KC Royals began Saturday with a roster move. They finished by beating the White Sox

The Kansas City Royals have inched closer to erasing their disappointing 2023 campaign from recent memory.

Last season, the Royals won 56 games and finished as one of the worst teams in Major League Baseball.

On Saturday, the Royals picked up their 54th win. The Royals defeated the Chicago White Sox 6-1 to earn a series victory at Kauffman Stadium.

And they did it with a balanced attack.

KC scored three runs in the first inning against White Sox starter Jonathan Cannon. Royals trio Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino and Salvador Perez each singled to start the game.

It paved the way for second baseman Michael Massey and outfielder Hunter Renfroe to bring them home. The Royals quickly took a 3-0 lead and didn’t look back.

Later, they scored three insurance runs. The runs were key in helping starter Brady Singer shut down the White Sox. He recorded seven scoreless innings as KC made it two consecutive wins to begin the second half.

Chicago fell to 27-72. The White Sox scored their lone run in the eighth inning against new Royals reliever Hunter Harvey.

Missed previous Royals coverage?

Game 1: Royals return from All-Star Break with 7-1 victory over White Sox

Bobby Baseball: Why one homer reminded Royals fans of Bobby Witt Jr.’s ascension

Here are more notables from Saturday’s game:

Brady Singer adds another quality start

The Royals continue to get strong performances from their starting rotation. On Saturday, Singer added another signature moment to his ledger.

Singer tossed seven scoreless innings against the White Sox. He allowed five hits and registered seven strikeouts.

And he did it primarily with his sinker and slider. Both pitches were effective in limiting the White Sox throughout the game.

Singer collected 42 swings and 11 whiffs, per Baseball Savant. He escaped slight trouble in the fourth inning by getting White Sox rookie Brooks Baldwin to strike out. Later, he worked around two singles in the seventh.

The Royals supplied him with enough run support. In his last five starts, the Royals have scored 39 runs while he was in the game.

Royals release starter Jordan Lyles

The Royals made an additional roster move on Saturday. KC released starter Jordan Lyles after he was activated from the restricted list.

Lyles has been away from the team since early April. The Royals placed him on the restricted list on April 20 after he made five bullpen appearances.

Lyles spent two seasons with the Royals. He registered a 6.11 ERA in 36 games and was primarily a starter in 2023. He posted a 6-17 record and logged three complete games in that span.

Per Spotrac, Lyles was making $8.5 million in the final year of his contract. He will now go through release waivers.

What’s next on the KC Royals schedule?

The Royals conclude their weekend series against the White Sox on Sunday afternoon. KC looks for a series sweep behind right-hander Seth Lugo.

Lugo, who made his first All-Star appearance this season, is 4-2 with a 2.44 ERA in nine home starts at Kauffman Stadium. He will face the White Sox for the second time this season after allowing one earned run against Chicago on April 4.

The White Sox will start right-hander Drew Thorpe in the series finale. He owns a 3.58 ERA this season.