CLEVELAND (AP) — Pinch-hitter Brandon Guyer singled in a run with two outs in the ninth inning, helping the Cleveland Indians move closer to an AL Central title with a 2-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night.

Guyer’s hit off Joakim Soria landed just fair in the right-field corner and scored Coco Crisp. Guyer was the third pinch-hitter of the inning used by manager Terry Francona.

Cleveland led Detroit by seven games in the division entering Tuesday. The Indians haven’t won the AL Central since 2007.

Brian Flynn (1-2) walked Jose Ramirez to start the ninth, then fumbled a bunt by Crisp, batting for Lonnie Chisenhall, down the first-base line for an error.

Catcher Salvador Perez threw Ramirez out at third on Abraham Almonte’s sacrifice attempt. Rajai Davis, batting for Tyler Naquin, hit a hard ground ball that deflected off Soria’s foot and rolled to first baseman Eric Hosmer for the out.

Guyer then delivered with the winner that fell in despite a sliding effort by right fielder Paulo Orlando.

The Royals, the reigning World Series champions, will be eliminated from contention in the division if they lose to Cleveland on Wednesday night.

Kansas City advanced a runner to third with one out in the eighth, but Andrew Miller (9-1) struck out pinch-hitter Christian Colon and Whit Merrifield before retiring the side in order in the ninth.

Carlos Santana led off the third with his 33rd home run, a drive deep into the lower deck in right field. Alex Gordon’s RBI single tied the game in the fifth.

Indians starter Josh Tomlin allowed one run in 6 2/3 innings. The right-hander held Kansas City to five hits, struck out three and didn’t walk a batter.

Edinson Volquez allowed Santana’s homer but held the Indians in check over 6 2/3 innings. He gave up four hits, struck out five and walked three.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: OF Lorenzo Cain (left wrist inflammation), who last played on Sept. 9 at the White Sox, is traveling with the team.

Indians: Pitching coach Mickey Callaway said there’s a “small chance” Danny Salazar (strained forearm) will be available in the bullpen if Cleveland makes the playoffs. Salazar hasn’t pitched since Sept. 9 but played catch at 60 feet Tuesday.

UP NEXT

Royals: RHP Ian Kennedy is unbeaten in his last 10 starts, going 5-0 with a 2.14 ERA. His last road loss occurred July 1 at Philadelphia.

Indians: RHP Corey Kluber seeks his career high-tying 18th victory. He is 9-5 with a 3.27 ERA in 15 home starts this season.

— Associated Press —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Yordano Ventura kept his pitch count down, which enabled him to go nine innings for the first time in the majors.

Ventura picked up his first complete-game victory, Kendrys Morales hit a three-run homer and the Kansas City Royals defeated the Chicago White Sox 8-3 Monday.

The Royals have won three straight, keeping their faint playoff hopes flickering with 12 games remaining. The Royals went 14-5 against the White Sox this year.

“My goal today was try to get as many outs as I can as quick as I can and go deep in the game and that’s what I did today,” Ventura said with catching coach Pedro Grifol as his translator. “I’m happy with it.”

Ventura (11-11) gave up nine hits, struck out five and walked one. His only other complete game in the majors was a 3-2 loss July 28 at Texas.

“He was outstanding,” Royals catcher Drew Butera said. “He was efficient with his pitches. He had great movement, great life. He was really good.”

Ventura had allowed 10 runs, 17 hits and six walks in 11 1/3 innings in losing his previous two starts. He threw only 16 pitches in a 10-batter span to end the fifth and into the seventh.

“He did a phenomenal job of managing his pitch-count,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “He put himself in a position with a five-run lead to have a complete-game. He got through eight with 92 pitches. He just pitched a great game.”

Morales homered off Carlos Rodon (7-10) in a four-run fifth. Morales homered in back-to-back games, bringing his total to 29. The last Royal to hit 30 home runs in a season was Jermaine Dye, with 33 in 2000.

Paulo Orlando and Alcides Escobar homered in the second for the Royals. Eric Hosmer drove in two runs with a pair of singles, giving him 97 RBI.

Billy Burns had three hits, was hit by a pitch, stole a base and scored two runs.

“They’re a good ballclub,” Rodon said. “Guys that have been in the game for a while and just understand that, make me throw pitches and get deep in the count, and they did a really good job of that. They swing the bat well, but our guys swung the bat well, too. Some hard balls hit and some home runs, and that’s baseball.”

