Kansas City Royals (barely) avoid being no-hit but fall to the Chicago White Sox

The very first pitch White Sox starter Michael Kopech threw Friday night nearly hit Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. in the head.

Unfortunately for the Royals, it wasn’t a sign of Kopech struggling with his command at Guaranteed Rate Field. Kopech was dominant, allowing only a broken-bat single in eight innings as the White Sox won 2-0.

Kopech retired the first 16 Royals batters before second baseman Michael Massey ended the perfect game with a looping single to right in the sixth inning.

That was the only baserunner of the game for the Royals, and Jackie Bradley Jr. followed by hitting into a double play.

“The fastball was jumping, getting on you for sure, and then he obviously paired with (his) changeup and his slider,” said Massey, who grew up a White Sox fan in nearby Palos Park, Illinois. “He just did a really good job of attacking the top of the zone.”

Kopech faced the minimum 24 batters in his eight innings pitched, and he struck out 10, getting 18 swings and misses in the game.

Kendall Graveman retired the Royals in order in the ninth inning.

“I have not seen him a lot live,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said of Kopech. “The first pitch was high and in, it looked like, but after that he had us off-balance. It looked like he had good carry on the fastball and we couldn’t catch up to it.”

Defensive gems

Royals starter Zack Greinke made a great defensive play in the second inning, catching a runner off second base after a White Sox hit. That helped hold Chicago to just two runs in the frame.

Greinke also was helped by his corner outfielders.

MJ Melendez, who came up as a catcher, made a couple of nice catches in right field. Nick Pratto, who also plays first base, came up with a sliding grab in the first inning to rob former Royal Andrew Benintendi of a hit.

Kowar’s debut

Jackson Kowar made his 2023 debut in the sixth inning in relief of Greinke with two out and a runner on third.

Kowar invited disaster by walking the first two batters he faced, then falling behind 3-1 to Jake Burger.

Catcher Salvador Perez visited Kowar and the pep talk worked, as he got Burger to ground to Witt in the hole at shortstop. Witt’s strong throw got the final out of the inning.

The G-rated version of what Perez told Kowar: “Throw the ball in the zone.”

Kowar did just that and he retired all six batters over the next two innings. His final line: no runs allowed in 2 1/3 innings pitched.

“I felt good,” Kowar said. “I mean, obviously being able to finish out the game and give length — and I know that the bullpen down there has been taxed a little bit — so being able to save those guys bullets was nice.

“It felt really good just to throw strikes, get through the lineup and start getting some early outs, some quick outs and keep my pitch count down after walking the first two guys.”

Injury report

Center fielder Drew Waters had a triple for Triple-A Omaha in Friday night’s game against Toledo. Waters is on a rehab assignment after suffering an oblique injury in spring training. He also had some back soreness earlier this month.

“He said he’s felt great,” Quatraro said before Friday’s game. “He’s playing really well in the field. He’s had no issues with the oblique or the back soreness so we’re really happy with that.

“We’re taking it day by day with him as well to see how he bounces back from two games in a row, three games in a row and then see how it goes.”

What’s next: The Royals will face the White Sox two more times in the series. Jordan Lyles will be on the mound Saturday, facing Lucas Giolito. The Royals haven’t announced a starter for Sunday’s finale.