The Chicago White Sox were on the verge of a big first inning when their first two batters, Tim Anderson and Andrew Benintendi, drew walks.

A double play and a strikeout ended the threat without a run.

The Kansas City Royals made the most of their opportunities in the bottom of the first, scoring four runs. The Sox never recovered, falling 9-1 in front of 12,187 on Wednesday at Kauffman Stadium.

“We had a chance to put some runs on the board in the first inning and we didn’t,” Sox manager Pedro Grifol said. “Then came out and gave up four. Momentum switched right there. That first inning right there was a big inning for us.

“We had first and second, nobody out. We had them on the ropes there and (Royals starter Brad Keller) was able to get out of it. Gave up four and never got back in it.”

It was another tough night for Lance Lynn (1-5), who allowed seven runs on nine hits with four strikeouts and two walks in five innings.

“He had a good game plan going in. He was good in the pen from what I hear from (pitching coach) Ethan (Katz),” Grifol said. “He missed out over the plate a few times and today was one of those days where they didn’t miss it. Looked strong, same stuff he had (Friday) in Cincinnati. He made some mistakes today and they didn’t miss it.”

Lynn’s ERA is 7.51, the highest among qualified pitchers in the majors.

“It could be a little bit of everything,” Lynn said. “Last game I gave up three runs with about the softest contact as you possibly can get. Right now when I make a mistake, it’s hit hard. When I make a good pitch, it’s doinked in. I’ve just got to regroup here and make some adjustments and be better. There’s no other way to say it.

“You know what you’ve got to do. Sometimes it just doesn’t go where you need to or doesn’t go your way. You can make good pitches and they get hits. And then you make bad pitches. Right now when I make a bad pitch, it’s costing me runs or it’s hit hard. Sometimes you get away with it and they pop them up, things like that. Right now it’s not happening.”

He surrendered two homers Wednesday and has given up 11 this season, fourth-most in the majors.

“He’s had some good games too. He finished coming off a pretty good game in Cincinnati,” Grifol said. “He’s had some first innings that they put (up) some runs … and then he settled down and (was) able to pitch deep in games. But he’s going to figure this thing out. That’s who he is. He’s a really good competitor.

“He’s been doing it for a long time. He’ll figure it out and he’ll go through a streak here where he’ll run some quality starts together for us.”

The defense didn’t help much. Trailing 2-0, Lynn got Matt Duffy to pop up to shallow right field near the line. Second baseman Elvis Andrus and right fielder Gavin Sheets were in the area, and the ball popped out of Andrus’ glove for a run-scoring hit.

“This is a big ballpark. It’s deceptive, right?” Grifol said. “I think (Sheets) might have been able to get there as well. They seemed like they communicated well. And the ball just dropped.”

The Royals added another run in the inning. Lynn said he made a lot of mistakes over the middle of the plate in the first.

“I couldn’t get the ball elevated when I needed to, and when I tried to go down, it was in the middle of the plate too,” Lynn said. “A lot of things were thigh high, and they made me pay for it, a lot of hits in a row. It kind of kept carrying as the game went along with the two homers. Just not good.”

It turned into their second blowout loss of the series after Monday’s 12-5 defeat. The best they can do is salvage a series split Thursday afternoon.

“All I can say is these guys are going to figure it out,” Grifol said. “(Dylan) Cease (who allowed seven runs Monday) is going to. In my conversations with him, he says he feels good. He felt strong the other day. He feels like he’s close to putting a good run together and the same thing with Lance.

“There’s a lot of baseball left. And these guys are more than capable of putting good runs together. And I’m looking to see these guys put it not only together as individuals but as a staff. And then give us a chance to do what we did (in Tuesday’s 4-2 win).”

()