White Sox 4, Royals 1
(This game was the result of a simulation done through What If Sports. It matched the Kansas City Royals All-Time Team against the Chicago White Sox All-Time Team. This game did not actually happen.)
Ted Lyons was brilliant in a complete-game effort, surrendering a single unearned run as the Chicago White Sox All-Time Team outlasted their Kansas City Royals counterparts, 4–1, at Comiskey Park. Paul Konerko hit a fifth-inning solo shot to give Chicago the lead, and Frank Thomas tacked on with a two-run shot in the eighth. Bret Saberhagen started for Kansas City and matched Lyons initially but only lasted four innings. The Royals bullpen surrendered the two homers, and their lineup couldn’t cash in late against Lyons. Kansas City struggled in the clutch all day, going 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position and leaving seven men on base. Willie Wilson was the sole offensive spark for the Royals, driving in their only run and adding a stolen base.
Royals Take Early Lead
After Lyons and Saberhagen traded two scoreless frames, the Royals jumped on top in the third. Shortstop Alcides Escobar reached on a throwing error by Chicago shortstop Luke Appling to lead off. Designated hitter Hal McRae bunted Escobar over to second. Wilson came up and smacked a double to score Escobar and put Kansas City on the board. White Sox right fielder Harold Baines helped limit the damage when he made a running shoestring catch on an Eric Hosmer fly ball for the second out. The Royals eventually loaded the bases thanks to another throwing error by Appling, but Lyons escaped the jam when right fielder Danny Tartabull grounded out to short. Wilson’s RBI double was the only blemish on the day for Lyons.
White Sox Charge Ahead
The White Sox answered in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, catcher Carlton Fisk reached on a throwing error by Kansas City third baseman George Brett. Two batters later, left fielder Minnie Miñoso doubled to deep center, and Fisk came around from first to tie the game. Jeff Montgomery came on to relieve Saberhagen in the fifth. Paul Konerko came up following a Jim Landis flyout. The DH did his job, hitting a solo shot that barely cleared the left-field wall to give the South Siders a 2-1 lead.
The Royals wasted a chance to answer in the top of the seventh. Second baseman Frank White led off with a double to left-center. McRae moved him to third with a fly ball two batters later. However, Lyons got Wilson to fly out to end the threat. Missed opportunities plagued the Royals all game long. In the eighth, a Brett single followed by a Salvador Perez walk gave Kansas City two baserunners with one out. However, Tartabull promptly hit into a double play, killing the rally.
Sox Add On, Lyons Finishes
In the bottom of the eighth, the White Sox put the game away for good. Dan Quisenberry came in after Wade Davis tossed a scoreless seventh. Appling slapped a two-out single to center field, atoning for his earlier defensive struggles. Up came first baseman Frank Thomas. The Big Hurt smacked a two-run shot to the opposite field to extend the lead to three. Lyons capped his gem with an easy 1–2–3 ninth, and the White Sox came away with the 4–1 victory over the Royals.
Another offensive standout for Chicago was second baseman Eddie Collins, who collected two hits from the leadoff spot, including a bunt single in the first. Other than Wilson, the Royals never really found an answer against Lyons. He was particularly effective against the middle of the Kansas City lineup. Perez, Tartabull, and left fielder Alex Gordon went a combined 0-for-11 against the righty. Lyons collected the win for the White Sox, while Jeff Montgomery was the losing pitcher for the Royals.
Looking Ahead
The 12-seed Royals are eliminated from the All-Time Team Tournament. The 5th-seeded White Sox advance to face the 4-seed Detroit Tigers on Friday. The Tigers are coming off a 6-2 victory over the 13-seed Texas Rangers.
