KANSAS CITY -- The Royals finally slayed the dragon, that being White Sox starter Lucas Giolito.

Giolito came into the game with six career wins and no losses against the Royals and a 2.13 ERA. But this time, the Royals did just enough damage off their nemesis to scratch out a 5-2 win on Monday night at Kauffman Stadium.

• Box score

Three of the runs came off Giolito, who allowed only five runs total in four earlier starts vs. the Royals this year.

“He’s been tough on us,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “I don’t think we’ve ever beaten him. We put together some good at-bats off him. Three runs off him feels like a lot.”

Alex Gordon and Hunter Dozier hit back-to-back doubles in the fourth, and Cheslor Cuthbert got a two-out RBI hit to make it 2-0 Royals.

The Royals tacked on runs in the sixth on a two-out single by Nicky Lopez that drove in Dozier, in the seventh on an RBI groundout by Gordon and in the eighth on an error that allowed Jorge Soler to score.

That was enough for Royals starter Jakob Junis, who turned in a gem. Junis gave up just five hits and one run and struck out a career-high 10.

“His slider was really good; he was back-footing it,” Yost said. “Threw some good changeups. Spotted his fastball. Ten punchouts. He was just really good.”

Junis said that probably was the best his stuff and command have felt all season.

“For sure,” Junis said. “Slider was sharp. Fastball command got better as the game went on. The slider was as good as it has been all year.”

Junis held the Nationals to five hits and two runs over seven innings in his final outing before the All-Star break.

“It’s good to put together two good starts like that,” Junis said, “but also to come out of the break like that. Hopefully, I can keep it going and have a strong second half.”