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Witt’s homer and Wacha’s seven scoreless innings lead Royals over White Sox, 7-1

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Witt’s homer and Wacha’s seven scoreless innings lead Royals over White Sox, 7-1
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Witt’s homer and Wacha’s seven scoreless innings lead Royals over White Sox, 7-1

2024-07-20 12:18 Last Updated At:12:21

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Michael Wacha pitched seven scoreless innings, Bobby Witt Jr. homered and drove in two runs and the Kansas City Royals beat the Chicago White Sox 7-1 on Friday night.

Witt drove Chris Flexen’s inside fastball above the left field bullpen in the first inning for his 17th homer.

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Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Flexen throws during the first against the Kansas City Royals Friday, July 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Flexen throws during the first against the Kansas City Royals Friday, July 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Chicago White Sox's Brooks Baldwin watches his single during the third inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Friday, July 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Chicago White Sox's Brooks Baldwin watches his single during the third inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Friday, July 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Chicago White Sox's Korey Lee hits a solo home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Friday, July 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. The Royals won 7-1. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Chicago White Sox's Korey Lee hits a solo home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Friday, July 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. The Royals won 7-1. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Chicago White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr. catches a fly ball for the out on Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Chicago White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr. catches a fly ball for the out on Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Chicago White Sox catcher Korey Lee talks to starting pitcher Chris Flexen, right, during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Friday, July 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Chicago White Sox catcher Korey Lee talks to starting pitcher Chris Flexen, right, during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Friday, July 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez beats the tag by Chicago White Sox catcher Korey Lee to score on a two-run single by Michael Massey during the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez beats the tag by Chicago White Sox catcher Korey Lee to score on a two-run single by Michael Massey during the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals' Michael Massey watches hit two-run single during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox Friday, July 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals' Michael Massey watches hit two-run single during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox Friday, July 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals' Hunter Renfroe is hit by a pitch thrown by Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Flexen during the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals' Hunter Renfroe is hit by a pitch thrown by Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Flexen during the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals' Maikel Garcia celebrates in the dugout after scoring on a sacrifice bunt hit by Adam Frazier during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox Friday, July 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals' Maikel Garcia celebrates in the dugout after scoring on a sacrifice bunt hit by Adam Frazier during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox Friday, July 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. watches his solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox Friday, July 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. watches his solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox Friday, July 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Michael Wacha throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox Friday, July 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Michael Wacha throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox Friday, July 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Michael Wacha throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox Friday, July 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Michael Wacha throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox Friday, July 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

“I was just trying to be on time with the heater,” Witt said. “Whenever I’m on time, I feel like good things happen.”

Royals manager Matt Quatraro liked what he saw.

“It was nice to see — a fastball on the inner part of the plate — him turn on it, get us going and get himself going,” he said.

Witt added an RBI in the third on the second of his three hits for a 2-0 lead. Since June 24, he has hit safely in 17 of 19 games, batting .403 with 12 extra-base hits.

Wacha (7-6) induced inning-ending double plays with runners at third in the first and third innings.

“Big-time double plays to get me out of those jams,” Wacha said. “It took a little bit to kind of find a groove. Just getting that command back on those pitches after the (All-Star break) layoff will be key.”

Wacha struck out seven while allowing four hits and a walk, and is 6-2 in his last 10 starts, surrendering no more than three earned runs in each.

“Overall, the results were great,” Wacha said. “I felt like I was able to make pitches when I needed to, get some strikeouts when I needed to.”

It was a tough night for White Sox hitters.

“Wacha’s very difficult to hit, especially when he’s got his changeup going,” White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said.

Michael Massey’s two-out, two-run single highlighted the Royals’ five-run fifth. Kansas City has won five of its last seven.

“Massey’s hit was the difference,” Quatraro said. “But just one good at-bat after another.”

Flexen (2-9) walked four and hit a batter in the fifth. He threw 4 2/3 innings, allowing seven runs on four hits and five walks. In 13 starts since last winning May 8, he is 0-6.

“Obviously fell apart at the end,” Flexen said. “Kind of lost the feel there. The walks are inexcusable.”