Jose Abreu and Carlos Sanchez hit solo home runs for the White Sox. Todd Frazier added an RBI single and had two hits off Ventura.

“He’s throwing 97, 98 (mile per hour),” Frazier said late in the game. “That’s tough to pick up, tough to lay off, too, as well, because it looks like a strike and comes off. He had good command, basically.”

DUAL EJECTIONS

Plate umpire Toby Basner ejected Escobar in the fifth for arguing balls and strikes. When Yost interceded, Basner thumbed him, too.

TRAINER’S ROOM

White Sox: INF Tyler Saladino (sore left calf) was out of the lineup for the third consecutive game. “We could play him, but I think an extra day would be best for him,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura. … DH Justin Morneau (neck discomfort) returned to the lineup after missing the previous six games.

UP NEXT

White Sox: RHP James Shields, who is 0-5 with a 9.37 ERA in his past nine starts, will start Tuesday at Philadelphia. RHP Jake Thompson will start for the Phillies.

Royals: RHP Edinson Volquez, who gave up nine runs on seven hits and four walks in 3 1/3 innings in a Thursday loss to Oakland, will start the series opener at Cleveland. The Indians will counter with RHP Josh Tomlin.

— Associated Press —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kendrys Morales started the season scuffling to get his average above .200. He’s finishing up a lot better.

Morales homered for his 1,000th career hit and drove in four runs, Danny Duffy pitched effectively into the eighth inning and the Kansas City Royals beat the Chicago White Sox 10-3 Sunday.

“First and foremost, I didn’t even know I had 999 hits,” Morales said with catching coach Pedro Grifol as his translator.

Morales was hitting .191 on June 5, but in his past 20 games he is hitting .359 with a .705 slugging percentage, bringing his season total to .261 with 38 home runs and 85 RBI.

“Obviously, I didn’t have a good start, but the season is a very long season,” Morales said. “I was able to get back on track and finish strong.”

Duffy (12-2) picked up his first victory since Aug. 21. He struck out eight and gave up three runs.

“Again, it sounds boring, but it’s a simple mindset,” Duffy said. “I trust my fastball and everything else plays off of it. That’s probably why I don’t try to nibble with it.”

Morales homered in the sixth with Paulo Orlando aboard. Orlando reached base four times — two doubles, a walk and hit by pitch — and scored three runs.

Morales contributed a RBI single in the first and doubled home Eric Hosmer in the fourth.

Hosmer drove in three runs, giving him a career-best 95 RBI. Whit Merrifield had three hits and two RBI.

Alex Gordon ended an 0-for-21 drought with his 16th home run, which splashed into the upper right-field fountain.

Todd Frazier hit his 37th homer, a White Sox record for a third baseman.

Jose Quintana (12-11) was removed after four innings. He faced 24 batters, giving up 10 hits and three walks.

“It wasn’t the normal stuff, the stuff you expect from him,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “They hit him pretty hard, too. He just wasn’t locating the way he usually does. It was just an off day for him. We didn’t do much offensively against Duffy. He was throwing it pretty good. But, you know, just a rare one for Q.”

Quintana’s career record against the Royals dropped to 1-9.

DOUBLE CHALLENGE

The third inning included a 4-minute, 25-second review that included both managers making a challenge on the same play. Ned Yost of the Royals claimed shortstop Tim Anderson did not touch second base before throwing to first on Hosmer’s grounder. White Sox manager Robin Ventura challenged that Orlando violated the slide rule. After the review, the call on the field was overturned with Orlando ruled safe and the slide was legal.

“We felt like when you slide and you can’t reach the bag that’s enough for me to feel like it’s not a real slide or a bona fide slide,” Ventura said. “Again, that stuff is written in a way that it could go either way.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

White Sox: INF Tyler Saladino was out for the second straight game with a left calf issue. “He’s getting better,” Ventura said. “There’s nothing mechanically wrong in there. He’s just sore and you just have to treat it.” … DH Justin Morneau missed his sixth straight game with neck discomfort.

UP NEXT

White Sox: LHP Carlos Rodon, who is 5-1 with a 2.77 ERA in his past eight starts, will start the series finale.

Royals: RHP Yordano Ventura has allowed at least 11 baserunners in each of his past three starts with 12 walks and 23 hits.

— Associated Press —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Yonder Alonso’s doubles are spoiling the Kansas City Royals’ postseason hopes.

Alonso and Marcus Semien hit two-run doubles as the Oakland Athletics beat Kansas City 8-0 for the third straight game on Wednesday night to further ruin the Royals’ postseason chances.

