Royals flipped the script Sunday — but not in a good way — in loss to White Sox
Two early season traits — good and bad — had been established for the Royals entering Sunday: great starting pitching and trouble hitting with runners in scoring position.
The Royals improved on the latter Sunday against the White Sox, but starting pitcher Noah Cameron struggled in a 6-5 loss at Kauffman Stadium. The bullpen also had problems.
“I think that’s the biggest takeaway,” Cameron said, “is we’re scoring runs, scoring five runs, you should win most of those ballgames, especially after we’ve obviously been pitching really well, struggling a little bit (as a team).”
First the positive news.
Entering the weekend, Royals rookie catcher Carter Jensen was the only player in Major League Baseball with three home runs that had an exit velocity of 111 mph or faster.
That’s according to MLB statistics guru Sarah Langs. But Jensen did damage of a different sort Sunday.
The Royals had the bases loaded in the third inning when Jensen hit a squibber that was just 40.4 mph off the bat and traveled a charitable 4 feet. Jensen beat the throw to first as Maikel Garcia scored. And that’s how the Royals snapped an ugly 0-for-33 stretch with runners in scoring position.
“I wasn’t hoping for it to be that kind of hit, but I’m very glad that it happened,” Jensen said. “I was just a little early on one, end-capped it a little bit, and as soon as I knew I had to book it down to first, so it was good to break the streak.”
The Royals collected two more hits with runners in scoring position and hope that sparks future success.
But Jensen lamented a missed opportunity in the seventh inning when he flied out to center with Bobby Witt Jr. on second.
“Kind of got jammed on a fastball. Especially with my mindset and how I approach at-bats, I shouldn’t be missing fastballs like that,” said Jensen, the former Park Hill High School star. “So I’m frustrated with myself, kind of hard on myself about that. But like I said earlier, you live and you learn and come back stronger next time.”
Noah Cameron struggled through start
Now, the downside for the Royals, 7-9, who missed a chance to get back to .500.
The Royals entered Sunday tied for the major-league lead with eight quality starts and the second-lowest ERA among starting pitchers (2.56).
But starter Noah Cameron struggled following a three-hour rain delay as he was torched for five runs in 5 1/3 innings, and the White Sox hit a pair of two-run homers.
The bullpen wasn’t sharp either. Four pitchers gave up just a run in 3 2/3 innings, but allowed the White Sox to score the tying and winning runs. One came on a bases-loaded walk, the other on a wild pitch.
Up next: The Royals are off Monday, then open a three-game series Tuesday in Detroit. Cole Ragans, who left his last start after being hit in the pitching hand, will get the start for the Royals. The Tigers will start Framber Valdez.
This story was originally published April 12, 2026 at 7:14 PM.
