Royals Report: 5 Things About Squeaker Over White Sox

May 21, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Danny Duffy (41) delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
May 21, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Danny Duffy (41) delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
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Apr 13, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (13) and relief pitcher Joakim Soria (48) celebrate after defeating the Houston Astros 4-2 at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 13, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (13) and relief pitcher Joakim Soria (48) celebrate after defeating the Houston Astros 4-2 at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

1) Joakim Soria Getting Back To Form

Yesterday, Joakim Soria needed a spectacular play from Alcides Escobar to escape a jam in the seventh inning. On Saturday, Soria came into the game with the bases loaded and no outs in the seventh, with the KC Royals holding a narrow 2-0 lead.

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Soria induced a double play ground ball from slugging Chicago first-baseman Jose Abreu, and retired third baseman Todd Frazier on a grounder to third. While one run scored, Soria helped the Kansas City Royals retain a 2-1 lead.

Those are the two toughest hitters in the White Sox lineup. Either of them could have broken the game open by taking Soria deep.

Joakim Soria also pitched the eighth inning, adding one strikeout to a clean performance.

With Soria doing the job as the eighth inning monster (since Luke Hochevar and Kelvin Herrera weren’t available) as well as bailing out Brian Flynn, the KC Royals looked like the team that swept its way through the 2014 playoffs. Reliever closer Wade Davis made short work of the White Sox over the last two innings to finish off a one-run win.

Now that’s Kansas City Royals baseball.

Next: Why Royals Sent Down Cheslor Cuthbert

NEXT GAME

The KC Royals will send Yordano Ventura (4-2, 4.85 ERA) to the mound against Carlos Rodon (1-4, 4.73 ERA) for the Chicago White Sox 1:10 CST at US Cellular Field in Chicago, IL Sunday, May 22.

Schedule