The 2015 World Series champion Royals are five games out in the American League wild card with 17 games left and would have to climb over five teams.

“I think our guys were really fired up coming into today,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “There was some anger in that locker room today before the game, so I don’t feel any deflation. Guys are upset that we lost those games. They’re not pointing any fingers because they know that we win as a team and lose as a team. They’re not happy with it.”

Alonso’s two-run eighth inning laser pinch double Tuesday lifted the A’s to victory. Alonso’s broken-bat double in the first scored Danny Valencia and Stephen Vogt.

“A totally different swing in a totally different situation, but it got the job done and that’s what matters,” Alonso said. “In this game, sometimes you’d rather by lucky than good. It worked out for me yesterday. Today was a new day and it worked out. The bat died a hero.”

A’s rookie left-hander Sean Manaea (5-9) picked up his first career road victory, retiring 13 of the final 14 batters he faced in five scoreless innings, striking out five and walking one. Manaea, who had not pitched since Aug. 29 when he left in the fourth inning with a strained left rhomboid, was removed after 67 pitches. The A’s acquired Manaea from the Royals in July 2015 as part of the Ben Zobrist trade.

“I don’t think about those things,” Manaea said of facing his former club. “It was great seeing those guys again and doing well against them makes everything better.”

Yordano Ventura (10-11) threw 39 pitches, 28 after two outs, in a three-run third. Ventura retired the first two batters and then gave up five consecutive hits, two of them doubles. Semien’s double scored Alonso and Ryon Healy. Bruce Maxwell’s single scored Semien.

“I was trying to be a little too fine and I was falling behind in the count,” Ventura said through an interpreter.

Ventura was pulled after 4 1/3 innings, giving up five runs on seven hits, four walks, a hit batter and two wild pitches. He has yielded 17 hits and nine runs in 11 1/3 innings in losing his past two starts.

Khris Davis delivered a two-out two-run eighth inning single and scored on Healy’s single to cap off the scoring.

Oakland relievers John Axford, Liam Hendriks and Chris Smith held the Royals to one single the final four innings. The A’s bullpen has restricted the Royals to one run and three hits over 12 1/3 innings in the first three games.

“Manaea did a great job of pitching, as did their whole staff,” Yost said. “You know, Ventura was out there competing his tail off. He just struggled to command the secondary stuff and his fastball.”

The Royals, who have lost seven of their past eight home games, did not have a runner reach third base.

STICKING WITH SORIA

While RHP Joakim Soria is 0-3 with three blown saves and a 9.00 ERA in seven games since August 30, Royals manager Ned Yost said he is not forsaking him. “Jack’s had great outings and he’s had bad outings,” Yost said. “Yeah, he’s had a rough year. The thing that is so puzzling to him is he feels good. It’s just one of those things.”

FUENTES RELEASED

The Royals asked for unconditional release waivers on Rey Fuentes, who was their opening day starting right fielder after hitting .386 in spring training. Fuentes hit .317 in 13 games and 44 plate-appearances with Kansas City. He spent most of the season with Triple-A Omaha, where he hit .254 and swiped 17 bases in 22 attempts.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Athletics: RHP Sonny Gray (strained forearm) threw a 20-pitch bullpen session and could appear in a game before the season ends. “The look on his face and the intensity in which he threw suggests that he wants to pitch,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “Obviously, we’ll be careful and make sure that every step along the way he’s healthy, but there’s a good chance, at this point, we’ll get him in a game or two.” . RHP J.B. Wendelken (forearm tightness) was unavailable.

UP NEXT

Athletics: RHP Daniel Mengden, who is 0-2 with a 10.57 ERA in two September starts, faces the Royals for the first time.

Royals: RHP Edinson Volquez, who has won his past three decisions against the A’s, starts the series finale.

— Associated Press —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Joakim Soria blew another save and the Kansas City Royals’ chances to return to the postseason took another hit.

Pinch hitter Yonder Alonso delivered a two-run double in the eighth inning and the Oakland Athletics rallied past Kansas City 5-4 Tuesday night.

The defending World Series champion Royals dropped five games out of the wild-card race with only 18 games left.

“That’s a really hard situation to come in to,” Alonso said. “I think early on, I knew I was going to have an opportunity, a meaningful opportunity obviously, with the game on the line to come up with a big at-bat.”

Soria blew his seventh save chance in eight opportunities. He was summoned with two outs in the eighth and the Royals clinging to a 3-2 lead.

