McWilliams Leaves Losing Behind, Wins With Royals

Three weeks ago, Larry McWilliams was having a horrible season with the Philadelphia Phillies. He was 2-11 and had not won since May 13.

But the 35-year-old left-hander is now playing a part in the Kansas City Royals’ bid to stay in the race in the American League West.

McWilliams held the Chicago White Sox to six hits in seven innings Tuesday night at Kansas City as the Royals beat Chicago, 5-3, to remain 3 1/2 games behind the Oakland Athletics.

Willie Wilson and Danny Tartabull each drove in two runs in the second inning to help McWilliams improve his record to 2-0 with the Royals.

The Phillies traded McWilliams to the Royals on Sept. 2 for a player to be named.

When he held the Minnesota Twins to three hits and a run in six innings Sept. 11, he became the first Kansas City left-hander to win since June 30.

Errors by first baseman Carlos Martinez and center fielder Sammy Sosa contributed to the Royals’ five-run second inning that beat Richard Dotson. Four of the runs were unearned. Martinez later had two other errors.

“Let’s face it, we won this game because we played good defense and they didn’t,” McWilliams said. “My pitching didn’t have that much to do with it.”

However, McWilliams impressed White Sox Manager Jeff Torborg.

“McWilliams did a real good job for them,” he said. “He changed speeds real well. That was the first time I had seen him.”

Steve Farr, who pitched two scoreless innings in relief of McWilliams, earned his 17th save.