Starter Anthony Kay helped the Sox complete a three-game sweep, allowing two runs over a career-high six-plus innings.<\/p>\n
Photos: Chicago White Sox 6, Kansas City Royals 2<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cOverall, felt really good,\u201d Kay said. \u201cThere were a couple of singles in the first, kind of got (the Royals) going a little bit. But it was Grichuk hitting the homer in the first, gave us the lead back, and let me settle in a little bit.\u201d<\/p>\n The Sox matched a season high<\/a> with their fifth straight win. At 22-21, they are above the .500 mark after 40-plus games for the first time since they were 81-80 on Oct. 4, 2022.<\/p>\n \u201cThese guys have for a long time played well, they play hard, and we\u2019re not done yet,\u201d manager Will Venable said. \u201cThis is a good spot to be in, but we\u2019ve just got to continue to play good baseball.\u201d<\/p>\n Grichuk led the way Thursday, going 2-for-3.\u00a0He followed a two-out walk by first baseman Munetaka Murakami by hitting the home run to left-center against Royals starter Kris Bubic, giving the Sox a 2-1 lead in the first. It was his 81st career home run against a left-handed pitcher (No. 215 overall) during his 13-year major-league career.<\/p>\n \u201cJust be confident in what my strengths are,\u201d Grichuk, 34, said. \u201cI know I\u2019ve hit well against lefties, and that\u2019s something I really haven\u2019t wavered from. The results might not be there, but the at-bats and the barrels are still there. I go in there with confidence knowing that\u2019s what I\u2019m here for, and hopefully the results will take care of itself.\u201d<\/p>\n Bubic walked second baseman Chase Meidroth, surrendered a single to third baseman Miguel Vargas and walked Murakami to load the bases with one out in the third inning. Grichuk came through again, this time with a two-run single to extend the lead to 4-1.<\/p>\n \u201cJust puts himself in a really good position, and it\u2019s nice to be able to go find that midseason here and he\u2019s obviously made a huge impact,\u201d Venable said. \u201cHe\u2019s been doing it for a long time. Obviously he\u2019s had a lot of success in this league. We were really excited to be able to get him when (Austin Hays) went down (with a left calf strain<\/a>), so for us to grab that guy is huge.\u201d<\/p>\n Sox shortstop Luisangel Acu\u00f1a singled, stole second and scored on a Meidroth single in the fourth to push the Sox lead to 5-1.<\/p>\n Bubic struck out 11 over seven scoreless innings when he faced the Sox on April 10<\/a> at Kauffman Stadium. He lasted just four innings Thursday, allowing five runs on five hits with four strikeouts and three walks.<\/p>\n![\"Chicago](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1778820506_656_CTC-L-sox-royals016_fd68c3.jpg\")
White Sox starting pitcher Anthony Kay pumps his fist after retiring the Royals in the fifth inning on May 14, 2026, at Rate Field. (Chris Sweda\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n