The Royals' 2-0 victory over the White Sox was a testament to Kris Bubic's prowess on the mound. While his first inning was a bit rough, with over 20 pitches and a walk, he quickly settled in, striking out a pair and walking one in a scoreless first. This was just the beginning of a stellar performance, as Bubic went on to pitch seven shutout innings with a career-high eleven strikeouts. What's truly remarkable is that he only threw 88 pitches total, proving that strikeouts don't always equate to high pitch counts.
The Royals' offense, led by Maikel Garcia and Bobby, got on the board in the bottom of the fourth. Garcia's double and Bobby's home run off the left field wall drove in Garcia and advanced Bobby to third. Although the team couldn't get Bobby home, it set the stage for a crucial insurance run in the seventh.
Carter Jensen delivered that insurance run, now with twice as many home runs as anyone else on the team. His recent surge, following a sleep-in incident, has transformed him into a force to be reckoned with. Before that, Jensen was struggling, slashing .125/.167/.313/.480. Since then, he's been on fire, slashing .316/.371/.842/1.223 with three home runs in seven games. Michael Massey followed with a double, but the Royals couldn't get him in, either.
Bubic's performance was truly phenomenal, showcasing his versatility with four strikeouts on the fastball, four on the slider, and three on the sweeper. His changeup, usually considered his best pitch, wasn't even needed to get his strikeouts. This start solidifies his place as a key player for the Royals, who are now guaranteed at least a split in the series.
Looking ahead, the Royals will face Michael Wacha (0.69 ERA, 3.98 SIERA) and Erick Fedde (4.09 ERA, 3.60 SIERA) in the late afternoon. The game will start at 3:10 Royals time and be aired on Royals.TV. It promises to be an exciting showdown, with the Royals looking to capitalize on Bubic's strong performance and secure a split in the series.
In my opinion, the Royals' victory was a testament to the team's resilience and Bubic's exceptional skills. It raises a deeper question: Can the Royals continue this momentum and secure a series win? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain - Kris Bubic is a force to be reckoned with, and the Royals are in good hands with him on the mound.
