Cain's HR redeems Royals, tops White Sox in 13
CHICAGO -- Lorenzo Cain homered leading off the 13th inning to give the Royals a 7-6 victory over the White Sox in a game in which Kansas City wasted a three-run first-inning lead and a two-run lead in the ninth with two outs and nobody on base. Cain homered off of Dan Jennings, who already had set a career-high with 2 2/3 innings pitched, but was back in despite closer David Robertson still being available. Jennings finished with 3 2/3 innings and threw 49 pitches.
The game went to extras when J.B. Shuck doubled home two runs with two outs in the ninth off of closer Greg Holland. Adam LaRoche singled and Alexei Ramirez walked on five pitches, and Shuck followed with a double over the head of left fielder Jarrod Dyson. It was the first time Holland has allowed a run against the White Sox since May 6, 2013.
"We hung in there," Cain said. "I know both teams are tired after yesterday, and then coming here this morning to play another day game, so it's definitely not easy for each team, but we found a way to come out here, play great baseball. It took a while, but we ended up getting the win." More >
A stretch of 21 straight scoreless innings for the White Sox bullpen came to an end when the Royals scored two runs in the eighth inning and claimed a 6-4 lead. The runs were charged to Jake Petricka, who gave up two hits and a walk before being replaced by Zach Duke.
Ryan Madson earned the save for the Royals, his first since 2011, after giving up a leadoff single to Adam Eaton in the 13th. But Tyler Saladino struck out, and third baseman Mike Moustakas made a great grab of Melky Cabrera's line drive and then doubled off Eaton at first. More >
Video: KC@CWS: Madson induces game-ending double play
"That's just a tough game to lose," Jennings said. "It's a division game that we really knew we had to play well, and we did. It's just tough to lose, because you could see in everybody's face how bad they wanted that game. It just didn't work out in our favor." More >
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Out of the gate: The Royals began Saturday's game with four straight hits and three runs in the first inning off White Sox starter Jose Quintana. Alcides Escobar singled and scored on Moustakas' double before Cain and Eric Hosmer each singled, with Hosmer bringing home Moustakas. Salvador Perez added a fifth hit later in the inning, a double that scored Cain.
Video: KC@CWS: Moustakas opens scoring with a double
Kansas City wasn't fazed, even after the game was delayed nearly 20 minutes while the White Sox honored the 2005 World Series-winning team. More >
"The thing about our club I think that we do so well," said Royals manager Ned Yost, "we don't walk much because we're aggressive, and we don't strike out much. We put the ball in play because we're aggressive. A lot of times, that plays into our advantage."
Slow but steady: There was no major outburst by the White Sox to get back into Saturday's game after spotting the Royals three in the first. Instead, they scored one in the third, fourth and fifth to tie the contest. Cabrera and Eaton each scored and drove in a run on singles, and Ramirez hit a sac fly.
Video: KC@CWS: Melky lines an RBI single to left field
Traveling from Orlando: The Royals added a run in the sixth inning after back-to-back doubles to begin the frame. Alex Rios led off with a ground-rule double, but it was Paulo Orlando's double down the right-field line that put them on top.
Video: KC@CWS: Orlando lines a go-ahead double to right
Another no-decision: When the White Sox rallied to tie it in the seventh, Quintana picked up his 45th no-decision since 2012. That total is tops in the Majors. Quintana also had his streak of nine straight quality starts end by allowing four runs on 10 hits over 5 1/3 innings.
"Long day. It's hard when you have games like that. You try to get the win," Quintana said. "It's hard, especially when you use all your bullpen. It's too hard for me when you want to go and get the quality start for the team. Bad day for me. I'll keep going for the next one."
QUOTABLE
"I mean, I was just hoping for anybody on this team to hit a home run at that point. I ended up doing it and helping everybody get out of here and move on to tomorrow. It was well-needed." -- Cain, as his team played into the 13th inning
"I wanted it to have a chance. In your mind, you are begging. But it is what it is." -- Geovany Soto, on his 12th-inning double with two outs, as to whether he thought it had a chance to be a walk-off homer
"[Chris] Sale's pitching tomorrow, right? I think we'll be all right." Jennings, on whether the White Sox bullpen needs an extra arm for Sunday
FIRST INNING WOES CONTINUE
With the Royals' start against the White Sox on Saturday, the South Siders have now been outscored by a 71-27 margin during the first inning this season. Both numbers currently stand as Major League worsts.
HOMER OFF HERRERA
Ramirez's home run in the seventh inning was the first long ball Royals reliever Kelvin Herrera had allowed since May 29, and his third this season. Since that game, Herrera has given up just five earned runs in 23 outings.
Video: KC@CWS: Ramirez lifts a game-tying solo homer
Ramirez had homered on just one other day this season. He hit a home run in each game of a doubleheader on May 9 against the Reds.
WHAT'S NEXT
Royals: The Royals close out the four-game series on Sunday at U.S. Cellular Field with Danny Duffy on the mound. Duffy has allowed a combined six runs against the White Sox in two games this season, both of which came in April before he hit the disabled list. First pitch is slated for 1:10 p.m. CT.
White Sox: Fresh off his fourth straight All-Star appearance, Sale makes his second-half debut Sunday afternoon in the series finale against the Royals. Sale is 6-3 with a 1.76 ERA and 131 strikeouts over his last 92 innings, covering 12 starts.
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