On his second pitch, Soria gave up a double to Alonso over the head of center fielder Jarrod Dyson, scoring Brett Eibner and pinch runner Joey Wendle.

Soria then yielded an RBI single to Marcus Semien.

“It’s a difficult position when you’re not used to that,” said Soria, who has 203 career saves. “This season has been really, really different to me. I guess in 10 years it can happen sometimes.”

“Unfortunately for me and my team, it happened this year. They need me the most and I’ve been having poor results,” he said.

Rookie Matthew Strahm (2-1), who gave up an infield single to Chad Pinder before Soria replaced him, took the loss.

Royals manager Ned Yost said he did not to use Kelvin Herrera for a four-out save and Wade Davis was unavailable after throwing nearly 50 pitches in back-to-back saves Saturday and Sunday.

“I had confidence in Jack,” Yost said. “I thought it was a good situation for him. I didn’t mind the matchup with Alonso. Jack’s had two days off.”

“Ultimately, it’s my plan. I’m responsible for my plan. And that was my plan and it didn’t work,” he said.

Will he continue to use Soria in those pressure situations?

“I don’t make decisions after games like this,” Yost said. “I haven’t even thought about. I’m not even going to speculate on what I’m going to do, without thinking about it and sleeping on it.”

“Jack’s that guy right now that everybody is on. Jack’s had some really good outings this year and he’s had some poor outings. How do you determine from one day to the next if I put him out there if it’s going to be a good outing or a bad outing? It very easily could have been a good outing. It wasn’t,” he said.

John Axford (6-4) pitched one inning. Ryan Madson balked home Dyson with two outs in the ninth before closing for his 30th save in 36 tries.

Royals starter Danny Duffy, who has not won since Aug. 21, limited the A’s to three hits, but two were home runs, in 7 1/3 innings.

Duffy gave up a home run to Khris Davis on his first pitch in the fifth. Davis has homered in back-to-back games and hiked his season total to 37, which is the most by an Athletics player since Frank Thomas hit 39 in 2006.

Ryon Healy homered to lead off the eighth. After Duffy walked Eibner with one out, he was replaced by Strahm.

Paulo Orlando hit a two-run single in the fourth to score Cheslor Cuthbert, who had doubled, and Alcides Escobar, who reached on Semien’s error.

Semien has committed 11 errors in the past 53 games and tops major league shortstops with 19 fielding miscues.

Escobar’s two-out single in the sixth scored Salvador Perez and chased Jharel Cotton, who was making his second big league start since being acquired in an Aug. 1 trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Cotton allowed three runs, only one earned, in 5 2/3 innings, while walking one and striking out two.

“I’m just going out there and pitching the way I know how to pitch,” Cotton said. “I’m not trying to do anything special, just go out there and give my team a chance to win every time I get the ball.”

ROOKIES GALORE

The A’s started five rookies — 2B Pinder, RF Eibner, 3B Healy, DH Renato Nunez and RHP Cotton — matching a season high.

FOOTBALL VISIT

A’s manager Bob Melvin stopped by the Chiefs’ practice Tuesday. He is a friend of Chiefs coach Andy Reed. The manager’s cousin, Tom Melvin, coaches the Chiefs tight ends.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: RHP Chien-Ming Wang (right biceps tendinitis) is eligible to come off the disabled list Wednesday. “I don’t think it will be tomorrow, but he’s definitely making progress,” Yost said. … Perez returned to the lineup after missing the game Tuesday for the birth of his second son, Johan Salvador.

UP NEXT

Athletics: LHP Sean Manaea will make his first start since Aug. 29 when he left after 3 1/3 innings with strained left rhomboid muscles in the shoulder blade.

Royals: RHP Yordano Ventura gave up a season-high 10 hits over seven innings in a loss Friday to the White Sox.

— Associated Press —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Oakland Athletics looked like a team battling for a playoff spot Monday night, and the Kansas City Royals looked like a team checked out and ready for the offseason.

It was supposed to be the other way around.

Khris Davis and Marcus Semien hit three-run homers, the lowly Athletics matched a season high with 17 hits while drawing 10 walks, and they trounced the Royals 16-3 in their series opener.

“It’s great to have a game like that,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “For a team that struggles to score runs, it’s nice to have a positive mood in the dugout.”

In the opposite dugout, the reigning World Series champions could only rue another game slipping away. The Royals (74-69) began the day four back of the final wild-card spot with 20 games to go, and hoped an eight-game stand against Oakland and the White Sox would allow them to gain ground.

