Royals 2013 Series Recaps: Chicago White Sox

After a surprising first season under manager Robin Ventura the Chicago White Sox took a major step back in 2013 finishing 63-99. Despite their record the Royals finished just 10-9 against the South Siders while only outscoring them 57-56 over the 19 meetings.

The meetings between the two teams saw a lot of back and forth between the clubs, Chicago won the first two games which was followed by KC winning the next three. This continued when the ChiSox won three of the next four at the K, but followed with the next four games going to the Royals. As the season closed the two met on at U.S. Cellular Field which the boys in blue took three of the last four.

continued his mastery of the White Sox since joining the Royals with a 3-2 record against Chicago. Photo Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

April 1-4 US Cellular Field (Chicago Wins Series 2-1/Season Series 2-1 CWS)
Scores: April 1 CWS 1-0, April 3 CWS 5-2, April 4 3-1
Recap: The season opener was a pitching duel between James Shields and Chris Sale, which was decided on a home run from Tyler Flowers in the bottom of the fifth.  After an off day the teams again battled on the South Side with KC following 5-2, this time it was Ervin Santana plagued by the long ball as he surrendered two in the loss. Game three featured Jeremy Guthrie scattering five hits and three scoreless innings from the bullpen, the Royals got all three runs in the fifth inning with RBIs from Jarrod Dyson, Chris Getz and Alex Gordon.

May 4-6 Kauffman Stadium (Kansas City Wins Series 2-1/Season Series Tied 3-3)
Scores: May 4 KC 2-0, May 5 KC 6-5 in 10 innings, May 6 CWS 2-1 in 11 innings
Recap: In the first series played at the K two of the three games went to extra innings and were close games. Lorenzo Cain got all the offense the two needed in the first on a 2-RBI triple that scored Billy Butler and Eric Hosmer. Leading 3-1 after six the White Sox struck for four runs before KC scored twice in the ninth and won on a Gordon single that scored Cain in the tenth. The third game will be remembered by Royals fans as Ned Yost taking Shields out after seven innings and a rare Greg Holland blown save with Chicago winning 2-1 in 11.

June 21-23 Kauffman Stadium (Chicago Wins Series 2-1/Season Series 5-4 CWS)
Scores: June 21 CWS 9-1, June 22 CWS 3-2, June 23 KC 7-6
Recap: What had been a fairly close series to date opened with Chicago blasting KC by a 9-1 score with Hector Santiago going eight innings for the visitors. Tied going to the ninth inning, Aaron Crow was unable to get keep it there Alejandro De Aza sac fly with Holland now into pitch being the go ahead run. Chicago led the finale of this series by the score of 2-0, 4-0, 4-1, 4-3, 6-4 before the Royals got three runs in the bottom of the eighth to take the win. The go-ahead run came when Alcides Escobar reached on an error on the shortstop allowing David Lough to score, Holland had a quiet three up, three down ninth.

July 26-28 US Cellular Field (Kansas City Sweeps Series 3-0/Season Series 7-5 KC)
Scores: July 26 KC 5-1, July 26 KC 1-0, July 27 KC 4-2 in 12 innings
Recap: James Shields after an opening day loss and a no-decision in May finally got a long awaited victory over the White Sox throwing seven innings not allowing a run in the 5-1 victory. Arguable his best start of 2013 Wade Davis shutout the ChiSox over 7.1 innings before handing the 1-0 lead to Louis Colemen and Holland, Cain had the lone RBI In the sixth. Needing extra innings is what it took to finish off the teams only sweep of their AL Central foe this series. Bruce Chen threw six solid innings but took another no-decision, Gordon’s 2-run homer off Donnie Veal was the difference in the 11^th inning.

August 20-22 Kauffman Stadium (Chicago Sweeps Series 3-0/Season Series 8-7 CWS)
Scores: August 20 CWS 2-0, August 21 CWS 5-2, August 22 CWS 4-3
Recap: John Danks got two runs in the first two innings which was all he needed in the eight innings pitched with Addison Reed picking up his 32^nd save. Five runs in the fourth inning was all that was needed in the White Sox’s second straight win. Kansas City saw a 3-0 lead disappear and another extra inning home loss to the Pale Hoes.

September 26-29 US Cellular Field (Kansas City Wins Series 3-1/Season Series 10-9 KC)
Scores: September 26 KC 3-2, September 27 KC 6-1, September 28 CWS 6-5, September 29 KC 4-1
Recap: The Royals closed the 2013 campaign on the South Side with a four game series. Guthrie in his final start of the season went seven, allowed two runs but was helped by the offense and Luke Hochevar/Holland out of the bullpen. Emilio Bonifacio and Butler combined to drive in four of the six runs in the victory with Shields giving the team seven innings in his final start. KC fell behind 4-0 and got to 6-5 before the comeback fell short in what would be the final defeat of the season. Chen took the ball to close out the year and went 6.2 innings to help the Royals win and Holland getting his 47^th save. Salvador Perez and Brett Hayes drove in all the runs with both hitting home runs.

Next up in the Royals 2013 series recap will be another AL Central opponent, the Minnesota Twins (66-96).