*Photo from NBC Sports*
Needing a win, the Chicago White Sox rode one of their hot bats. Yasmani Grandal homered, Luis Robert hit the go ahead home run, and the White Sox defeated the Kansas City Royals with a 5-3 victory in 10 innings on Monday night in Kansas City.
With this game being the opener of a rare 5 game series, the White Sox rode some clutch hitting from Grandal and Robert, starting the series off on a high note, and improving to 6-4 in their last 10 games, improving to 17-17 this season and holding second place in the AL Central.
Robert said of his 10th inning homer that "I was just looking to make good contact and drive in that run. The first pitch he threw me was a breaking ball. I was prepared for a fastball, but he threw me a breaking ball. I just hit it hard."
The White Sox got on the board in the 3rd inning to open the scoring. Adam Engel scored on a sac fly off the bat of Andrew Vaughn, making it 1-0 for the White Sox. One inning later, Grandal tripled the White Sox lead, making it 3-0 with a two run home run to right field, hitting his second home run of the season.
In the 8th inning, the Royals suddenly surged back and tied the game. Whit Merrifield started it, cranking a double off the left field wall, scoring Nicky Lopez and Michael A Taylor to cut the deficit to 3-2. Merrifield then came across the plate, tying the game 3-3 on an RBI single from Andrew Benintendi. In the 10th, Robert blasted a two run home run to center field, making it 5-3 White Sox.
Getting the win for the White Sox was Ryan Burr, who pitched a scoreless 9th inning, improving to 1-1 this season. Johnny Cueto made his season debut for the White Sox, throwing 6 shutout innings while striking out 7 hitters. Liam Hendriks picked up his 10th save of the season in the 10th inning.
Cueto said of starting off right that "Throughout my career, I always have put a special emphasis on my first start of the season. Then, I did it today, and I was just excited. I was facing a young team, a team that I used to play with and I was excited. I’m with a team that is a good team, too, with a lot of young talent."
Scott Barlow got the loss for the Royals, falling to 1-2 this season, allowing two runs in 1 2/3 innings of work. Brad Keller had a solid start, allowing 3 runs on 8 hits over 7 innings of work. Dylan Coleman provided a scoreless 8th inning, and Gabe Speier finished the 10th for Barlow after he was pulled.
Up next, the White Sox and Royals play a doubleheader on Tuesday. The first game, the White Sox send Dylan Cease to the mound, while Jon Heasley starts for the Royals. The White Sox have not announced a starter for the second game, while Brady Singer will start for the Royals.
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