But with five teams standing in their way, time is running out.

“These games are easy to turn the page, a lot tougher is losing a one-run game,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “We just got beat. We didn’t play good, we didn’t pitch good and we got beat.”

Daniel Coulombe (3-1) earned the win in relief of Ross Detwiler, though it was the Oakland offense that led the way. The A’s scored their most runs this season for their largest margin of victory.

Royals starter Dillon Gee (6-8) was battered for five runs on five hits and four walks in 3 1/3 innings, though he wasn’t the only pitcher to melt down. He was followed by three relievers in a span of four batters in the fourth inning, when the A’s marched nine to the plate and scored three times.

“When you’re out there trying to find something in a big league game against big league hitters, it makes it real tough,” Gee said. “They scored a lot of runs, but it’s just one game.”

By the end, everybody in the A’s starting lineup had a hit. Stephen Vogt was 3 for 3 with two walks and two RBI, while Joey Wendle, Arismendy Alcantara and Ryon Healy drove also drove in two apiece.

“We were swinging at a lot of good pitches,” said the A’s Brett Eibner, who began the season with Kansas City. “We swung at pitches we want to hit and when you do that, the runs seem to pile up.”

Davis delivered the first big blow in the third inning when he splashed his 36th homer into the fountains in left field, a shot estimated at 447 feet.

When the Royals matched him with three runs in the bottom half, the A’s bounced right back to score three more: Bruce Maxwell and Eibner opened the fourth with back-to-back singles, Wendle hit a sacrifice fly, and the A’s churned out four hits and two walks in taking a 6-3 lead.

It was 8-3 when Semien went deep in the sixth, and Oakland merely piled on from there.

“There’s not much to say,” Yost said. “Just one of those nights.”

BIG LEAGUE DEBUTS

Royals OF Hunter Dozier and A’s INF Renato Nunez and OF/INF Matt Olson made their major league debuts. Nunez and Olson were brought up from Triple-A Nashville prior to the game, with Olson taking the spot of departed DH Billy Butler on the 40-man roster.

“In Olson’s case his parents were here,” Melvin said, “so it was nice to get him in the game.”

SALVY’S BABY BOY

Royals C Salvador Perez was scratched from the starting lineup after his fiance gave birth to a boy on Monday. His name is Johan Salvador and the Royals said mother and baby are doing well.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals RHP Kris Medlen (right rotator cuff inflammation) will not return this season, manager Ned Yost said. LHP Jason Vargas (Tommy John surgery) is also unlikely to pitch for Kansas City this season after making three rehab outings for Triple-A Omaha.

UP NEXT

RHP Jharel Cotton makes his second career start for the A’s after beating the Angels in his debut last week. LHP Danny Duffy goes for his eighth win since the All-Star break for Kansas City.

— Associated Press —

CHICAGO (AP) — Ian Kennedy wanted to talk about Chris Sale’s outing more than his own performance.

“What did he go, eight innings, 12 punchouts?” Kennedy said. “You know you’re going up against one of the best pitchers in the American League. I just wanted to go out there and try to give our team a chance.”

Kennedy did a lot better than that, combining with three relievers on a two-hitter and helping the Kansas City Royals edge Sale and the Chicago White Sox 2-0 on Sunday.

The key for Kansas City was swinging early. Kendrys Morales homered on Sale’s first pitch of the second and Eric Hosmer did the same in the fourth.

“Honestly, I just try to get out of that box as quick as I can without getting embarrassed,” Hosmer said.

The Royals won their second straight to stay four games behind Baltimore for the final AL wild-card spot. They have to jump five teams over the final 20 games to reach the playoffs for the third straight year.

“We needed this,” Hosmer said.

Kennedy (11-9) walked four, but Adam Eaton’s leadoff single was the only hit off the right-hander in six innings. He improved to 5-0 in his last six starts.

Peter Moylan and Kelvin Herrera each threw a perfect inning before Wade Davis worked around Eaton’s single and a walk in the ninth for his 24th save.

Sale (15-8) struck out 12 in eight innings while becoming the first White Sox pitcher with four consecutive 200-strikeout seasons. It was his third game of 10 or more strikeouts this season and No. 34 for his career.

Sale also went over 200 innings for the second straight season.

“I think more than anything, it’s the innings,” Sale said. “I was told very early on when I got here 200 innings was the benchmark for a starting pitcher.”

