CHICAGO -- Carter Jensen is trying not to think about or really talk about his current hit streak that dates back to June 6, but it’s time we did.
An RBI single in the first inning as part of a three-hit game for Jensen extended the streak to 19 games, a new franchise record for a Royals rookie that broke a tie with Maikel Garcia’s 18-game streak from July 26-Aug. 16, 2023. It’s also the longest hit streak by a rookie catcher within a single season since catcher Buster Posey’s 21-game streak from July 4-28, 2010.
The streak is one thing, far more important to Jensen and the Royals is when and how the hits came Sunday in their 5-4 win over the White Sox at Rate Field, snapping a four-game losing skid and avoiding a sweep in what has otherwise been a very tough weekend on the South Side.
Moved up to the No. 3 spot in the order after Jac Caglianone was scratched with left groin soreness pregame, Jensen won the left-on-left matchup with White Sox starter Anthony Kay with an RBI single in the first inning, giving the Royals a lead in what was a back-and-forth game early on Sunday. Jensen won the battle again in the fourth with a two-out double that scored Bobby Witt Jr. from first base for what would end up being the game-winning run.
Since Jensen’s streak began on June 6, he’s slashing .351/.388/.610 in 77 at-bats with four homers and eight doubles.
From behind the plate, Jensen guided his pitching staff through some tense innings holding onto narrow leads, especially at the back end of the game.
Starter Luinder Avila’s four innings were not easy, the first featuring 31 pitches and Avila giving up the Royals’ lead in the first two innings with a pair of two-run frames. But he got through his final two without damage before the Royals turned it over to the bullpen with Avila at 86 pitches (51 strikes).
There’s no doubt Avila has good stuff, with a sinker and fastball that he can run up to 98 mph and secondary pitches that can be devastating at times. His challenge now is to trust that stuff in the zone and stay on the attack from pitch one, which is a common hurdle for young starters during their first stints in the big leagues. Long, inefficient starts happen, but only going four or five innings each time out puts the bullpen in a tough spot.
The unit came through in the finale, with Steven Cruz, Beck Way, Lucas Erceg, Matt Strahm and Alex Lange holding the White Sox scoreless for the final five innings.