White Sox’ Michael Kopech exits start vs. Royals with left knee soreness

White Sox starting pitcher Michael Kopech, second from left, stands on the mound with teammates before exiting during the first inning of Monday’s game against the Royals.

Charlie Riedel/AP

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Michael Kopech buried his face in his glove and screamed.

It’s been that kind of year for the White Sox.

After trying to pitch through a sore left knee that appeared to flare up while taking his warmups on the mound, Kopech faced four batters and left the Monday’s game against the Royals at Kauffman Stadium.

Kopech will be further evaluated, putting him on an injury watch list that includes shortstop Tim Anderson, Yasmani Grandal, Aaron Bummer and Leury Garcia on the injured list, and Eloy Jimenez, Luis Robert, Andrew Vaughn and Jose Abreu dealing with assorted aches pains.

A key component in the starting rotation as the Sox try to track down the American League Central leading Guardians and second-place Twins, Kopech’s first two fastballs were at 88 and 90 mph. He tried pitching through it, perhaps hoping the knee would loosen up, but the first four batters he faced reached base.

Sox trainer James Kruk, pitching coach Ethan Katz and manager Tony La Russa went to the mound after Kopech’s warmup tosses. Kopech then walked MJ Melendez, hit Bobby Witt Jr. on the left shoulder on an 0-2 pitch, allowed an RBI single to Salvador Perez and walked Vinnie Pasquantino to load the bases.

Kruk, Katz and La Russa came out again and Jimmy Lambert, who gave up two singles and a walk before striking out Nicky Lopez and getting rookie Drew Waters to rap into an inning-ending double play. The Royals led 4-0 after one inning.

The Sox hit five singles and got a walk in the fourth against lefty Daniel Lynch, getting three runs on an RBI single by Andrew Vaughn and a two-run single by Elvis Andrus, the latter on a low liner off the glove of diving center fielder Michael Taylor scoring Jose Abreu from third and Yoan Moncada from first. Moncada was running on the 3-2 pitch and was able to score when Taylor didn’t immediately pursue the ball lying on the grass nearby.

Kopech has dealt with a sore knee since he left a start against the Rangers in the first inning on June 12. His ERA climbed from 3.25 to 3.58.

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