The struggling Chicago White Sox lost their 16th game in a row, setting a franchise record, as Michael Massey hit a homer and Michael Wacha pitched seven strong innings to lead the Kansas City Royals to a 4-3 win on Tuesday night.
Bobby Witt Jr. extended his hitting streak to 12 games and got the first RBI in an eighth-inning rally that put the Royals ahead for good.
“We’ve had big at-bats all year,” Massey said. “We know we’re capable.”
Andrew Vaughn homered for the second night in a row for Chicago, and rookie Jonathan Cannon pitched seven great innings, allowing only Massey’s solo homer while walking three and striking out two. Cannon was replaced by rookie Fraser Ellard (0-1), who walked two in his major league debut, setting up Kansas City’s comeback.
Trailing 2-1, the Royals tied the game with a bloop single from Witt and then took the lead when Vinnie Pasquantino hit a two-run single off Justin Anderson.
Vaughn had an RBI groundout in the bottom half of the inning, but Sam Long pitched a clean ninth for his fourth career save and his first this season.
Wacha (8-6) allowed five hits over seven innings, walked two, and struck out five. He has won five of his last six starts, and Kansas City has won 11 of its last 17 games.
“He was really good,” Pasquantino said. “It’s awesome to play behind him because you always feel like you’re in it.”
Chicago’s record dropped to a major league-worst 27-83, and the team is at risk of breaking the record for most losses in a 162-game season, set by the expansion New York Mets with 120 losses in 1962.
“It’s not for the lack of effort. We’re busting our (tails) trying to get that win,” shortstop Nicky Lopez said. “It just always seems like there’s that one inning or one situation where we have to come through and we haven’t done that.”
