(Photo credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images)

Randal Grichuk drove in four runs to lift the White Sox to a 6-2 win over the visiting Kansas City Royals on Thursday, moving Chicago above .500 for the first time since winning its 2023 opener.

Grichuk hit a two-run home run in the first inning and then drove in two more with a single in third as Chicago won its fifth straight game. The White Sox also won five straight from April 27-May 2.

The White Sox swept three games from the Royals to officially be the hottest team in baseball heading into a three-game series against the rival Cubs beginning on Friday.

The White Sox at 22-21 are at .500 after April for the first time since October 2022.

Chicago starter Anthony Kay (3-1) gave up six hits and two runs in six-plus innings. The left-hander walked two and struck out four while throwing 97 pitches.

After giving up a run in the first, Kay shut down Kansas City until yielding a triple to start the seventh, ending his outing.

Sean Newcomb threw two scoreless innings to log his first save of the season.

Royals starter Kris Bubic (3-2) permitted five hits and five runs over four innings. The southpaw struck out four and walked three during an 84-pitch outing.

Salvador Perez had two hits for the Royals, who have lost four in a row.

Kansas City started the scoring in the first when Maikel Garcia and Bobby Witt Jr. began the contest with singles. Lane Thomas made it 1-0 with a sacrifice fly.

The White Sox weren't behind for long, however. Munetaka Murakami drew a full-count, two-out walk, and Grichuk deposited a home run into the left field stands for a 2-1 lead.

Chicago took control in the third. Chase Meidroth drew a one-out walk, and Miguel Vargas singled to right. Murakami walked to load the bases, and Grichuk made it 4-1 with a two-run single to center.

The White Sox added an insurance run in the fourth after Luisangel Acuna singled with one out and stole second. Meidroth singled him in from third with two outs.

Kansas City's Kyle Isbel tripled in the seventh and scored on Garcia's groundout, but Derek Hill singled in a run for Chicago in the eighth to restore the four-run lead.

--Field Level Media