The White Sox came to Kauffman Stadium with a shot to lock up a postseason berth. The Royals made sure that wait went on at least one more day.
Kansas City jumped on Chicago right away Wednesday night and held on for a 5-4 win, spoiling the White Sox’s chance to clinch with a victory and a Texas Rangers loss. Maikel Garcia set the tone early and finished as the difference-maker again late, going 3-for-3 and driving in three runs.
The first inning belonged to the Royals. Carter Jensen and Bobby Witt Jr. opened with singles, Jac Caglianone moved both runners into scoring position, and Garcia punched a two-run single to bring them home. Kansas City kept the pressure on as Vinnie Pasquantino added an RBI single and later scored on an error, and just like that the Royals had a four-run cushion before the night had settled in.
That lead did not last long. Seth Lugo, who was given plenty of breathing room, watched it disappear in a rough third inning.
Chicago opened the frame with singles from Chase Meidroth and Braden Montgomery, then Lugo hit Sam Antonacci to load the bases. Kyle Teel followed with a two-run single, Miguel Vargas added another RBI, and Munetaka Murakami capped the comeback with an RBI double to tie the game.
Lugo was done after 3 ⅓ innings, charged with four runs on seven hits. He threw 41 of 72 pitches for strikes.
It was another difficult outing in a stretch that has not gone his way - in his last eight starts, he has allowed four or more runs five times. He closes his 2026 season with a 5.17 ERA in 172 ⅓ innings.
From there, Kansas City’s bullpen pieced the night together. Anthony Gose, Connor Thomas, Lucas Erceg and Steven Cruz all kept Chicago off the board over the final frames. Thomas worked two clean innings, Erceg handled the eighth after the Royals had nudged back in front, and Cruz finished the job for his eighth save.
That winning rally came in the bottom of the eighth, when Garcia delivered again with a go-ahead RBI double. It was the kind of night that reminded everyone just how dangerous he can be when he’s seeing the ball well. Garcia had entered the game with just one hit in 18 at-bats since returning from a left hamstring strain, but he looked sharp against Chicago and now has four RBIs in the home series.
The White Sox managed only two hits after the fourth inning. Kansas City, meanwhile, improved to 68-90 and will try to take the series Thursday afternoon.
Chicago fell to 81-77 and will have to wait another day for a chance to clinch its first postseason berth since the 2021 campaign.
Royals right-hander Randy Dobnak (3-4, 3.08 ERA) is set to start Thursday’s finale, with first pitch scheduled for 1:10 p.m. Central. Chicago has not named a starter.
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