with me for a little bit. We value wins more than anything in this game. We've got to take that game, and it started with me. Onto Wrigley and, hopefully, we can do some good there."
The White Sox start a series with the crosstown rival Chicago Cubs, with Lance Lynn getting the series opening start. The Royals head to St.Louis to face the Cardinals, with Mike Minor starting the opening game.
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