Advertisement

KC Royals finish sweep of White Sox and keep pace with Twins in playoff race

pete grathoff
·3 min read

There is a subtle lesson to be learned not only from the Royals’ 10-3 win over the White Sox on Thursday, but this season as a whole.

It’s this: The annual prospect rankings for all 30 Major League Baseball teams often have some glaring gaps.

For instance, Major League Baseball’s Top 30 list for the Royals in 2020 didn’t include catcher Freddy Fermin. Ditto for 2021 or 2022. The latter was the year Fermin made his big-league debut with the Royals, and he’s been a solid contributor ever since.

Fermin had a two-run homer as part of a four-hit game as the Royals finished a three-game sweep of the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Fermin, who drove in three runs, raised his season average to .304.

Fellow catcher Salvador Perez, playing in his 1,500th career game, had three hits, including a double, and two RBIs.

Kansas City Royals catcher Freddy Fermin (34) celebrates with outfielder Dairon Blanco (44) after hitting a two-run home run against the Chicago White Sox during the second inning at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Kansas City Royals catcher Freddy Fermin (34) celebrates with outfielder Dairon Blanco (44) after hitting a two-run home run against the Chicago White Sox during the second inning at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Playoff implications

The Royals (60-49) are now in a virtual tie for second place in the AL Central with the Twins, who defeated the Mets 8-3 on Wednesday.

Minnesota (59-48) and KC essentially are tied for the second Wild Card spot in the AL, too.

Missed previous games of the series?

Game 1: Bobby Witt Jr. puts on a show in 8-5 win

Game 2: Royals channel 2015 team for 4-3 victory

Key moment

Perez broke a 3-all tie with a single that scored Bobby Witt Jr. in the third inning.

Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. steals second base during the third inning of Wednesday afternoon’s series finale at Guaranteed Rate Field. At left is White Sox infielder (and former Royal) Nicky Lopez.
Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. steals second base during the third inning of Wednesday afternoon’s series finale at Guaranteed Rate Field. At left is White Sox infielder (and former Royal) Nicky Lopez.

In the fifth, Maikel Garcia and Witt singled and each moved up a base on Vinnie Pasquantino’s infield out. Perez hit a bullet that White Sox center fielder Dominic Fletcher couldn’t quite grab, and Garcia scored.

Hunter Renfroe followed with a sacrifice fly that brought home Witt to make it 6-3.

Game highlights

Pasquantino’s two-run homer in the ninth ended any chance of a White Sox rally. It was his 12th of the season and he has 72 RBIs.

Fermin added an RBI single later in the frame as the Royals scored four times.

The White Sox lost their 17th straight game.

Standout day for Singer

Other than a blip in the second inning, Royals starting pitcher Brady Singer was sensational, allowing three runs in six innings with four strikeouts.

Reliever Lucas Erceg made his Royals debut and recorded a pair of strikeouts in a perfect eighth inning.

What’s next: The Royals will open a four-game series Thursday against the Tigers in Detroit. Seth Lugo will start the opener against Keider Montero. First pitch is at 5:40 p.m.

Kansas City Royals pitcher Brady Singer (51) delivers against the Chicago White Sox during Wednesday afternoon’s series finale at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Kansas City Royals pitcher Brady Singer (51) delivers against the Chicago White Sox during Wednesday afternoon’s series finale at Guaranteed Rate Field.