The difference in this one came down to the new guys. In a 4-2 escape of the White Sox in the first game of the series, all four runs the Royals scored came off the bats of Ryan O’Hearn and Brett Phillips.
Old friend James Shields had a decent performance in this one, one that would have been terrific if he kept two pitches in the ballpark. He rattled off seven innings of four-run ball, striking out eight (which is pretty impressive for him) and walking three.
After allowing one baserunner through three innings, Jorge Bonifacio would reach with one out in the fourth, bringing the recently called up Ryan O’Hearn for his second major league plate appearance.