Chicago’s Korey Lee homered in the eighth, his ninth.

Brooks Baldwin singled in his first at-bat in his major league debut, as the White Sox lost their fifth straight.

TRAINER’S ROOM

White Sox: Placed RHP Michael Soroka on the 15-day Injured List (retroactive to July 16) with a right shoulder strain.

Royals: Placed OF MJ Melendez on the 10-day Injured List (retroactive to July 15) with a left ankle sprain.

TRANSACTIONS

White Sox: signed free agent IF Nick Senzel, selected the contract of IF Brooks Baldwin, and recalled C Chuckie Robinson and RHP Steven Wilson, from Triple-A Charlotte, optioned IF Lenyn Sosa to Charlotte, and designated C Martin Maldonado and IF Danny Mendick for assignment, outrighting Mendick to Charlotte.

Royals: Recalled OF Drew Waters from Triple-A Omaha and designated RHP Nick Anderson for assignment.

UP NEXT

White Sox right-hander Jonathan Cannon (1-3, 4.41 ERA) opposes Royals right-hander Brady Singer (5-6, 3.20).

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Flexen throws during the first against the Kansas City Royals Friday, July 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Flexen throws during the first against the Kansas City Royals Friday, July 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Chicago White Sox's Brooks Baldwin watches his single during the third inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Friday, July 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Chicago White Sox's Brooks Baldwin watches his single during the third inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Friday, July 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Chicago White Sox's Korey Lee hits a solo home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Friday, July 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. The Royals won 7-1. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Chicago White Sox's Korey Lee hits a solo home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Friday, July 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. The Royals won 7-1. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Chicago White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr. catches a fly ball for the out on Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Chicago White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr. catches a fly ball for the out on Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Chicago White Sox catcher Korey Lee talks to starting pitcher Chris Flexen, right, during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Friday, July 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Chicago White Sox catcher Korey Lee talks to starting pitcher Chris Flexen, right, during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Friday, July 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez beats the tag by Chicago White Sox catcher Korey Lee to score on a two-run single by Michael Massey during the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez beats the tag by Chicago White Sox catcher Korey Lee to score on a two-run single by Michael Massey during the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals' Michael Massey watches hit two-run single during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox Friday, July 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals' Michael Massey watches hit two-run single during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox Friday, July 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals' Hunter Renfroe is hit by a pitch thrown by Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Flexen during the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals' Hunter Renfroe is hit by a pitch thrown by Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Flexen during the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals' Maikel Garcia celebrates in the dugout after scoring on a sacrifice bunt hit by Adam Frazier during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox Friday, July 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals' Maikel Garcia celebrates in the dugout after scoring on a sacrifice bunt hit by Adam Frazier during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox Friday, July 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. watches his solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox Friday, July 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. watches his solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox Friday, July 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Michael Wacha throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox Friday, July 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Michael Wacha throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox Friday, July 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Michael Wacha throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox Friday, July 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Michael Wacha throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox Friday, July 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A female student was killed and another student was wounded Wednesday in a shooting in a Nashville high school cafeteria, police said.

The 17-year-old shooter, who was also a student at Antioch High School, later shot and killed himself with a handgun, Metro Nashville Police spokesperson Don Aaron said during a news conference. Police identified him as Solomon Henderson.

Police Chief John Drake said the shooter “confronted” a 16-year-old female student in the cafeteria and opened fire, killing her. Police identified her as Josselin Corea Escalante. Drake said police are looking into a motive and whether the students who were shot were targeted.

The male student who was wounded suffered a graze, and was treated and released from the hospital, Drake said. Another student was taken to a hospital for treatment of a facial injury that happened during a fall, Aaron said.

There were two school resource officers in the building when the shooting happened around 11 a.m. CDT, Aaron said. They were not in the immediate vicinity of the cafeteria and by the time they got down there the shooting was over and the gunman had killed himself, Aaron said.

The school has about 2,000 students and is located in Antioch, a neighborhood about 10 miles (16 kilometers) southeast of downtown Nashville.

At a family safety center close to a hospital, officials were helping shocked parents to reunite with their children.

