KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Interstat) — Anthony Kay, pitching in the majors for the first time in nearly five years, delivered 5 2/3 scoreless innings to lead the Chicago White Sox to a 2-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Thursday night at Kauffman Stadium.

The win snapped a 14-game losing streak for the White Sox in Kansas City and evened both teams’ records at 5-8.

Kay (1-0), who last pitched in the big leagues for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2021 before spending two seasons in Japan, allowed just three hits, walked three and struck out six. He navigated traffic and a potent Royals lineup, twice striking out Vinnie Pasquantino, Jac Caglianone and Kyle Isbel.

The left-hander’s performance was the cornerstone of a combined five-hit shutout by four White Sox pitchers. It marked a significant step forward for Kay, who had allowed two earned runs in each of his first two starts this season after rejoining the majors.

The game was a tense, quick-paced pitchers’ duel that concluded in 2 hours, 35 minutes before an announced crowd of 13,001. Both teams managed only five hits apiece, but the White Sox capitalized on two key opportunities while stranding several Royals rallies.

Chicago’s offense, which grounded into three double plays, broke through against Royals starter Seth Lugo in the fourth inning. Munetaka Murakami worked a leadoff walk and, one out later, scored when rookie shortstop Colson Montgomery lined an RBI double into the right-field corner.

Lugo (1-1) was sharp in defeat, allowing one run on four hits over 6 1/3 innings, walking one and striking out four. He departed in the seventh after walking Andrew Benintendi and Dustin Harris with one out. Reliever Eli Morgan entered and induced a potential inning-ending double-play ball from Edgar Quero, but a successful White Sox challenge overturned the out call at first base, loading the bases on a fielder’s choice and a throwing error by Pasquantino.

Luisangel Acuña then lifted a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Benintendi for a 2-0 lead. The run was charged to Lugo.

The Royals threatened repeatedly but went 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position and left nine men on base. Their best chance came in the seventh against reliever Grant Taylor. Maikel Garcia and Bobby Witt Jr. singled with two outs, putting the tying runs on base, but Vinnie Pasquantino grounded out to second to end the threat.

Witt Jr. finished 2 for 5 with a double for Kansas City.

Chicago’s bullpen sealed the win with scoreless work. Jordan Leasure struck out two in a perfect eighth, and Seranthony Domínguez worked around a leadoff walk in the ninth for his second save. Domínguez struck out Garcia and got Witt Jr. to strike out on a foul tip to end the game.

The victory defied pregame projections, as statistical models heavily favored the Royals, giving them a 65.7% probability to win with a projected final score of 5-3. The combined two runs fell far under the posted over/under line of 9.

The most critical sequence of the game occurred in the bottom of the sixth inning, with Kay protecting a 1-0 lead. After retiring the first two batters, he allowed a sharp single to Lane Thomas and then hit Jac Caglianone with a pitch, bringing the potential go-ahead run to the plate in Jonathan India. Kay fell behind India 2-0 but battled back to get him to fly out to left field, ending the inning and his night on a high note. That escape preserved the narrow lead and set the stage for Chicago’s insurance run in the next half-inning.

The White Sox look to build on the win as the four-game series continues Friday. The Royals will aim to restart their home dominance over Chicago.