Royals get win in 13th after duel of aces turns to tussle
CHICAGO -- Chris Sale allowed two runs over seven innings, striking out two and walking one during Thursday night's contest at U.S. Cellular Field between the White Sox and Royals. Yordano Ventura allowed five hits over seven innings, while striking out eight. But neither ace was around in the end for the Royals' 3-2 victory in 13 innings. Eric Hosmer doubled home the winning run off of Jake Petricka with two outs, as Jarrod Dyson barely beat the relay throw from Emilio Bonifacio.
Ventura and Sale were two of five players ejected as the offshoot of a bench-clearing fracas in the seventh that began when Adam Eaton grounded back to Ventura with two outs, and Ventura yelled at Eaton after Eaton first yelled something upon contact. Numerous punches were thrown, and Jeff Samardzija, Edinson Volquez and Lorenzo Cain also were ejected.
Video: KC@CWS: Five ejected after fracas ensues in Chicago
"I don't know what he was doing," said White Sox catcher Tyler Flowers of Ventura. "I saw Eaton hit a ball back at him, and for some reason he made some actions toward him. I don't know."
"When I fielded the comebacker it put me off balance and I took those steps," said Ventura through interpreter Jeremy Guthrie. "I guess that incited [Eaton] and he said something and I responded back emotionally. I wish it wouldn't have happened like that."
Video: KC@CWS: Royals react to the benches-clearing fracas
Kansas City scored two in the first on Kendrys Morales' single. The White Sox countered by scoring one in the fourth on Alexei Ramirez's two-out single to right and tied the game on Jose Abreu's double, scoring Melky Cabrera with two outs in the fifth.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Getting defensive: When Alex Gordon and Salvador Perez opened the seventh with singles, the Royals looked as if they were close to breaking the 2-2 deadlock. But Sale made a great running catch on Paulo Orlando's sacrifice bunt attempt, and Ramirez turned a Christian Colon line drive into an inning-ending double play.
Video: KC@CWS: Ramirez makes diving snag, fires for forceout
Fast start: As the cliche goes, if you're going to get to a quality starter, better get him early before he develops a rhythm. That's what the Royals did against Sale. After the first batter, Alcides Escobar, lined out to center, the next four batters reached base (three singles and a walk), capped by Morales' two-run single.
Video: KC@CWS: Morales laces two-run single to center field
Rally killer: The White Sox put runners on first and third with one out against reliever Kelvin Herrera in the eighth. But the rally was quickly turned back as Herrera struck out Avisail Garcia and Conor Gillaspie. Herrera reached 100 mph on one pitch to Gillaspie, but the out pitch was 89-mph changeup.
What a relief: Four White Sox relievers threw one scoreless inning apiece after Sale was ejected, giving them a chance for victory. Zach Duke, David Robertson, Zach Putnam and Dan Jennings combined to fan five.
Video: KC@CWS: Davis retires Beckham to earn save in 13th
QUOTABLE
"The celebration was fun. We were still focused on trying to win the division at that time. We were glad we clinched the Wild Card spot. To watch the boys celebrate was special." -- manager Ned Yost on the Royals' last visit to the Cell when they clinched their first playoff appearance since 1985
Video: KC@CWS: Yost discusses 3-2 win despite altercation
"It was a big mess." -- Sale on the seventh inning melee
Video: KC@CWS: Ventura discusses benches-clearing incident
LEFT IS RARELY RIGHT
Left-handed hitters don't stand much of a chance against Sale, who had limited them to a .185 average coming into Thursday's contest. But Mike Moustakas, Hosmer and Gordon all knocked singles against the White Sox ace. Gordon, who had two hits off of Sale, is the only left-handed hitter with double-digit career hits against him at 14.
LET'S BE CAREFUL OUT THERE
The Royals did not score in the fourth inning against Sale, but that was the least of the problems for the White Sox. Gordon broke his bat on a foul ball and part of the bat almost clipped Sale. Then, that bloop hit for Gordon barely eluded a diving Garcia in right, with Johnson barely eluding a collision with Garcia.
Video: KC@CWS: Sale shatters Gordon's bat and ducks shard
REPLAY REVIEW
The Royals challenged a 10th-inning ruling of Abreu being safe at second after a Ryan Madson wild pitch. After the review, the call stood and Abreu stayed at second.
Video: KC@CWS: Close play at second stands in the 10th
WHAT'S NEXT
Royals: LHP Danny Duffy, who issued five walks in his last start against the Athletics on Sunday, will look to limit the free passes in the second game of the four-game series at 7:10 p.m. CT. Duffy allowed five runs on eight hits against the White Sox on April 8.
White Sox: Jose Quintana gave up a career-worst nine earned runs in just four-plus innings of work against the Tigers Sunday, covering 93 pitches, which included 42 in the first inning. He went to seven full counts and allowed two home runs. Quintana has a 0-6 career mark against the Royals.
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