KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It’s usually not a good sign for a team when a position player is on the mound.
That was the case Thursday for the Chicago White Sox when infielder Jacob Amaya took over during the eighth inning after the Kansas City Royals had put the game well out of reach.
The Sox surrendered a season-high 17 hits in a 10-0 loss to the Royals in front of 25,386 at Kauffman Stadium.
Manager Will Venable described the afternoon as “not good.”
“We just couldn’t get anything going offensively,” he said. “(Starter) Davis (Martin) actually pitched OK, then in the fifth ran into some trouble trying to keep it close. Then, obviously, at the end just got away from us.”
The Royals scored two in the fifth, two in the sixth and four in the eighth. For the record, Amaya retired all three batters he faced.
The Sox were swept in the four-game series. And in the process, they fell to 10-28 to match the worst start in franchise history through 38 games. They share the distinction with the 2024 and 2018 clubs. Last year’s team went on to set the modern major-league record with 121 defeats.
Here are three takeaways from the four games.
1. Runs were hard to come by for the Sox.
The Sox had runners on the corners with no outs in the fifth inning Thursday.
Lenyn Sosa hit a slow chopper to third. Maikel Garcia charged and threw to the plate to cut down Andrew Vaughn.
“In that situation, if it’s not a double-play ball, then you don’t have to go,” Venable said. “It’s something that we’ll talk about and walk through. It’s kind of one of those in-between plays where you know they’re back, so you think that they’re not going to come get you but you don’t have to go.”
Brooks Baldwin followed by grounding into an ending-inning double play.
That was one of the team’s best scoring chances as the Sox were blanked for the second time in the series.
“We’ve just got to keep going,” Venable said. “Just string as many quality at-bats together as we can. Leadoff guys in innings have done a good job. And just got to continue to get consecutive good things to happen so we can score some runs.”
The Sox lost 3-0 on Monday, saw a late lead slip away because of defensive miscues in Tuesday’s 4-3 defeat and scored once in the ninth during Wednesday’s 2-1 loss.
With the four runs, the Sox matched their fourth-fewest runs scored in a four-game series in franchise history.
2. Home or away, the Royals have given the Sox fits.
The Sox fell into an early hole Thursday when Salvador Perez knocked in Vinnie Pasquantino with a two-out double in the first inning.
Perez had another two-out RBI hit in the third, driving in Bobby Witt Jr. with a single.
The Royals were on their way to handing the Sox their 11th consecutive loss at Kauffman Stadium, extending a franchise record for misery at the ballpark. Home or away, Kansas City has given the Sox fits. The Sox have lost a club-record 10 straight to the Royals.
“I think we did really good things (in the series), but at the same time, it’s the big leagues,” said Martin, who allowed four runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings Thursday. “There’s always a point in the game where you lose it or you win it. And I think we just need to execute in those spots a little better across the board.
“I think we’re very close. The guys, the energy is there. The desire to win, to be great. But nothing’s handed to you in this league.”
3. Michael A. Taylor was appreciative of a milestone day.
Jonathan India hit a line drive right at Sox right fielder Michael A. Taylor to begin the bottom of the first on Thursday.
Bobby Witt Jr. followed by flying out to Taylor.
There was plenty of action early for Taylor, who reached 10 years of major-league service time Thursday. The 34-year-old has played 1,114 games during 12 seasons with the Washington Nationals (2014-20), Royals (2021-22), Minnesota Twins (2023), Pittsburgh Pirates (2024) and Sox (2025).
“It’s very special,” Taylor said of the milestone before the game. “Just having my family here with me. Taking some time to think about what the path has looked liked. Definitely grateful for an opportunity to play this game as long as I have.
“It hasn’t been smooth sailing the whole time, but I think that’s what makes it special. Had to fight a little bit to get here and stay here and I’m proud of the work that it took and all the people that were able to help me get here and stay here. It takes a lot of people and I’ve had a lot of good people in my corner.”
Additional outfield help could be around the corner. Mike Tauchman is scheduled to begin an injury rehab assignment Saturday with Triple-A Charlotte. Tauchman has been on the IL since April 10 with a right hamstring strain.
Catcher Korey Lee (left ankle sprain) and infielder Gage Workman (right hip flexor strain) will start rehab assignments with the Knights on Friday.
