White Sox SP Jeff Samardzija opens second half with loss

White Sox starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija opened the second half with a loss Friday against the Royals. The right-hander allowed four runs on seven hits and three walks during a 4-2 loss in the first game of a doubleheader. He struck out three in seven innings.

Samardzija (6-5) gave up an RBI double in the first inning to put Chicago behind 1-0. He then tossed three scoreless innings before Mike Moustakas put Kansas City ahead 2-1 with a two-out solo home run in the top of the fifth inning.

The game was tied at 2 in the top of the sixth before Eric Hosmer opened the inning with a double and Kendrys Morales moved him to third base with a single. Hosmer then scored as Omar Infante grounded into a double play. Kansas City went ahead 4-2 on Alex Rios' two-out solo home run off Samardzija, who lost for the first time in seven starts.

Before Friday's loss, Samardzija had a 0.54 ERA in his first two July starts.