CHICAGO — In an exciting matchup, Tim Elko delivered a two-run blast, and Adrian Houser showed strength on the mound as the Chicago White Sox secured a 4-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Saturday.
Chase Meidroth also homered for the White Sox, marking their third consecutive win, a feat they have achieved only once before this season.
Adrian Houser (2-1) excelled with a performance that included one run on seven hits over six innings. He tallied six strikeouts against one walk. This marks the 32-year-old pitcher’s fourth quality start since he joined the roster on May 20.
In relief, Cam Booser and Steven Wilson each contributed a scoreless inning with one hit, while Dan Altavilla completed the final three outs. This achievement earned him his second career save, and his first since 2020 with Seattle.
On the opposite side, Michael Wacha (3-5) pitched six innings for the Royals, conceding three runs on six hits, while issuing one walk and five strikeouts.
Vinny Pasquantino stood out for Kansas City, achieving a perfect 3 for 3 at the plate, and launching his 10th home run in the second inning, establishing a brief 1-0 lead for the Royals.
However, Elko’s powerful home run in the second inning quickly shifted the momentum in favor of the White Sox, putting them ahead 2-1. Meidroth added to this with a solo homer in the third, and Edgar Quero finalized the score with a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning.
A critical moment unfolded in the eighth inning, with two runners on base and two outs. Steven Wilson demonstrated poise, striking out seasoned catcher Salvador Pérez, who had a tough game with four strikeouts in four at-bats.
A noteworthy statistic: Despite Pasquantino’s outstanding individual performance, the remaining Royals hitters struggled, managing only 5 hits in 30 at-bats and striking out nine times.
Looking ahead, the Royals will send Michael Lorenzen (3-6, 5.12 ERA) to the mound for the series’ conclusion. The White Sox have yet to confirm their starting pitcher.