The Chicago White Sox missed an opportunity to secure a postseason berth Wednesday night, falling 5-4 to the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.
Chicago entered the game needing a victory, along with a Texas Rangers loss to the New York Mets, to clinch a playoff spot. The Mets defeated the Rangers 7-2, but the White Sox could not complete their part of the equation.
The loss leaves the White Sox with another opportunity in Thursday’s series finale. A win would secure their place in the postseason.
Royals Take Early Lead Against White Sox
The Royals jumped ahead 4-0 in the first inning, putting the White Sox in an early hole.
Maikel Garcia delivered a two-run single before Vinnie Pasquantino doubled home another run. Pasquantino later scored when Michael Massey’s grounder resulted in a throwing error.
Chicago starter Bryan Hudson struggled in the opening frame, allowing four runs, three earned, on four hits while recording just one out.
White Sox manager Will Venable acknowledged that the early combination of Hudson and Erick Fedde did not produce the results the team had hoped for.
Chicago White Sox Rally to Tie the Game
Despite the difficult start, the Chicago White Sox quickly responded.
Chicago scored four times in the third inning to erase the deficit. Catcher Kyle Teel delivered a two-run single, while Miguel Vargas added an RBI single. Munetaka Murakami then followed with an RBI double to bring the White Sox level at 4-4.
The rally reflected the team’s ability to remain competitive after falling behind early.
“We just do what we do. We always fight, no matter what,” Teel said after the game.
Fedde Works Through Calf Soreness
Erick Fedde also dealt with an injury scare during the game after a hard ground ball struck his right calf in the second inning.
Fedde remained in the contest and pitched 2⅔ scoreless innings. He allowed four hits, walked two and struck out two.
Fedde said X-rays were clean and that the issue was muscular soreness rather than a more serious injury.
Royals Score Winning Run in Seventh
The game remained tied until the seventh inning.
With two outs, Maikel Garcia delivered an RBI double against White Sox reliever Hagen Smith, bringing home Bobby Witt Jr. and giving Kansas City a 5-4 lead.
Chicago had limited opportunities to respond late in the game. The White Sox recorded only one hit over the final three innings, with Braden Montgomery producing a two-out single in the ninth.
Sam Antonacci then lined out to center field to end the game.
White Sox Still Control Their Playoff Opportunity
Although the defeat prevented Chicago from clinching Wednesday, the White Sox remain in a strong position in the American League playoff race.
Chicago is three games ahead of the Rangers for the final AL wild-card position. The White Sox also remain one game behind the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central after Cleveland lost 1-0 to the Boston Red Sox.
Both Chicago and Cleveland have four games remaining in the regular season.
The White Sox will now return for Thursday’s series finale against Kansas City knowing that a victory will clinch their postseason berth.
White Sox Look Ahead to Thursday
The missed opportunity was frustrating, but Chicago still has a direct path to the playoffs.
Fedde emphasized the significance of being this close to reaching the postseason after the team’s work throughout the year. The White Sox will look to put Wednesday’s loss behind them and finish the series with a victory.
For the Chicago White Sox, Thursday’s game could become one of the most important contests of their 2026 season. A win would officially send them into the playoffs and cap a memorable late-season push.
Key Takeaways
- The White Sox lost 5-4 to the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday.
- Chicago trailed 4-0 before rallying to tie the game.
- Maikel Garcia’s seventh-inning RBI double gave Kansas City the lead.
- The Rangers lost 7-2 to the Mets, but Chicago could not clinch.
- The White Sox remain three games ahead of Texas for the final AL wild-card spot.
- Chicago trails Cleveland by one game in the AL Central.
- A White Sox win Thursday would clinch a playoff berth.
Leave a Reply