Witt’s hit streak reaches 16 games, Royals defeat Rockies to wrap up DH

The Kansas City Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr. (7) beats the tag by Colorado Rockies shortstop Aaron Schunk to steal second during the third inning of the second game of a doubleheader Thursday in Kansas City, Mo. CHARLIE RIEDEL — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. >> Bobby Witt Jr. extended his hitting streak to a career-best 16 games with an RBI single in the fifth inning, and the Kansas City Royals went on to beat the Colorado Rockies 6-2 on Thursday to cap off a doubleheader and series sweep.

Salvador Perez had three hits and a pair of RBIs, and Vinnie Pasquantino, Michael Massey and Drew Waters also drove in runs, helping the Royals win their fourth consecutive game on the heels of a six-game losing streak.

Michael Lorenzen (2-3) allowed one run on five hits and three walks over six innings for Kansas City, striking out seven.

Chase Dollander, the ninth overall pick in the 2023 draft, continued to go through rookie growing pains for Colorado. Dollander (1-3) allowed five runs on seven hits and two walks before leaving with two out in the fifth inning.

Jordan Beck homered twice for Colorado in Game 2 of the doubleheader. He also went deep in Game 1.

Kansas City rallied for a 7-4 victory in the opener, caused by a rainout Wednesday night, and the sweep left the Rockies at 4-20 — the worst start in club history. They also matched a franchise record with their 13th consecutive road loss. Their lone win away from Coors Field came in Tampa Bay on March 29, in their first series of the season.

Colorado has lost 11 consecutive series since taking two games from Arizona last September.

white Sox 3, Twins 0 (7 innings) >> Lenyn Sosa and Miguel Vargas homered as Chicago beat Minnesota in a game that was shortened to seven innings because of rain.

The win salvaged the finale of the three-game series for Chicago and snapped a 14-game losing streak at Target Field, the longest road losing streak against any opponent in team history.

Shane Smith (1-1) allowed one walk and four hits while striking out seven over five innings to pick up his first major league victory.

Mariners 4, Red Sox 3 >> Bryan Woo scattered three hits over six innings, and Seattle tagged Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet for four runs in the first two innings to beat Boston and win the three-game series.

Leo Rivas and J.P. Crawford each had a pair of hits for the Mariners, who have won 10 of their last 13 games.

Woo (3-1) struck out eight while allowing two runs and one walk. Randy Arozarena had three walks.

Mitch Garver drove in a pair of runs with a first-inning double off the center-field edge of the Green Monster. Seattle loaded the bases with nobody out in the second on two singles and a walk, then scored a pair on a sacrifice fly by Dylan Moore and a groundout by Julio Rodriguez.

ORIOLES 2, NATIONALS 1 >> Cade Povich limited Washington to a run in 6 2/3 innings, Ryan O’Hearn and Cedric Mullins had RBI singles in the fifth and Baltimore beat the Nationals to end a three-game losing streak.

Povich (1-2) allowed four hits.

The left-hander struck out five and walked one.

Mullins has hit safely in six straight games and has seven hits in that span. O’Hearn ended an 0-for-8 skid.