The KC Royals went just 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position, as they lost their series finale on Sunday to Chicago, 2-1.

Luis Mendoza

It was a pitcher’s duel between a CY Young candidate (Chris Sale) and a virtual unknown to anyone outside of Kansas City (Luis Mendoza).

Mendoza allowed a two out solo homerun to Adam Dunn in the top of the first inning and the White Sox never looked back. It was Dunn‘s MLB leading 28th of the season and second in two games.

The White Sox scored again in the 2nd inning on a double play ground out.

In a day when teams worry more about pitch counts and innings pitched of their young pitchers, the White Sox let Sale throw 115 pitches over eight innings. He allowed just one run and scattered ten hits. He did not walk a batter while striking out four.

The first and the 6th inning were the only innings that the Royals did not have at least one base runner. They scored their lone run in the 5th inning on a Chris Getz one out RBI single. The Royals actually had runners at the corners with one out after the Getz hit, but could not push another run across.

They hit into two double plays.

In the 2nd inning, Lorenzo Cain led off the inning with a double and never moved off second base.

In the 3rd inning, they had runners at the corners but Billy Butler struck out to end the inning.

In the 4th inning, Cain led off the inning with a single, but a one out DP ended the inning.

In the 8th inning, the Royals had runners at first and second base and nobody out. They elected to not bunt and Cain lined out. Yuniesky Betancourt then grounded into an inning-ending DP.

In the 9th inning with the tying run on second base, White Sox closer Addison Reed got Getz to ground out to end the game and win the series.

Next up, the Royals welcome the Seattle Mariners to town for four games.

*For more on the series win by the White Sox, check out South Side Hit Girl.

**Catcher Manny Pina was activated from the DL and sent to Double-A NW Arkansas, where he had been rehabbing.