Jensen's Late Double Lifts KC Past Chicago, 5-4
Carter Jensen went 3-for-5 with 2 RBI and delivered the go-ahead double in the final period to push Kansas City past Chicago, 5-4, on Sunday. This is the same Jensen who broke up a combined no-hitter with a ninth-inning homer just days ago — the man is making a habit of big moments.
The game moved in waves, and neither team could hold a lead for long. Kansas City struck first when Jensen singled to left to score Thomas, making it 1-0. Chicago answered immediately and emphatically: Miguel Vargas launched a 407-foot homer to left center, scoring Antonacci and flipping the scoreboard to 2-1 White Sox. Vargas, who went 2-for-2 with a homer and 2 RBI, looked like the best player on the field through the first two innings — and for a stretch, he was.
The second inning is where this game got genuinely chaotic. Kansas City retook the lead on a Thomas single that scored Collins, then a Witt Jr. sacrifice fly to center that scored Tolbert, pushing it to 3-2 Royals. Chicago answered right back: Kyle Teel singled to left, scoring both Antonacci and Vargas to put the White Sox back on top, 4-3. That single was the biggest swing of the night — home win probability jumped from 47% to 66% in a single at-bat. It looked, at that point, like Chicago had seized control of a game it had every reason to win after Friday's 22-1 demolition of these same Royals.
Kansas City had other ideas. Collins doubled to right to score Marte and tie it at 4-4 in the third period, and then Jensen — because of course it was Jensen — doubled to right to score Witt Jr. and put KC ahead for good at 5-4. On the mound, Luinder Avila gave Kansas City's bullpen a workout, allowing 4 earned runs on 6 hits over just 4.0 innings. Chicago's pitching staff pieced together the rest with Jordan Hicks, Seranthony Dominguez, and Trevor Richards combining for 3.2 innings of scoreless work — but it wasn't enough to overcome the deficit Jensen created. The Royals appear to be grinding out wins however they can right now, which looks even more impressive given the news that lefty Cole Ragans is headed for elbow surgery. Kansas City's depth is being tested, and Sunday's comeback suggests they're not folding.