Dajuan Bernard was waiting at a Mapco service station to reunite with his son, a 10th grader, who was being held in the auditorium with other students on Wednesday afternoon. He first heard of the shooting from his son who “was a little startled,” Bernard said. His son was upstairs from the cafeteria but said he heard the gunfire.

“He was OK and let me know that everything was OK,” Bernard said.

“This world is so crazy, it could happen anywhere," he said. "We’ve just got to protect the kids, and raise the kids right to prevent them from even doing this. That’s the hardest part.”

Fonda Abner, whose granddaughter is a student at the school, said Antioch High does not have metal detectors that would alert officials to the presence of a gun. She said her granddaughter had called her a couple of times but that she only heard commotion and thought it was a pocket dial. They spoke briefly before being cut off.

“It’s nerve-wracking waiting out here,” Abner said.

Adrienne Battle, superintendent of Nashville schools, said public schools have implemented a “range of safety measures," including partnerships with police for school resource officers, security cameras with weapon-detection software, shatter-resistant film for glass, and security vestibules that are a barrier between outside visitors and the main entrance.

“Unfortunately, these measures were not enough to stop this tragedy,” Battle said.

She noted that there are questions about whether stationary metal detectors should be considered.

“While past research has shown they have had limitations and unintended consequences, we will continue to explore emerging technologies and strategies to strengthen school safety,” Battle said.

Wednesday’s school shooting comes nearly two years after a shooter opened fire at a separate Nashville private elementary school and killed six people, including three children.

The tragedy prompted a monthslong effort among hundreds of community organizers, families, protesters and many more pleading with lawmakers to consider passing gun control measures in response to the shooting.

However, in a Republican-dominant state, GOP lawmakers refused to do so. With the Republican supermajority intact after November’s election, it’s unlikely attitudes have changed enough to consider any meaningful bills that would address gun control.

Instead, lawmakers have been more open to adding more security to schools — including passing a bill last year that would allow some teachers and staff to carry concealed handguns on public school grounds, and bar parents and other teachers from knowing who was armed.

Antioch has endured other prominent shootings in recent years. A 2017 fatal shooting at Burnette Chapel Church of Christ killed one woman and wounded seven people. And in 2018, a shooter killed four people at a Waffle House.

Associated Press writers Kimberlee Kruesi in Nashville and Adrian Sainz in Memphis, Tennessee, contributed.

People wait as school buses arrive at a unification site following a shooting at the Antioch High School in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

People wait as school buses arrive at a unification site following a shooting at the Antioch High School in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

School buses arrive at a unification site following a shooting at the Antioch High School in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

School buses arrive at a unification site following a shooting at the Antioch High School in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Families wait as school buses arrive at a unification site following a shooting at the Antioch High School in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Families wait as school buses arrive at a unification site following a shooting at the Antioch High School in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

An ambulance leaves the Antioch High School following a shooting in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

An ambulance leaves the Antioch High School following a shooting in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

An ambulance leaves the Antioch High School following a shooting in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

An ambulance leaves the Antioch High School following a shooting in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Families wait a school buses arrive at a unification site following a shooting at the Antioch High School in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Families wait a school buses arrive at a unification site following a shooting at the Antioch High School in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Dasia Pleitez prays as she waits for her daughter at a unification site following a shooting at the Antioch High School in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Dasia Pleitez prays as she waits for her daughter at a unification site following a shooting at the Antioch High School in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

School bus arrives at a unification site following a shooting at at Antioch High School in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

School bus arrives at a unification site following a shooting at at Antioch High School in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

School buses arrive at a unification site following a shooting at Antioch High School in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

School buses arrive at a unification site following a shooting at Antioch High School in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

A school bus arrives at a unification site following a shooting at the Antioch High School in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

A school bus arrives at a unification site following a shooting at the Antioch High School in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

People wait as school buses arrive at a unification site following a shooting at the Antioch High School in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

People wait as school buses arrive at a unification site following a shooting at the Antioch High School in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

An ambulance leaves the Antioch High School following a shooting in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

An ambulance leaves the Antioch High School following a shooting in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

A school bus arrives at a unification site following a shooting at the Antioch High School in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

A school bus arrives at a unification site following a shooting at the Antioch High School in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

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