KANSAS CITY -- Salvador Perez bounced a two-run single off the third-base bag, rookie Jorge Bonifacio slugged a two-run home run, and left-hander Jason Vargas tossed six innings of one-run ball as the Royals ended a nine-game losing streak with a 6-1 win over the White Sox on Monday night.
The victory also was the Royals' first over an American League Central opponent after dropping their first eight.
Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer said it was simply nice to shake hands again after a game.
"Felt really good. It's been a while," Hosmer said. "April is behind us. It was a bad month, an awful month. But we play a lot of division opponents here in May and it's a chance to gain ground."
Bonifacio homered to left field with two out in the fourth off White Sox starter Dylan Covey, wiping out a 1-0 deficit. Perez pushed the lead to 4-1 with a one-hopper off the bag with the bases loaded in the fifth. That was enough support for Vargas (4-1), who gave up five hits and three walks while striking out one.

"The talent on this team is no different than in 2014 when we went to the World Series or 2015 when we won it all," Vargas said. "This team can go on a run."

Covey gave up nine hits and six runs over 6 2/3 innings, including a two-run home run to Hosmer.
"I feel like I'm getting better every day," Covey said. "Obviously it's frustrating that the results aren't there. But I feel like I got better from my last start today. Threw some quality pitches to get out of some jams. Just obviously a couple of home runs. Felt good with my stuff overall, the results just weren't there."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Rookie comes through: Bonifacio continued his impressive start by jumping on a 2-1 fastball from Covey and hitting it an estimated 432 feet, according to Statcast™, with an exit velocity of 106.9 mph. Alex Gordon had kept the inning going with a two-out double to left.
"Boni got us right back in the lead," Vargas said. "That was awesome."
Merry month of May: Mired in a 1-for-33 slump entering the fourth, Jacob May delivered his second hit of the season and picked up his third RBI. May connected for a two-out single to left on a 3-1 offering from Vargas, bringing home Todd Frazier, who walked to open the frame. May was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte after the game, exiting with two hits in 36 at-bats.

"I got a good taste of it and how to go about my business, and how to compete up here," said May, who went 26 at-bats without a hit to start his career. "So I've just got to go down and get better."
QUOTABLE
"Thank God! Do you know how many times we have hit the ball hard and it's been an out? Nice to finally get a break." -- Perez, on what went through his mind when his one-hopper in the fourth inning skipped off the third-base bag for a two-run single
"I thought he was a little better tonight. Obviously, he was attacking the strike zone, kept himself in a much better position to continue in the game." -- White Sox manager Rick Renteria on Covey, who logged a career-high 6 2/3 innings
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Bonifacio's home run at the time was the Royals' first this season with a runner in scoring position. Hosmer followed suit in the seventh inning.

WHAT'S NEXT
White Sox:Jose Quintana (1-4, 5.22 ERA) goes for his second straight victory and second straight over the Royals on Tuesday at Kauffman Stadium. His four losses are tied for the most in the Majors, and his 1.84 runs support average is third-lowest in the American League
Royals: Left-hander Danny Duffy (2-1, 2.81) will take the hill on Tuesday for a 7:15 p.m CT start in Game 2 of the series against the White Sox. Duffy gave up nine hits and six runs over 4 2/3 innings against the Sox last Tuesday.
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