Maikel Garcia made sure the Royals had something to celebrate Wednesday night, and Chicago had something to regret.
Garcia finished with three hits and three RBIs, highlighted by a go-ahead RBI double in the seventh inning, and Kansas City knocked off the White Sox 5-4 to end a five-game losing streak while putting a pause on Chicago’s push for a playoff berth.
The White Sox entered the night with a chance to lock up their first postseason spot since 2021. A win over Kansas City, combined with a Texas loss to the New York Mets, would have done it. Instead, the Royals played spoiler and kept the race alive.
Kansas City set the tone early with three straight singles to open the bottom of the first. Garcia followed with a two-run single to right, then Vinnie Pasquantino added a double that scored Garcia. Pasquantino later came home on shortstop Colson Montgomery’s throwing error to push the Royals ahead 4-0.
Chicago’s opener Bryan Hudson couldn’t get through the first inning, recording just one out while facing five batters and giving up four runs, three earned.
The White Sox answered in the third with a five-hit burst that sent 10 batters to the plate. Kyle Teel delivered a two-run single, and Miguel Vargas and Munetaka Murakami each added RBI hits as Chicago tied the game at 4.
That set the stage for Garcia again. In the seventh, he delivered the tiebreaking double that gave Kansas City the edge for good.
Connor Thomas picked up the win for the Royals, striking out one and allowing one hit across two scoreless innings. Steven Cruz finished it off with two strikeouts in the ninth for his eighth save.
Kansas City starter Seth Lugo was tagged for four runs on seven hits in 3 1/3 innings in his final start of the season. He struck out three. His 200 hits allowed lead the American League, and his 99 earned runs allowed rank second.
Carter Jensen collected three singles for the Royals, who improved to 68-90.
Braden Montgomery also had three singles for Chicago, which dropped to 81-77 and stayed one game behind the AL Central-leading Cleveland Guardians, who lost 1-0 to Boston.
Hagen Smith, the fourth of five Chicago pitchers, gave up two hits and one run in the seventh.
The White Sox have not named a starter for Thursday’s series finale. Royals right-hander Randy Dobnak (3-4, 3.08 ERA) is set to start.
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