But Sale, who has gone at least eight innings in five straight starts, has just one win since starting for the AL in the All-Star Game. It has fueled speculation Sale could be traded in the offseason to help a rare rebuilding project for the struggling franchise.

“I don’t worry about that stuff. It’ll shake out on its own,” Sale said. “I wear this uniform with a lot of pride and I hope I can continue to do that.”

Kennedy, who struck out six, stymied Chicago despite occasional control issues amid his late-season turnaround.

He walked the bases loaded in the third with two out before Melky Cabrera flied to right. Kennedy worked around another walk in the fifth when Tyler Saladino lined to the mound to start a double play.

Davis got Jose Abreu to line to right and struck out Justin Morneau with two on to close the Royals’ fourth win in six games.

“It’s hard to bunch offense against Chris Sale,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “You have to hope you can get a pitch and not miss it. That’s what Mo did. That’s what Hos did and you just hope that your pitching matches.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: Yost said OF Lorenzo Cain (sprained left wrist) will see a specialist and they’ll decide in a week if he’ll be shut down for the season. “We’re just doing everything we can right now,” Cain said. “Hopefully, I can get back on the field.” … C Salvador Perez started a second straight game in his return from a wrist injury. “Salvy is a different scenario, it’s just a bone contusion,” Yost said.

White Sox: Sale stayed in after taking a liner off his knee in the third. He recovered to throw out Paulo Orlando at first.

MEMORIES

The 15-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks hit home for both managers. Chicago’s Robin Ventura was playing for the Mets and Yost was with the Braves then. The teams faced off in the first game in New York after the attack.

Both men brought up the significance of Mike Piazza’s game-winning home run.

“People could cheer, people could hug each other and laugh and root for their team again,” Ventura said.

UP NEXT

Royals: Oakland comes to Kansas City for four games, with Royals RHP Dillon Gee (6-7, 4.34 ERA) facing LHP Ross Detwiler (1-3, 5.15 ERA) on Monday.

White Sox: AL Central-leading Cleveland visits for four games starting Monday, with RHP Miguel Gonzalez (3-6, 3.81 ERA) facing RHP Carlos Carrasco (11-7, 3.15 ERA).

— Associated Press —

CHICAGO — The Kansas City Royals want to wait a week before deciding whether to shut down Lorenzo Cain. The outfielder may or may not agree.

The Royals’ 6-5 comeback victory over the Chicago White Sox on Saturday night was overshadowed by the unknown future of their former All-Star.

Whit Merrifield hit a go-ahead two-run double in a three-run seventh inning and closer Wade Davis barely made it hold up in the ninth. The 2015 World Series champions remained four games back of Baltimore for the second AL wild card.

But being without Cain could dampen those postseason hopes.

Cain returned Friday from a sprained wrist, but was basically swinging one-handed. He was back sidelined Saturday, and while manager Ned Yost said before the game Cain will likely have to play through pain, Cain told Fox Sports Kansas City that it was “highly likely” he was finished for the season.

After the game, a team spokesman said Cain had received a stem cell shot that didn’t work and they wanted to wait a week to see if his wrist gets better.

At his locker after the game, the spokesman repeated that news to Cain before he addressed reporters.

Cain said nothing for a few seconds before declining to answer whether he thought he would return.

“I’ve go to talk to some more people because we talked about something earlier,” Cain said. “I’ll have to get back to you.”

Davis gave up a single to Tyler Saladino and a double to Adam Eaton to lead off the ninth before Melky Cabrera’s infield single cut the deficit to one.

With the tying run on third and one out, Davis struck out Jose Abreu and Justin Morneau for his 23rd save.

“He got himself into a little bit of trouble, but that what he does best,” Yost said. “He just buckles down when he needs to and got big outs.”

Eric Hosmer hit a two-run homer in the first and Alex Gordon a solo shot in the fourth off White Sox starter James Shields. The struggling righty exited after six innings leading 4-3 before the Chicago’s bullpen faltered.

Chris Beck (2-2) was charged with three runs while giving up two hits and a walk and getting one out.

Davis was the last of five relievers after Edinson Volquez, who allowed four runs and nine hits over five innings.

Kevin McCarthy (1-0) got the last out of the sixth for his first major league win.

“I still haven’t wrapped my head around the whole being up here yet,” McCarthy said. “My head is still spinning.”

Shields, who helped the Royals reach the 2014 World Series, allowed three runs and four hits. He avoided his 18th loss despite moving into the major league lead with 37 home runs allowed.

