White Sox Trounced by Royals in Labor Day Matinee

The Kansas City Royals teed off on Chicago White Sox starter Jesse Scholtens and outhit the South Siders 16-3 on Monday afternoon. The 16-hit attack included three homers, two of which were allowed by Scholtens, and produced 12 runs. Chicago's offense could only muster three hits with no walks and put only two runners in scoring position. 

The loss snapped the White Sox' three-game winning streak against the Royals, tying the season series at four apiece.

Royals starter Cole Ragans retired the first 13 hitters he faced until Yoan Moncada's soft liner to center with one out in the fifth. Ragans erased the base hit when he got Lenyn Sosa to ground into an inning-ending double play. Moncada's single was the only hit allowed by the Royals lefty in his six innings. He struck out seven and issued no free passes.

Scoring Early and Often

Declan Cronin relieved the Scholtens with two outs and the bases loaded in the fourth inning. He escaped the jam by getting Salvador Perez to pop out. However, Kansas City already led 5-0 at that point.

Edward Olivares homered in the first, and Drew Waters added an RBI single that scored Michael Massey in the second. Perez's sacrifice fly scored the Royals third run, and Nelson Velazquez blasted a two-run homer in the fourth.

Kansas City landed a haymaker by scoring seven times in the fifth frame. After Cronin allowed a single to MJ Melendez and back-to-back walks to Freddy Fermin and Velazquez, Massey grounded into a run-scoring fielder's choice. Waters drove in his second run of the game, and Sammy Peralta relieved Cronin.

Nick Loftin and Maikel Gracia rudely greeted Peralta with back-to-back doubles to make it 10-0, and Olivares capped off the rally with a two-run blast to center.

Edgard Navarro pitched a scoreless eighth inning for the Pale Hose, becoming the only White Sox pitcher who didn't allow a run.

One Run

Trayce Thompson reached base on an infield single in the eighth inning, allowing Oscar Colas to score for the White Sox' first run. A throwing error by Matt Beaty allowed Colas to score from second base. The run was unearned.

The White Sox are 0-4 since naming Chris Getz general manager and have been outscored 29-5 in those games.

News and Notes

Luis Robert Jr. sat out for the third consecutive game.

The White Sox recalled Declan Cronin and placed Jimmy Lambert on the injured list before the game. Chicago also activated backup catcher Seby Zavala from the injured list and designated him for assignment.

What's On Tap Next?

The White Sox and Royals will play the second contest of a three-game series Tuesday night. Dylan Cease will take the mound for Chicago against Brady Singer of the Royals. First pitch is at 6:40 PM CT and the game will air on NBC Sports Chicago.