Smith (4-7) pitched into the seventh inning for the first time in his career, facing just 23 batters on 80 pitches.

There was no Colson Montgomery in the White Sox lineup for Monday night’s series opener against the Royals at Rate Field. Kyle Teel also was on the bench, as was Mike Tauchman. Chicago’s offense still produced without three of its most potent hitters during a 7-0 victory,

Then Korey Lee and Brooks Baldwin hit back-to-back homers for the White Sox in the fourth. The Royals failed to cut into the deficit at all, with Mike Yastrzemski and Bobby Witt Jr. logging KC's only hits.