“I gave up two homers, but the other two hits were kind of just really weak hits,” Shields said.

Morneau doubled twice and drove in a run in a two-run fifth as the White Sox went ahead 4-3.

Abreu drove in his 90th run and Saladino went 3 for 4 to leave him 9 for 12 in the past three games.

Volquez allowed the leadoff batter to reach in all five innings, but the Royals overcame Chicago’s 12 hits for their fourth win in 10 games.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: C Salvador Perez (wrist) returned after a two-game absence and went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts.

White Sox: Manager Robin Ventura said it’s unlikely 2B Brett Lawrie, who last played July 21, returns this season. Lawrie remains in Arizona dealing with nagging knee pain after originally being sidelined with a hamstring injury. “It’s become a long shot at this point just because he’s been out so long,” Ventura said.

MERRIFIELD’S YEAR

Merrifield, a 27-year-old rookie forced into duty thanks to Kansas City’s numerous injuries, has driven in 21 runs in 60 games.

“It was big,” Merrifield said. “Happy I came through right there.”

MORNEAU’S FUTURE

Morneau, signed in June to a one-year deal, will decide after the season whether to try to play in 2016. He’s 35.

“Oh, he’s got something left,” Ventura said. “He can play next year if he wants to.”

UP NEXT

White Sox ace Chris Sale (15-7, 3.07 ERA) faces RHP Ian Kennedy (10-9, 3.76) in the series finale Sunday.

— Associated Press —

CHICAGO (AP) — While the Chicago White Sox face a near impossible task to reach the postseason, they have made life miserable this week for division rivals with better odds.

Carlos Rodon struck out a season-high nine over six innings, Adam Eaton doubled twice and scored two runs and the White Sox downed Kansas City 7-2 on Friday night.

The Royals lost for the sixth time in nine games and remained four games out of the second AL wild card. Detroit beat Baltimore to pull even with the Orioles for the final postseason berth.

The White Sox took two of three against the Tigers earlier this week.

“When you can beat division rivals and good, quality teams, it kind of shows the quality of team that we have here that we really haven’t produced on a consistent basis,” Eaton said. “I know I’ve been preaching consistency, but it’s truly what has lacked within our game.”

Rodon (7-8) ran into trouble in the sixth when he loaded the bases. Manager Robin Ventura kept him in, and he fanned Paulo Orlando on his 116th pitch for the third out and move to 5-0 in his last seven starts.

“It’s huge. It helps me build my confidence as well,” Rodon said. “I’m glad he trusts in me to get that last guy out. No matter how many pitches I’m at, I always want to get that last out.”

Eaton doubled to lead off the first and fifth innings off Yordano Ventura (10-10) and scored each time on Melky Cabrera RBI. Tyler Saladino had three hits and drove in two runs in Chicago’s third straight win.

Kendrys Morales had a two-run single in the first inning for Kansas City. Lorenzo Cain started for the first time since Aug. 30 following a wrist injury and reached base three times with a single and two walks despite pain when he squeezes the bat.

“That shows his value,” manager Ned Yost said. “He finds a way to produce.”

The 23-year-old Rodon struggled early this season and went on the disabled list after he sprained his left wrist slipping on the dugout steps. But the lefty has been sharp since returning.

“He was great,” Ventura said. “Innings where they started to get guys on and it got a little dicey, he’s finding a way to reach and find something else, another level.”

In his career-high 24th start, Rodon allowed two runs — one earned — and six hits while lowering his ERA to 1.85 ERA in his past seven outings, all quality starts.

Jose Abreu and Justin Morneau added RBI singles as Chicago had 13 hits.

Ventura allowed five runs — four earned — and 10 hits over seven innings in taking his first loss in seven starts.

Dan Jennings got five outs and Tommy Kahnle worked the ninth for the White Sox, who have won five of seven. They remain four games under .500, though, and eight games out of the final playoff spot.

“When you take three games from division rivals that are atop the division, it’s fun to do,” Eaton said. “It should instill confidence in us.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: C Salvador Perez (bruised right wrist) sat out a second straight game. “He still feels it a little bit when he swings,” Yost said. “We’ll shoot for tomorrow.” … LHP Matt Strahm left to attend his grandfather’s funeral and was expected back Saturday.

White Sox: Struggling RHP James Shields was cleared to start Saturday after complaining of a sore back in his last outing. Shields hasn’t missed a start since 2007. “I just want to post every five days and throw 200 innings,” Shields said. “I’m obviously not going to get (200 innings) this year for the first time in nine seasons, which is disappointing.”

