Late homer dooms Royals in series-opening 6-5 loss at Chicago White Sox: details
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Derek Hill hit a 417-foot pinch-hit homer off Matt Strahm in the eighth.
- Carter Jensen sparked a 3-run sixth after a called third strike overturned on ABS review.
- Royals will start Seth Lugo Wednesday against White Sox lefty Noah Schultz at 6:40 p.m.
Royals manager Matt Quatraro had the bullpen set up how he wanted on Tuesday night in Chicago, but sometimes things don’t go as planned in baseball.
Left-handed reliever Matt Strahm was on the mound in a tie game in the eighth inning at Rate Field. He got the first two outs, but White Sox pinch-hitter Derek Hill clubbed a 1-1 slider over the left-field wall for a 417-foot homer.
That was the difference as the White Sox won the series opener 6-5.
“That’s baseball,” Strahm said. “Sometimes you’ve got to tip your cap. Unfortunate situation to have to do it, but that’s the game.”
Hill also made a dazzling defensive play in the ninth and took a hit away from the Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr.
“Tonight we put together some great swings, like at the end that diving play in right field by Hill,” second baseman Nick Loftin said. “I mean, if that ball gets by, y’all have seen Bob run. Definitely can change games. So we hit some balls hard tonight. Just never been far away. It’s just something we’re just gonna learn from, move on and get back at it tomorrow.”
The White Sox, 20-21, have taken three of five against the Royals, 19-23, so far this year.
Here’s more from Chicago:
The Royals’ ABS rally
Royals rookie Carter Jensen took a called third strike in the sixth inning Tuesday, starting a game-changing rally.
Jensen tapped his helmet and the ensuing ABS challenge showed the pitch was less than one-tenth of an inch outside. He later drew a walk in the plate appearance and scored as part of a three-run frame that tied the game.
Loftin delivered a two-run double while pinch-hitting and Maikel Garcia followed with an RBI single that tied the game at 5-5.
The Royals’ fast start
The Royals got off a quick 2-0 lead thanks to solo homers by Witt and Salvador Perez in the top of the first inning.
Kolek’s night
Starting pitcher Stephen Kolek allowed one hit through four innings before things got away from him.
Kolek gave up a one-out homer to Chicago’s Drew Romo in the fifth, and later in the frame, Chase Meidroth hit a three-run homer. That was the end of Kolek’s night.
“I was a little disappointed how it finished, obviously,” Kolek said. “I thought it was a tale of two games. Early attacking, getting ahead, filling it up. The main thing I was just being on the attack, and then there towards the end, just nibbling a little bit, falling behind and putting myself into bad spots.”
Injury update for Kansas City
Starting pitcher Cole Ragans, who is out because of elbow impingement, played catch Sunday and Tuesday.
There was a “little more intensity” in the latter session, Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. Ragans will likely play catch again Wednesday, Quatraro said.
Up next: The Royals face the White Sox in the second game of the series on Wednesday at Rate Field. RHP Seth Lugo will start for the Royals against Chicago LHP Noah Schultz. First pitch is at 6:40 p.m.
This story was originally published May 12, 2026 at 9:21 PM.
