Seth Lugo retires 14 straight games in first career complete game, Royals beat White Sox 4-1 – WBOY.com

MARC BOWMAN, Associated Press

17 minutes ago

Kansas City Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr. (center) leads the crowd in chanting the name of starting forward Seth Lugo 67) after Lugo threw a complete baseball game in a victory over the Chicago White Sox, Sunday, July 21, 2024, in Kansas City, Missouri. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Seth Lugo retired 14 batters in a row in his first career complete game Sunday as the Kansas City Royals defeated the Chicago White Sox, 4-1, to win the series.

Lugo (12-4) surrendered one run and struck out six on 103 pitches. He allowed an infield hit to Tommy Pham to lead off the game before retiring the next 14 batters.

Nicky Lopez was hit by a pitch entering the sixth inning and scored on Pham’s two-out single to break the scoreless tie. It was the White Sox’ first run against the Royals starters of the series after 19 scoreless innings.

In the eighth inning, Hunter Renfroe singled to score off Bobby Witt Jr., breaking the 1-1 tie. The Royals collected five hits and scored three runs against reliever John Brebbia (0-5).

Witt had three hits in all three games of the series, helping the Royals complete their sixth series sweep.

Kansas City tied the score with one out in the seventh. Maikel Garcia reached on an infield hit against reliever Justin Anderson, went to third on Dairon Blanco’s hit and scored on Kyle Isbel’s squeeze bunt.

Chicago’s bullpen leads the majors with 24 blown saves and 33 losses.

Drew Thorpe allowed three hits in six shutout innings, walking two and hitting a batter, but stranded five baserunners and retired five in his fifth consecutive start of at least six innings in which he allowed fewer than three runs.

Pham had two hits for the White Sox, who lost their seventh straight game and suffered their 14th series sweep.

NEXT ONE

White Sox right-handed pitcher Erick Fedde (7-3, 2.99 ERA) will face Rangers right-handed pitcher Michael Lorenzen (5-5, 3.52) on Monday in Texas.

Royals left-handed pitcher Cole Ragans (6-6, 3.16 ERA) faces Diamondbacks right-handed pitcher Yilber Díaz (1-0, 1.50) on Monday.

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