HOT SOX

Abreu went 2 for 4 to improve to 22 for 50 (.440) with 16 RBI in his past 11 games. Saladino is 6 for 8 in the past two games.

TIRED SORIA

Yost said he’s been overusing struggling reliever Joakim Soria and planned to limit his appearances. Soria has six blown saves and eight losses.

UP NEXT

Shields (5-17, 6.07 ERA) will face Royals RHP Edinson Volquez (10-10, 5.02) on Saturday night.

— Associated Press —

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Miguel Sano’s hustle led Minnesota to a pair of early runs and his RBI double tied the game in the decisive seventh inning, helping the Twins dodge a series sweep by beating the Kansas City Royals 6-5 on Wednesday night.

Brian Dozier didn’t hit a home run for Minnesota, ending his club-tying record at five straight games, but he singled and stole second before scoring on Sano’s double off Joakim Soria (4-8). Dozier also started a dazzling double play to finish the fifth inning, with a diving stop of Eric Hosmer’s grounder and a glove flick to second base to get the ball out while he was flat on the dirt.

Alex Wimmers (1-0) pitched a scoreless seventh in relief of Kyle Gibson to record his first major league victory. Brandon Kintzler gave up Jarrod Dyson’s two-out RBI single before finishing the ninth inning for his 14th save in 16 attempts.

Kendrys Morales had three hits, including his sixth home run in the last eight games, and Drew Butera also went deep for the Royals. Danny Duffy struck out 10 batters without a walk over six innings, but the bullpen cost Kansas City an opportunity to creep forward in the AL wild-card race. It stayed four games behind Baltimore, which holds the second spot.

Sano beat a relay throw in the first inning to stave off a double play after his bouncer back to the mound and later scored on Robbie Grossman’s single. In the fifth, the burly slugger ran fast enough after his routine grounder to shortstop that Alcides Escobar threw high to first for an error. Byron Buxton raced home from second base to score on the play, touching home plate as he hurdled Sano’s bat with a head-first dive to elude Butera’s tag.

Grossman and Buxton each homered for the Twins, who won for only the third time in their last 20 games.

MORALES OF THE STORY

Morales, who also drove in a run with a fourth-inning single, went deep to lead off the sixth. He has a 10-game hitting streak going, with 15 RBI and 17 hits in 42 at-bats for a .405 batting average during the stretch.

LESSON NOT LEARNED

Jarrod Dyson and Paulo Orlando started the game with singles, but both of them were picked off first base with a quick throw by the right-handed Gibson, who had only six pickoffs in 93 previous major league starts.

PLOUFFE’S FAREWELL?

Twins 3B Trevor Plouffe was diagnosed with a strain of the intercostal and oblique muscles on his left side, his third injury this year to that area including a broken rib in July. This one will keep him out at least a few weeks, so with only 22 games to go he’s not likely to play again this season. Sano’s presence means Plouffe might have played his last game for the team that drafted him out of high school in the first round in 2004.

“If it happens that that was my last at-bat, it would be pretty sad. I hope it’s not,” said Plouffe, who is making $7.25 million with one more year of eligibility for salary arbitration. “My No. 1 thing, if I had my choice, would be to be back here.”

LONG WAY, MATES

The parents of Twins rookie James Beresford traveled 25 hours from their native Australia to surprise their son in a touching moment outside the clubhouse before the game that the team arranged. The 27-year-old Beresford, an infielder, played in 1,070 minor league games before being called up on Tuesday.

TRAINER’S ROOM

ROYALS: Butera played behind the plate for Perez, who was out with a bruised right wrist after being hit there by a pitch the night before. Perez could be back in the lineup by Friday.

TWINS: 1B Joe Mauer was given a day to rest his strained quadriceps muscles, an injury that has lingered for the last three weeks.

UP NEXT

ROYALS: After a travel day, Kansas City starts a three-game series on Friday in Chicago. RHP Yordano Ventura (10-9, 4.22 ERA) will take the mound, opposite LHP Carlos Rodon (6-8, 3.90 ERA) of the White Sox.

TWINS: Following an off day at home, Minnesota hosts division-leading Cleveland for three games. RHP Tyler Duffey (8-10, 6.24 ERA) pitches for the Twins, against RHP Danny Salazar (11-6, 3.78 ERA) of the Indians.

— Associated Press —