Waters breaks tie with walk, Royals beat White Sox 6-4
By Marc Bowman Associated Press
Kansas City, Mo. (AP)–Drew Waters drew a bases-loaded walk to break an eighth-inning tie in his major league debut, boosting the Kansas City Royals to a 6-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Monday in a game rescheduled because of the lockout in April.
Joe Kelly (1-3), the seventh of eight White Sox pitchers, hit a pair of batters to start the inning. Ryan O’Hearn singled, and Waters drew a five-pitch walk with one out to break a 4-all tie.
The White Sox rallied from a four-run deficit after their starter, Michael Kopech, exited the game having faced just four hitters.
Kopech hit a batter, allowed an RBI single to Salvador Perez, and walked the bases full before leaving with left knee soreness.
Elvis Andrus drove in three runs in his third game with the White Sox. Chicago signed the veteran shortstop on Friday after the Oakland Athletics designated him for assignment.
Jose Abreu had three hits and two walks for the White Sox, who have dropped four of five since winning five straight.
Amir Garrett (3-1) pitched a scoreless eighth and Scott Barlow finished for his 20th save.
Perez snapped a three-game hitless streak (0-for-10) as the Royals batted around in the first inning, scoring four. Michael Massey and O’Hearn also had RBI hits.
The six runs were the most scored by the Royals since Aug. 10. Kansas City batted .167 while losing six of seven on the road last week, totaling 10 runs.
Chicago batted around in the fourth, capped by Andrus’ two-run single, cutting Kansas City’s lead to 4-3.
Andrus then tied the game with an RBI double in the seventh.
Trainer’s Room
After batting in the second, Royals 1B Vinnie Pasquantino left the game with right shoulder discomfort.
Transactions
Royals OF Drew Waters was recalled from Triple-A Omaha, with OF Nate Eaton optioned to Omaha.
Up Next
White Sox RHP Dylan Cease (12-5, 2.09 ERA) takes the mound in Baltimore opposite RHP Austin Voth (3-1, 4.86).
The Royals begin a two-game set against Arizona, with RHP Zach Davies (2-4, 3.99) facing off with RHP Jonathan Heasley (6-4, 3.27).
