Soler, Royals Beat White Sox 8-6 On A Raw Day For 2-0 Start
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Jorge Soler had three hits and three RBIs, Alex Gordon scored three runs despite not getting a hit and the Kansas City Royals defeated the Chicago White Sox 8-6 on a wet, cold and windy Saturday.
Billy Hamilton got three hits and scored twice for the speedy Royals, off to a 2-0 start for the first time since their World Series-winning season in 2015.
The first pitch was delayed 30 minutes because of rain. When the game began, it was 38 degrees and felt like 28, whipped by 18 mph winds.
Jakob Junis (1-0) gave up three runs — all in the sixth inning on Jose Abreu's home run — over 5 2/3 innings. He allowed six hits, walked one and struck out six. It was the second straight strong starting effort for the Royals. Brad Keller threw seven shutout innings in the season-opener Thursday.
Ian Kennedy pitched the ninth for the first save of his career.
Reynaldo Lopez (0-1) gave up four runs on six hits in four-plus innings.
The Royals' team speed certainly seemed to rattle Lopez.
Hamilton led off the third with a single, tagged on a flyout to medium depth right field and advanced to second. With one out, Adalberto Mondesi hit an RBI single.
Lopez then hit Alex Gordon with a pitch and both runners had lengthy leads and drew repeated throws. After Jorge Soler singled, Ryan O'Hearn bounced a two-run single up the middle.
The Royals made it 4-0 in the fifth when Gordon walked and scored on a double by Soler, chasing Lopez.
Yolmer Sanchez and Yoan Moncada singled in the White Sox sixth and Abreu homered.
The Royals came back with four runs in the bottom half. Whit Merrifield hit a two-run single, extending his hitting streak to 22 games back to last season, Gordon walked and Soler drove in both runners with his second double.
Moncada homered in a three-run seventh.
Prized White Sox rookie Eloy Jimenez got his first two big league hits after going 0 for 3 in his debut Thursday.
UP NEXT
White Sox: RHP Lucas Giolito will make his season debut for the White Sox as they conclude the season-opening series in Kansas City.
Royals: RHP Jorge Lopez will get the start for the Royals.
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