Michael Massey helps Royals to series win vs. White Sox in front of friends & family
Kansas City Royals second baseman Michael Massey grew up about 30 minutes outside of Chicago in Palos Park. Whenever he gets the chance, he always enjoys the opportunity to play in his hometown.
Massey added another top moment — in a memorable year — on Wednesday. He drilled a two-run homer off Chicago White Sox pitcher Mike Clevinger to propel the Royals to a 7-1 victory.
“I think it always comes down to my family is here and being comfortable with them the whole week,” Massey said. “Getting to spend time with them is a comfortability thing.”
Massey is hitting .354 (23-for-65) with six home runs and 17 RBIs in 19 career games against the White Sox. He blasted his second home run in consecutive days with his family, friends and relatives in attendance.
“They are just going to have to come out to Kansas City a little bit more,” Massey joked.
The Royals improved to 46-101 and took the season series against the White Sox. The offense provided ample run support for “bulk” reliever Alec Marsh.
Marsh allowed one run in 4 1/3 innings. He surrendered three hits and struck out five batters as he won his first MLB game.
“I think (having) the things I’ve been working on consistently ... come together is amazing,” Marsh said. “I had so much trust in Sal (Royals captain Salvador Perez) tonight. I don’t think I shook once. We were on the same page the whole time.
“Just being able to prep and game plan correctly, and then go out there to use my stuff. It makes things a lot easier when I’m not fighting myself with my mechanics.”
The White Sox dropped to 56-90. Chicago recorded just five hits as Yasmani Grandal recorded the lone RBI.
The Royals finished 2-4 on their road trip. They will be off Thursday before beginning a three-game series against the Houston Astros at Kauffman Stadium.
“It’s really nice,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said of winning the series. “We know it’s been a tough year record-wise, but to keep trying to put together wins and try to win series is way better than the alternative.”
Missed previous games of the series?
Game 1: Royals fall 6-2 to White Sox in first leg of Tuesday’s doubleheader
Game 2: Royals hold on late in wild 11-10 victory over the White Sox
Here are more notables from Wednesday’s game:
Steven Cruz shines in opener role
The Royals turned to reliever Steven Cruz against the Chicago White Sox. Cruz, who made his first MLB start, didn’t disappoint as he tossed two scoreless innings.
Cruz allowed two hits and struck out four batters. He showcased his power sinker and fastball against the White Sox lineup. The fastball averaged 96.9 mph and his sinker touched 98 mph, according to Baseball Savant.
“For him, it was just the composure,” Quatraro said. “He gets a guy on in both innings, but he is able to work around it.”
In the second inning, Cruz collected strikeouts against White Sox standouts Yoan Moncada, Andrew Vaughn and Gavin Sheets. He generated six called strikes and whiffs in his outing.
“What’s really impressive is the strikeout of Sheets to end the second,” Quatraro said.
Cruz hasn’t allowed a run in his last five appearances. The Royals acquired Cruz from the Minnesota Twins in the Michael A. Taylor trade.
Royals add three insurance runs in 7th inning
The Royals took control of Wednesday’s game in the seventh inning. KC held a two-run lead with a chance to expand it even further.
Royals outfielder Drew Waters got the inning started after being hit by a pitch. Later, Royals rookie Nick Loftin drove him home with a pinch-hit RBI single as the bat came flying out of his hands.
It was his ninth career hit and fifth RBI since arriving from Triple-A Omaha earlier this month.
“Maybe I threw the bat at it, I honestly don’t know,” Loftin said after the game. “Adrenaline was going. I don’t know how many pitches I fouled off at that point. I was just trying to compete my butt off, find a way to get on base and drive in a run. Very thankful with the way it (went).”
Later, Perez and Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. each recorded RBIs. Witt hit a sacrifice fly and Perez added his sixth hit of the series.
On Tuesday, Perez surpassed Royals Hall of Famer Mike Sweeney for seventh-place on the franchise all-time hits list.
The Royals took a 5-0 lead. KC added two more runs in the ninth inning to emerge with an outright series win.
What’s next: The Royals are off Thursday before beginning a three-game series against the Houston Astros at Kauffman Stadium.
This story was originally published September 13, 2023 at 9:32 PM.
