Kennedy makes Royals debut in 7-6 loss to White Sox
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Ian Kennedy pitched two innings in his debut with the Kansas City Royals, who lost 7-6 to the Chicago White Sox on Saturday and have dropped four in a row to begin spring training.
Kennedy, who signed a $70 million, five-year contract with the World Series champions over the winter, allowed one run and four hits while striking out three.
"The fastball command was actually the worst of all the things today," Kennedy said. "My changeup was working well. I think all my strikeouts were on the changeup. My off-speed overall was working better than I expected. My curveball was down, which is what I like to see rather than being up."
Adam Eaton went 3 for 3 with a home run, double and two RBIs for the White Sox. Avisail Garcia also drove in two runs, and Tyler Saladino homered off Ross Ohlendorf with Rob Brantly aboard in the sixth.
Eaton doubled on Kennedy's first pitch but was thrown out by Salvador Perez trying to steal third.
"It was a nice little preview of having Salvy behind the plate," Kennedy said.
Eric Hosmer had two sacrifice flies for the Royals, while Alcides Escobar doubled and scored two runs.
STARTING TIME
White Sox: RHP Carson Fulmer, the eighth overall pick in last year's draft, was charged with three runs and five hits in two-plus innings.
Fulmer said he watched "every minute" of the 2015 World Series.
"It's just the best of the best," Fulmer said of facing the Royals.
"It was a moment where I'll definitely look back and always remember it. I'm definitely excited and looking forward to facing them again sometime soon."
Royals: LHP Danny Duffy, who is competing for a spot in the rotation, had a bumpy two innings after Kennedy exited. Eaton homered on his first pitch.
Duffy gave up three runs and five hits in two innings.
"The Eaton home run, he was thinking one pitch and he got it," Duffy said. "He ambushed the first pitch. Overall, I thought like it was a pretty good day. I never really worry about results here."
WORTH NOTING
White Sox LHP Jose Quintana, who was 9-10 in 32 starts last year, threw 53 pitches in a 'B' game against the Reds, allowing one run over three innings.
TRAINER'S ROOM
White Sox: 1B Adam LaRoche felt pain in his right side on a swing in the third inning and was replaced by Travis Ishikawa.
Royals: CF Lorenzo Cain, who left in the fifth inning Friday after being hit in the right foot by a pitch, was not in the lineup. He said he could have played, but it was a scheduled day off.
UP NEXT
White Sox: LHP Carlos Rodon, who had a 1.81 ERA in his final eight starts last season as a rookie, will start Sunday against the Padres.
Royals: RHP Chris Young draws the starting assignment against the Angels, but two intriguing non-roster invitees also will throw Sunday. RHP Dillon Gee, who started for the Mets on opening day in 2014, and RHP Chien-Ming Wang, who won 19 games in back-to-back seasons with the Yankees, will back up Young.
