Chicago White Sox match 2nd-worst start in franchise history through 37 games with 2-1 loss

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Chicago White Sox first baseman Miguel Vargas went to field Kyle Isbel’s fifth-inning grounder.

A piece of Isbel’s bat was also headed in Vargas’ direction near first base. Vargas was struck by the debris in the right ankle and fell to the grass. He still had the mindset to pick up the ball and toss it to pitcher Jonathan Cannon, who covered first for the out.

The training staff checked on Vargas, who remained in the game.

“It feels a little bit sore, but I think I’ll be fine,” Vargas said. “Thank God I was able to stay in the game.”

Kansas City Royals superstar shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. inflicted a different type of pain on the Sox later in the inning, connecting for a two-run home run. That served as the difference as the Royals held on to defeat the Sox 2-1 in front of 12,328 at Kauffman Stadium.

Cannon pitched well in the loss, allowing the two runs on nine hits with one strikeout and no walks in six innings.

“Felt good,” Cannon said of the outing. “We came in knowing that we were going to have to utilize the fastball. I thought me and (catcher Matt) Thaiss did a good job of that, just a lot of weak contact, gave up some singles.

“Tough one to Witt (in the fifth). Good pitch, good spot. Good player put a good swing on it. We were trying to get up and in on him. Got the sinker up and in. In the previous at-bats we were able to get up and in. Third at-bat, he made an adjustment and put a good swing on it.”

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Royals starter Michael Wacha limited the Sox to three hits while striking out five and walking one in seven scoreless innings.

“(Wacha) was great,” Sox manager Will Venable said. “He attacked the zone. I thought we missed a couple pitches there in the heart of the plate and the balls that we did hit, they made plays on. Just tough to get something going offensively with him.”

Down 2-0, the Sox staged a ninth-inning rally against Royals closer Carlos Estévez.

Vargas began the inning with a double, his second of the game. Luis Robert Jr. drove Vargas in with a single, cutting the deficit to 2-1.

Thaiss followed with another single, giving the Sox runners on first and second with no outs.

Estévez struck out Andrew Vaughn. Brooks Baldwin then hit a grounder up the middle. But Witt ranged, got to it and made a toss to second base for a force out.

“I was hoping (it would get through),” Venable said. “But you never know with Bobby. The guy’s all over the place, makes plays. That’s what he does. Unfortunately, it didn’t squeak through there.”